Dallas Observer

With a Twist .....2/25/2005

"...The main thing to remember is that Seeman's paintings are not family-friendly. His art is decrepit, sleazy, disgusting, embarrassing, lustful, homoerotic, misogynistic, lurid and cheap. And in an America that seems to have lost touch with reality as it drifts further and further to the right, his style is stirring, meaningful, soothing, unapologetic, innocent, beautiful, relevant, insightful and obtuse. Seeman's latest visual compilation is titled The Unhappy Hour, which depicts those familiar denizens of the bar life, and we're not talking about those suckers on Cheers. It's hard to tell if Seeman is recognizing or empathizing with these characters; either way, your eyes will not revolt as you take in the way-past-her-prime barfly and her drinking buddy, the too-slick-to-stay-sober businessman. To see the new Joey Seeman collection, venture to the Magnolia Theatre in the West Village, 3699 McKinney Ave. --Jonathan Freeman