Aug. 2
J.J. Carroll’s 101 Damnations
Sweatshop Gallery, 2727 N. 62nd St.
7 p.m., FREE, 707.3724
J.J. Carroll invites Omaha to experience an “array of emotion personified” through his collection of 101 colorful but creepy creatures. An Omaha native, Carroll graduated from Parsons The New School for Design in New York City and has worked as an animator and artist. His collection includes framed drawings of unidentifiable monsters: “a mixture of both unholy and imaginary beasts” of ironically nonthreatening pastel colors. The creature of #54 of 101 “Zzzzt!” is sketched on what appears to be lined notebook paper and knocks down buildings with its Mickey Mouse-ish fists. #5 of 101’s “Thee Rankenphyle” stands against a blank white background and sports a riding saddle despite its spiked horns and three arrow-like tails. Not catering to the thin-skinned, Carroll proclaims, “Listen up meatbags, made of mostly water. You are bait for what I am about to share with you..PAY close attention as if your life depended on IT! You need to face your demons.” The show is part of Benson First Friday, which supports rising artists of Omaha and surrounding areas in Benson’s galleries, studios, venues, and streets.