A FRESH PACK OF GUM BLONDES – JASON KRONENWALD

FROM JUNE 4TH TO JUNE 29TH
OPENING JUNE 13TH, 2008 FROM 7-10PM

LE Gallery is pleased to present the second solo exhibition with gallery artist Jason Kronenwald.

Exploring the pervasive scope of “Blondeness” in contemporary culture, Kronenwald’s Gum Blondes, portraits composed completely of chewed bubblegum, offer a cross section of popular blondes from Hillary Clinton to Lindsay Lohan. Employing unconventional materials, a team of chewers and a critical practice, Kronenwald’s work positions itself directly within today’s celebrity obsessed mindframe, blurring the lines of fine art and pop culture.

Jason Kronenwald, a graduate of Queens University with a Bachelor degree in Fine Arts, is an emerging artists based in Toronto, where he produces his Gum Blonde Chewing Gum Portraits. Jason smoothes chewed gum over plywood, creating realistic skin tones and hair colour, composing his palatte from the multitude of different flavours and colours chewed together.

The appeal of his portraits stretch across a wide audience, from some of Canada’s top collectors, including TD Waterhouse, to popular culture publications such as this years Ripley’s Believe it or Not.

Each Gum Blonde is 100% chewed Bubblegum on a plywood backing. No paint or dye is used. The colour is inherent to the gum–the mixing of colour takes place inside the mouth during chewing. Kronenwald has a dedicated team of chewers and prefers the texture of Trident. However, he does not chew gum himself unless he must.

Kronenwald has received reviews in The Globe and Mail, the National Post and Elle Magazine and his work has appeared on Breakfast Television, MuchMusic, Inside Edition and Good Morning America. His Career is just beginning to flourish with recent solo exhibitions in Toronto, and a group show in London, England.