Putting the sexy back in insects

Suzie Harrison

It’s doubtful that many have heard the words sexy and insects in the

same sentence -- the two aren’t usually paired up, except perhaps by

entomologists. But artist Mike Tauber has paired the two words with

many meanings ensued with his newest exhibition “Sexy Insects,” which

opens Tuesday at Woody’s at Beach.

“I started the new series last fall,” Tauber said. “I was going

through some personal struggles -- all artists have highs and lows

and this was a typical low.”

What he did was turn to one of his favorite poets, Ogden Nash, for

inspiration. He found that reading the poems was uplifting, reading

about insects and low life creatures that Nash used as his focus.

“I looked at things that people perceive as a low-life creature,

something people think, ‘Why would you want to look at that,’” Tauber

said. “His poetry takes these insects, and you have more compassion

through his poetry. I related them to myself at my low point, and

related myself to his poetry.”

Tauber said he thinks of Ogden as the Norman Rockwell of poetry

because he was from that era. This inspired him and he integrated

this message with that time of 1960s pop and psychedelic art.

“Pop art is basically what we see as sexy, created in our

society,” Tauber said. “Popular imagery is artificially created by

things that are popular in society, primarily through advertising and

commercial promotion. It’s a brand name or label and people find it

sexy.”

Certain things are found as sexy because it is labeled as such,

giving Tauber the idea of making insects sexy, artificially sexy,

using the tools or what society calls sexy such as a leopard pattern.

A sub-series of the show called “Signals from my Sole,” takes on

the bug’s viewpoint. The work is a collection of line drawings done

by ants, revealing aspects of their lives as well as human life as

seen through the eyes of an ant.

The exhibition has about 20 pieces with one piece a mosaic in

progress.

“That is a piece that will be created by special guests,” Tauber

said. “It will be formed during the unveiling event, with the people

I’ve picked such as the mayor and people from different arts

organizations, creating and assembling the mosaic.”

As part of the event, DJ Sir Adamsmasher will release his custom

soundtrack called “Insectric Electric” and actor George J. Woods will

recite a few of Ogden’s poems.

“I like art events with a lot of participation,” Tauber said.

“It’s a living event particularly with the art -- instead of just

looking at it.”

“Sexy Insects” will open at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Woody’s, 1305 S.

Coast Highway. For information, call Woody’s at the Beach at

376-8809.