 An eclectic mix of artistic styles and subject matter, Capra Hircus Linnaeus is an off shoot of "Live Nude Goats*", a loosely knit art collective of current and former Seattle Art Museum employees. This particular set of paintings appears for the month of February at the Joe Bar, 810 East Roy, Seattle 98102. Featured Artists include; Laura dean, Tom Douglas, A. Dwyer, Skye McNeill, Suzanne Motheral, Scott Nacke, Charles Primus, and Cait Willis.
*Live Nude Goats has no affiliation with the Seattle Art Museum
 Scott Nacke offers up "Puquois" an oil on wood confection which appears to have come directly from the set of Kasimir Malevich's "Victory Over the Sun" or from another proletarian dream. Line, space composition and color are ordered into a tight counter relief which allows the viewer to play with the piece by simply altering the stance of viewing the painting.
"Still Life" by A. Dwyer speaks to the shattering of the hierarchy of genres. A large canvas, this painting is a by product of the loosening of the French Academy's rules for painting composition. The scale of the work suggests that even the quiet moments of everyday life are of equal importance to portraiture, genre scenes, and history painting. The color tone of the palette is cool and crisp, perhaps suggesting a long winter's day.
The works in the east room warm up the space to give the viewer a visual riot of styles, shapes and colors. From small compositions like "Leda and the Swan" to more graphically driven works, the images seem to have a visual dialog with the cafe patron. Sipping on your beverage of choice, you can get lost in a billboard or a tiny genre scene.
Most striking is Tom Douglass' "Profile in Patriotism", which hangs by the crepe griddle. While concoctions of Tomato Basil or Peanut Butter crepes issue forth, this compositions stares hungrily at the patron seeming to state "Where's mine?". With an orientation towards the door, this piece seems to pull you in and make you want to eat a crepe.
Laura Dean provides the viewer with genre scenes that gives us glimpses into la vida art in Seattle. In a quaint depiction of a party scene, faint echos of the American Regionalist school are brought to mind. It is as if William Cummings or Mark Tobey were fast-forwarded into the twenty first century to depict the life of the artist in Seattle. Graceful, charming and playful these works add a celebratory air to the exhibition.
"Untitled" by A. Dwyer serves to remind us of the rich visual contribution by the Asian community to the contemporary Seattle arts scene. The two figures seem to be holding a dialog constrained by the mask-like quality of their faces. This stylistic conversation suggests Japanese theatre or the Kubki of everyday living. The gaze of the figures crosses into both real and fictive space allowing the viewer to join the conversation.
The exhibition runs through the month of February at the Joe Bar, 810 East Roy Street, Seattle WA 98102. Cafe hours are 7:30 am to 9:30 pm M-F, & 8:30 am to 9:30 pm on the weekend.
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