July 26, 2024

Felice House, Dana Younger Explore Western Pulp Fiction In Austin Exhibition

Felice House, associate Visualization professor, and her husband, Dana Younger, are set to debut their exhibition “The West That Never Was” on Aug. 3 at the Davis Gallery in Austin.

The painting-and-sculpture exhibition will be open through Sept. 7, with an opening-day reception from 4-7 p.m.

House described the show as an inclusive celebration of the Western genre with female heroes and deconstructed cowboys revitalizing stylistic themes from Western pulp fiction covers and vintage toys.

“I’ve always wanted to make an exhibition that delves into the illustrative painting style of pulp fiction covers,” House said. “These book covers, made prior to photography taking center stage, have always attracted me with their bold, narrative, figurative dramas. Though the images have always been fascinating, the subject matter falls flat in presenting palatable roles for women.”

Typical book covers would depict women with voluptuous features in exaggerated science-fiction settings, House said. Though the painters’ skills were exceptional, she said the subject matter could be improved.

“For this show, I am riffing off of the playful painterly quality of the pulp styles and implying narratives of female cowboys being heroic and looking glamorous, while simultaneously deflecting the male gaze,” House said. “These racially diverse heroes are the talisman I am offering to the world, to remind us that our evolving society provides exciting inclusive spaces that are fun and playful.”

The exhibition will include House’s large-scale figurative paintings and Younger’s sculptures in wood and bronze that deconstruct and rebuild masculine Western tropes. The figure and landscape paintings were created with oil paint, and sculptures were constructed with wood, bronze and resin, which House describes as “delving into a realm where high art and low art converge.”

They will debut their first collaborative series, a rogue’s gallery of painted cowgirl sculptures. This is also their first exhibition to feature a limited-edition woodblock print as the poster art for the show, House said.

House said the exhibition theme comes from their interest in the Western genre in their youth. In 2013, the couple created a joint show titled “Re-Western,” which showcased the cost of westward expansion.

The Western genre significantly influenced American culture, House said. She hopes people gain a sense of its evolution.

“We want people to enjoy the playful, nostalgic nature of the show and we want people to think about what kind of society we want to have,” she said. “Our work is reminiscent, all while speaking to themes of gender, race and access to power in our culture.”

Image: Felice House, ‘Outlaw Ruby Ravenwood,’ oil on canvas, 2024.