Nightmares. As creepy or repulsive as they may be, they fascinate us. They linger in our minds long after we've woken, leaving us distracted by thoughts of otherworldly fears. It is often the strange things that play in our heads at night that inspire us to create upon waking. Sometimes these unsettling dreams are rearranged from the events of our daily lives; our brains putting them into a senseless order, helping us to see our thoughts from an inside out perspective. Other dreams seem to make no sense at all and yet perhaps it is this “otherness” that causes us to dwell, at times giving rise to an almost a manic need to recreate the scenes that dance across our sleeping eyes, if only to have some relief once the images have been transferred to the canvas.

When we celebrate the bizarre terrors which overtake us in our sleep we are able to see what base fears we share. This will be a show of real and imagined nightmares, monsters, things that go bump in the night or cause us to gasp awake. The reoccurring night terrors that we just can't get enough of. An admission that we kind of like to be scared.

My Favorite Nightmares will be a group show featuring artwork inspired by nightmares. There will be an interactive element, including a space for guests to draw or write descriptions of nightmares they have had that have stayed with them.

Curated by Lacey Bryant hosted by WORKS San Jose
451 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113?
Gallery: 408-286-6800?
Voicemail: 408-300-6405
?gallery@workssanjose.org

Reception: October 31 7-11pm & November 5 8-11pm
Show Dates: October 31-November 25

Work may be dropped off at the gallery October 22-23 from 12-4pm. Shipped works must be received by October 20 (details for shipping work will follow)

Work must be picked up from the gallery November 26-27 from 12-4 pm (with the exception of shipped works which will be shipped back).

To be considered for My Favorite Nightmares, Please submit the following information and JPEG files of up to five works by SEPTEMBER 10, 2010 to evilrobot42@gmail.com Please print “NIGHTMARES” in the subject line. All types of original artwork will be considered, including 2D, 3D, video, sound and installation.

You will be notified by September 17 to let you know if your work will be in the show. Thanks for submitting!