mixed greens

Current Press Release

Mixed Greens is thrilled to announce Rob Conger�s first solo show in their new space. The show will consist of his latest series of latch-hook rugs depicting specific locations in America�s most iconic theme park, Disneyland.

In the summer of 2005, Disneyland celebrated its 50th Anniversary with the �Happiest Celebration on Earth.� Four years earlier, in anticipation of this celebration, Rob Conger began to research less widely publicized events at Disneyland, namely eleven deaths that happened on the park�s grounds.

To memorialize these tragedies, Conger visited Disneyland to take snapshots of the rides and locations where the accidents occurred. Then, he painstakingly reproduced each postcard-perfect scene as a large-scale latch-hook rug (each rug measures approximately 48x69 inches). Using a hand hook, similar in shape to a crochet hook, individual pieces of yarn were pulled through a mesh backing to create each piece. Through such crafty production, Conger acknowledges his own suburban upbringing as well as the backgrounds of many of Disney�s fans. He purposefully chose to break from the kitten and butterfly legacy of latch-hook to represent a darker side of America�s favorite vacation spot.

Mixed Greens is pleased to announce their second solo exhibition with photographer Susan Graham. For the month of January, the South Gallery will be transformed into a 25-foot-long traffic jam of small, white porcelain vehicles. Buses, trucks, sports cars, sedans, humvees, tanks, and tow trucks will stand motionless in their quest to get to an unknown destination.

With traffic jams, gas prices, and the war in Iraq pervading daily conversation, it felt natural for Susan to look back on her Dayton, Ohio roots where the auto industry loomed large throughout her childhood. Juxtaposed to the four lanes of traffic winding over the gallery floor, the lyrics of Ohio�s original state song will be faintly stenciled on the walls.

BEAUTIFUL OHIO

Long, long time ago
Someone I know
Had a little red canoe
In it room for only two
Love found its start
Then in my heart
And like a flower grew

Chorus:
Drifting with the current down a moonlit stream
While above the heavens in their glory gleam
And the stars on high
Twinkle in the sky
Seeming in a paradise divine
Dreaming of a pair of eyes that look in mine
Beautiful Ohio, in dreams again I see
Visions of what used to be