Mike Graves + Tripper Dungan: Brain Pictures @ Sally Centigrade

By Raymundo Muñoz

Closing this weekend at Sally Centigrade is a match made in low-brow heaven: “Brain Pictures,” a well-curated collection of fun and colorful 3D wall-mounted works from Mike Graves and Portland’s own Tripper Dungan. Pairing the two artists was a wise choice given their respective styles and subject matter, but add the 3D angle, and you’ve got something that makes you beam with delight.

Graves — a well-known and well-respected staple in Denver’s art scene — contributes his shadow box-enclosed wooden cutout characters in a style he has on total lockdown (you could probably see his work anywhere in the world and know it’s his — that’s a difficult and remarkable achievement). Dungan’s fair comes in the form of two-dimensional pieces that attain an extra dimension when viewed through 3D glasses. The hilarious and clever characters depicted are crazy enough as is, but when those lines and colors start popping out, I get fond flashbacks of “Ren and Stimpy” episodes.

Displayed face-to-face on opposing walls, it’s less a showdown and more so two weird gangs having an industry convention. And if you were lucky enough to see this show in real world 3D, I’m sure you brought your own weirdness to the mix. Photos are from April 17 opening reception. For more information and to purchase works, please visit sallycentigrade.com.