Whitehot Magazine

January 2008, Little Cakes Gallery


 
 


Little Cakes Gallery

Afrika Brown for White Hot Magazine


Whether it’s Spiderman, Superman, or Wonder woman, people love to admire superheroes. As far back as ancient Greece one can refer to epic tales of mortals that are able to do superhuman feats that save mankind or make life on earth a little better. The husband and wife team of Mumbreeze explored that theme in their exhibit Super Heroes Return was at Little Cakes Gallery from September 7th to September 30th.2007.

The Little Cakes Gallery, owned by husband and wife David Aaron and Hanna Fushihara Aaron, is located on 625 East 6th Street in the East Village. This intimate gallery is the perfect venue to display the vibrant colorful framed superheroes. Upon stepping into the gallery one has the feeling that he or she is entering a child’s room. All that was missing was a small bed with Fantastic Four sheets. The walls are adorned with Mumbreeze’s prismatic creations of color pencil and markers. There is a staircase in the corner filled with multicolored plush superhero dolls. In another corner is a kaleidoscopic box with a television screen in the center that shows the video collaboration between Mumbreeze and artist/musician E*Rock.

I found this video to be the highlight of the exhibit. An unnamed superhero rockets through an unknown town. He changes his head frequently throughout the video until finally he returns to his home and goes to bed only to go back out tomorrow and do it all again. As I watched the video I thought of the many faces I wear throughout the day to accomplish everything I need to accomplish as well as to deal with the obstacles that may be put in my way while accomplishing my tasks. It made me ponder if I could be a superhero and not know it.

I also got the pleasure to watch Mumbreeze as they meticulously decided the order and sequence in which the framed pictures would be hung on the walls. Viewing their decision making process only added to the complexity of what seems to be simple colorful swirls on paper.

What I enjoyed most was the balance between simplistic overtones and complex undertones. The drawings and plush dolls were very innocent and transported me back to a time when my biggest concern was getting home before the streetlights came on. It made me think about all the things that I coveted about being a kid and brought a huge smile to my face. Along with those memories came questions. In an age of war, rising debt, car payments, and everything else that comes along with being a conscious citizen of the world I wonder if I am subconsciously looking for a Captain America or leotard wearing man like him to save me? Are the celebrities we worship on VH1 and MTV our new superheroes because they live the lives we want? Following my questions I thought back to the video installation and realized the superhero in my world is me, but how fun it was to go back to a simpler time if only for a little while.

http://www.littlecakes.org/

Afrika Brown


Afrika Brown is a published poet and freelance writer in New York City.

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