“RIOT” @ the Fridge

Review by Juxtapoz

This winter, Fridge DC presents Brooklyn-based artist and frequent Juxtapoz contributor, David Molesky, for his second solo exhibition in the US Capital. Drawing from this past year’s widespread upheaval, Molesky has shifted his focus from the turbulence of natural elements to riots. 

In these recent works, Molesky paints the iron-willed who share supporting roles with crawling fire and billowing smoke. No oppositional force is present in any of the compositions; only a dark abyss appears to be on the receiving end of hurled stones and Molotov cocktails. These paintings are portrayals of humans and elements collaboratively expressing an intense longing for change.  

This winter, Fridge DC presents Brooklyn-based artist and frequent Juxtapoz contributor, David Molesky, for his second solo exhibition in the US Capital. Drawing from this past year’s widespread upheaval, Molesky has shifted his focus from the turbulence of natural elements to riots.  In these recent works, Molesky paints the iron-willed who share supporting roles with crawling fire and billowing smoke. No oppositional force is present in any of the compositions; only a dark abyss appears to be on the receiving end of hurled stones and Molotov cocktails. These paintings are portrayals of humans and elements collaboratively expressing an intense longing for change.

The exhibition also contains a series of small works with wild animals that are precursor to the paintings of rioting humans. In these paintings, the fire recesses much deeper into the compositions. The 40 lone owls and a painting of an ermine seem to contain an innocence disconnected from the infernos flickering in the backgrounds. These calmer vignettes give viewers a perch far from the intense heat. In many ways the Fridge gallery is itself a work of art, a freestanding art space covered street to roof in murals and graffiti. 

Only 2 blocks from the Eastern Market metro, the former warehouse sits in the rear alley behind the 8th street corridor, which has become a popular restaurant destination. Only a short stroll down from Capitol Hill, and less than a block from the Marine Barracks, a heavily guarded compound that houses many top military personnel, its hard to ignore the political atmosphere. 

Although 8th street has long since gentrified, Southeast DC was infamous for having one of the highest homicide rates in the country. Strangely enough, Grandpa Molesky was a police detective in the precinct during the 1950’s. The gallery maintains strong roots in its community, functioning on many levels, mixing concerts and inner-city community outreach projects into its gallery program. Since its opening in September 2009, the fridge has hosted well over 500 artists and performers mostly through group shows and festivals.