thenationofartists.com

The NoA took in Catherine Coan's publicity friendly "Canary Suicides" exhibition at the Gallery of Functional Art at Bergamot Station (2525 Michigan Avenue, Santa Monica) the other day. On exhibition now through September 5, Coan sculpturally depicts a series of bird cages within which canaries have met a self-fulfilled end via a range of extraordinary methods.  

With titles like "Bird Bath" and "Mission Accomplished," the works could come off as mere satirical fodder but, on inspection of the craftsmanship and ideas at play in each piece, Coan's works were received by us at the NoA as engaging in both a philosophical and aesthetic sense. Like Altoid mints, their impact is curiously strong.

Coan names Rauschenberg and American installation artist Edward Kienholz as key influencers in her work. For a full range of images of her aviary annihilation art, feel free to check out the artist's website at http://web.me.com/ccoan/Canary_Suicides/Home.html