Выставка художника Джейсона Перри в Мар-Айленде посвящена феномену НЛО и их признанию обществом

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Whether visitors are skeptics, firm believers or simply curious about UFOs, Jason Perry’s “Nothing to See Here” mixed-media solo exhibition at the Tim Rose Gallery at Mare Island Art Studios will offer plenty to see. A member of Mare Island Art Studios, Perry serves as its education and youth liaison and teaches visual arts at Napa Valley College and Solano Community College. For Perry, “Nothing to See Here” offers a sense of validation to those who have long believed in the existence of UFOs. “It’s been discounted, it’s been dismissed as fringe science or not newsworthy,” says Perry. “It’s an acknowledgement that the UFO phenomenon is real.” Although UFOs became a central theme in his artwork within the past five years, Perry’s fascination with the phenomenon began in childhood. “I only made it the main subject of my artwork within the last five years,” said Perry. “I’d always dabbled in drawing UFOs, but it was never the central theme. I’ve always had the interest, I’ve always had the belief.” Perry recalled a moment in graduate school when a peer incorporated UFOs into their artwork, prompting him to reconsider his own skepticism. “I remember thinking, ‘They’re not going to take that seriously,’” Perry said. “But then I remember unpacking that and asking myself, ‘Why do I feel like they wouldn’t? Is it because of society and things I’d picked up on?’” Perry said. “Within the last few years, with the military, whistleblowers and the topic becoming more mainstream, we’re turning a corner. People are really starting to catch on to this.” Perry said that while most people may recognize UFOs for their traditional saucer shape, UFOs can also have different shapes and sizes. One of Perry’s pieces draws inspiration from the 1986 UFO encounter reported by Japan Airlines Flight 1628 Capt. Kenju Terauchi, an experienced former fighter pilot, while flying over Alaska. Another piece, “Portal,” spans several panels and depicts a flying saucer traveling through a star-filled expanse resembling ripples on water toward an opening that reveals blue skies and clouds. Perry said the piece depicts the UFO traveling through an opening and encountering different environments as it moves between dimensions. “We don’t really know where it’s going,” said Perry. “We know it’s going somewhere towards the blue sky and clouds. Maybe that place could be Earth. We could reasonably assume that, but who knows?” Another piece, “Worldwide Phenomenon,” a 22-by-30-inch work featured on the promotional postcard and website for “Nothing to See Here,” combines spray paint, ink, acrylic and collage on paper. The piece depicts a dark flying saucer against a backdrop of yellow, brown and other colorful blotches. His “Told You So UFO” apparel line will launch in the Small Gallery. The “Told You So UFO” apparel launch will feature two shirt designs in black and white, each depicting a flying saucer with the words “Told You So” written across the UFO. Another design will be unveiled at the opening reception. Although his apparel is limited to shirts, Perry said he would like to venture into hats and hoodies in the future. “For those of us who have believed in it for a long time, seeing it make mainstream news within the last few years feels like, ‘Told you so,’” Perry said. “It used to be something you didn’t talk about in academia, the news or science, and now it’s become more acceptable.” “Nothing to See Here” will hold an opening reception from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday at Mare Island Art Studios, 110 Pintado St. The exhibition will be open Sundays in September from noon to 4 p.m.