Ron Rege, Jr. - Cartoon Utopia 2014
March 1 - April 12, 2014OPENING RECEPTION
Saturday, March 1st, 2014 from 6 to 10 PM
Dem Passwords is pleased to present "Cartoon Utopia 2014," the ninth in a series of solo shows by
Ron Rege, Jr., and his first at Dem Passwords.
Whereas previous shows acted as a sort of "annual report" on the progress of drawings that would
become The Cartoon Utopia book of 2012, "Cartoon Utopia 2014" presents a series of brand new
paintings created in the first 2 months of this year.
Contrasting the delicate line work and cartoony figures he is known for, this latest peek into Rege's
universe has yielded larger dark, abstract works painted with enamel on wood panels. In the
breathing space that follows the kind of frantic outflow of ideas that was The Cartoon Utopia, Rege
has slowed down to focus on a loose and transcendent style in paintings that serve as snapshots of
some unknown vibrational field. Like trying to draw a flame or an ocean wave, these latest works aim
to grab some sort of frozen close up of the shimmering effluvia - of the flowing dark matter, the
invisible ether of quintessence that surrounds us always, unseen.
"Ron Rege, Jr., is a very unusual, yet accomplished story teller whose work exudes a passionate
moral idealistic core that sets him apart from his peers. His new book The Cartoon Utopia, a unique
work of comic art focusing on magical, alchemical, ancient ideas and mystery schools is part sic-fi,
part philosophy, part visual poetry and part social manifesto. Rege's work exudes psychedelia,
outsider rawness and pure cartoonish joy" - Abraxas Journal
Originally from Plymouth, Massachusetts, Ron Rege, Jr., began publishing his own minicomics in
1988. He has since published work with Highwater Books, Fantagraphics, Buenaventura Press,
McSweeney's, and Drawn & Quarterly. An active and accomplished musician, Rege writes and
performs music as a solo artist and plays drums with Los Angeles-based band Lavender Diamond.