Bad Art for Bad People's latest group exhibit, Christmas on the Island of Misfit Art, showcases the creative visions of more than 35 local and national artists, including Devo co-founder and all around fountain of talent, Mark Mothersbaugh. Roughly 200 pieces are on display and in addition to a series of postcard illustrations by Mothersbaugh, you'll find tattoo artist/painter Michael "Pooch" Pucciarelli's vivid, elaborately surreal paintings, wherein he explores his fascination with theme parks, carnival facades and symbolic figures of death using architectural elements a la MC Escher, a splashy comic book sensibility and a well-developed attention to detail and color; BABP founder Bob White's latest collection of faux-decayed photos, which were taken during a visit to Las Vegas' final resting place for historic signs, The Neon Boneyard; and a series of rock and horror-influenced art by painter/illustrator Jeff Gaither, who produces everything from posters for The Misfits and Sevendust to paintings and digital renderings of whatever tickles his fancy (Fred Flintstone as Frankenstein, a blood-spattered, double butcher knife-wielding nurse, Al Capone, etc.). Prices start at $10; the opening reception begins at 6 p.m. Fri., July 14. Through July 30, Mirta's Gallery & Café, 119 S. Hyde Park Ave., Tampa, free admission, 813-259-0305, www.badartforbadpeople.com.
This article appears in Jul 12-18, 2006.