Mike Leavitt's

'Trash Talking' is an art exhibit with over 100 life-size replicas of politically-charged objects by renown toy sculptor Michael Leavitt. At once brutal and fun, these vibrant and visceral pop-art pieces skewer American consumer culture and throw a bright light on toxicity and waste. Available both online and installed physically in an old corner store, this work will be on view July 6 to Aug. 18, 2024 in Seattle at Georgetown's Mini Mart City Park.

Trash Talking marks Leavitt's first gallery show since 2016, when he last exhibited his work at Jonathan LeVine Gallery in New York City. In it, he reimagines the corner store, satirizing well known products by repurposing their packaging. Leavitt sourced the materials used in the exhibition from the dumpster of a gas station near his home, selecting each item for its specific cultural implications, most of it cardboard. He then constructed a series of precise replicas that throw a bright light on toxicity and waste: juice boxes made from oil, beer, and detergent cartons; an old-school pay phone from Apple packaging; a toddler's Little Tikes Cozy Coupe from wood pallets; and more.

Other works in Trash Talking tie products to meaningful events and places. Air Jordans are made from the packaging of cigarettes made in North Carolina, home of the shoes' namesake. Mickey Mouse on an AR-15 evokes mass shootings in Florida, and a pistol made of Skittles boxes evokes the death of Trayvon Martin. Leavitt also made a gas mask from menthol cigarette cartons, Covid tests, and an empty asthma inhaler, to recall the summer of 2020, when George Floyd died during a trip to the store to buy a pack of menthols.

A July 13 reception will host trivia games for free prizes, free drinks, junk food, and take-away art stocked to buy off the shelf. Admission is free to attend the reception and during gallery hours July 6 to August 18. Art will be available to purchase from the gallery and online shop. With limited hours, it's recommended to arrive early in advance of a large expected crowd for the July 13 reception party.

"Leavitt has somehow managed to distill complex, of-the-moment narratives about ecology, violence and distraction in these staggering objects. The meaning in this work is as layered as the glue and cardboard itself. The cleverness hits first, buzzy and delightful. But as the pieces sink in, they feel like a gut punch-their modest simplicity giving way to monstrous implications." - Leah Baltus, City Arts

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Website: https://go.evvnt.com/2335738-0?pid=176

Time: 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm