No holds barred? When it comes to Thomas
McGovern’s latest project, the renowned photographer
jumped lens-first into the lives of San Bernardino’s
working stiffs who really wanted to get physical in their
off-time: the world of professional wrestling—costumes,
masks, alter egos and all. Sure, the images the photographer
captured for Hard Boys + Bad Girls makes it clear that
the not-so-gentle art of limb pretzeling is equal parts
showmanship and hard-grit determination—but it becomes
clearer when you check out the book’s interviews
on larger-than-life characters like Hurricane Havana that
behind the vinyl masks and beneath the Spandex lies ambition,
struggle and a determination to reach the crowning heights
of wrestling’s Mount Olympus. McGovern’s work
sports some serious cred as his images have graced collections
at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, the Baltimore Museum of
Art and other top-shelf repositories of culture. And he’s
a local cat, currently serving a stint as a professor
of art at Cal State San Bernardino. You can see many of
the costumed wrestlers in the flesh during this Saturday’s
reception and book signing—Hulkamania’s got
nuthin‘ on this!
Thomas McGovern’s “Hard Boys + Bad Girls”
solo exhibition and book launch at Andi Campognone Projects,
558B W. 2nd St., Pomona, (909) 629-4500; www.andicampognone.com,
www.thomasmcgovern.net. Thru May 29. Reception and book
signing Sat, May 8, 6-9PM.
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