Who Knows What Evil Lurks in the Hearts of Men (and Women)? I Do! I Do! February 6, 2009

William Harroff joined the Supermen of America in 1959 and has done his best to pursue Truth, Justice and the American Way ever since. He has placed words and pictures together his entire professional career as an artist, illustrator, college professor and librarian. Harroff has been the recipient of a National Endowment for the Arts / Arts Midwest Visual Art fellowship, an NEA Regional Artists' Project grant, a Ragdale Foundation residency and top honors in a number of international art competitions. He also taught illustration for several years at Oskar Kokoschka's "School of Vision" in Salzburg (Austria) and manga at Technos University in Tokyo (Japan). His work is included in collections throughout the world including London's Victoria & Albert Museum, Chicago's Museum of Contemporary Art, and the New York Public Library.



His forthcoming show in the Star Clipper Gallery, "Who Knows What Evil Lurks in the Hearts of Men (and Women)? I Do! I Do!" is an homage to the marvelous comic book artists and writers of the 1950s and a stinging indictment of the self-appointed culture wars critic of the era, Dr. Frederic Wertham. Wertham, author of Seduction of the Innocent, suggested horror and crime comics were responsible for juvenile delinquency (even murder!), and helped institute the Comics Code Authority, effectively ending comics' dominance of popular culture in America.



Harroff has cleverly taken Wertham's argument to the extreme in this edgy set of digital prints. Using micro-sections of Wertham's "most notorious" comics, he has morphed them into beautiful kaleidoscopic patterns mimicking beautiful European cathedral rose windows. But don't look too closely! In art, research and life, it's all about perspective. Perversity is in the eye of the beholder!

The opening reception is February 6, 7 to 9 PM. Show runs until March 13, 2009.



Star Clipper is the region's premier independent retailer of graphic novels, comics, and designer collectibles. Our gallery is committed to promoting the work of emerging and exceptional artists and writers, designers, and other creatives. For more information please call 314.725.9110 or email us.

Official Website: http://www.starclipper.com