Flying High Again 

Curator: Dave Macdowell’s “Flying High Again” is quite striking. My first impression is of a chaotic energy, a real tension between the sacred and the profane. Editor: I find the composition particularly interesting. The central figure, resembling a mournful Christ-like figure, is holding what appears to be a Ferris wheel, but adorned with devilish imagery. What’s your read on that? Curator: Well, Macdowell often blends pop-surrealism with commentary on celebrity culture and its almost religious devotion. The “Misfits” t-shirt and devilish imagery combined with religious iconography is very deliberately poking fun at modern idols and the commercialization of…everything. Editor: The colors are very saturated, and that contrast really enhances the surreal atmosphere. There's this sort of sickly sweet yet disturbing quality. I’m also struck by the repetition of circles – the Ferris wheel, the beaded halo, the eyes of the cherubs – creating a dizzying effect. Curator: Exactly. And it's worth considering the artist's context here. Macdowell gained recognition through skateboard art and poster designs, often working outside traditional gallery spaces. "Flying High Again" pushes those sensibilities toward examining who gets canonized and why. What kind of authority do we give to our heroes? Editor: The artist uses acrylic paint to create very precise linework. Also, note the contrasting textures; The weeping eyes draw attention through the smooth surfaces as the rendering feels meticulously crafted. This creates a striking counterpoint against the overall composition's potentially disorienting effect. Curator: And those cherubs – traditionally symbols of innocence, but here depicted with somewhat menacing stares – definitely support a narrative about innocence corrupted. This subversion aligns with a broader history of artists critiquing institutional authority. It reflects how image-making is always bound up in systems of power. Editor: Thinking about it purely formally, Macdowell's deployment of symmetry—the composition mirrors down the middle—grounds the hallucinatory feel, keeping it from floating completely out of control. A delicate equilibrium of order and chaos is definitely being explored in this artwork. Curator: I agree. Macdowell’s blend of styles and subject matter invites reflection on how visual symbols become powerful, or are made to feel banal. Editor: The experience feels like peering into a really vivid, albeit strange, dream. The image leaves a lasting impact, provoking thoughts and perhaps unsettling assumptions about art's power.