Panic in the Chalk Cave, slang for a downward spiral into meth addiction, is the title of NY artist Zefrey Throwell‘s current solo exhibition at the Gasser Grunert. As you might suspect, the drug addiction theme heavily pervades the show, from Time Stau, a gritty short film about a couple’s drug-fueled romance, to At last… rest, a series of eight highly personal portraits commemorating the life of Throwell’s late father, who ODed on crystal meth at age 59.
The faded, reflective portraits (pictured above) were done using a mixture of acrylic, methamphetamine, and his father’s cremated ashes. Talk about McLuhan’s “The Medium is the Message,”… They depict his father at every phase of his life, from “his rough upbringing and running away from home at age 15” to his “inevitable” overdose that ended his turbulent life.
“Panic in the Chalk Cave,” Zefrey Throwell, Feb 28- Mar 23, Gasser Grunert Gallery, Chelsea
