In the FAC MODERN’s exhibit, ATOMICELROY’S HOMETOWN, artist Atomic Elroy explores the myth and madness of his 40-year dysfunctional relationship with his residence and artistic career in Colorado Springs.

The exhibit is free and runs Jan. 31 – March 27. An Opening Celebration is planned in conjunction with the First Friday Art Walk on Feb. 6 from 5-8 p.m. The artist will be in attendance.

Creating the mythical city “Hometown” within the galleries, Elroy uses video, installation and performance art to convey the complicated existence of an avant-garde artist in an all-American town. Highlights include an installation of the red spring Colorado Springs is named for, faux travelogues of tourist sites, parodies of local personalities in art, politics and religion, and a series of videos depicting Elroy’s take on the city.

Elroy describes his art as time-based media and says he “manipulates electrons and calls it art.”

“I like video because so much of the ‘art’ happens in the editing. Shooting is like sketching and the edit is where you get to paint.”

ATOMIC Q&A

Didn’t you work at the FAC?
YES, from 1978 to 1990, all in the Performing Arts Dept. (Theatre Manager ‘78 – ‘80; Play Factory / Just For Kids Director ‘80 – ‘86; Tech Director ‘86 – ‘87; Director of Performing Arts ‘87 – ‘90).

Favorite memories?
Meeting Dance legend Martha Graham during the 50th Anniversary Performance Series (1986) … calling minimalist composer Philip Glass a taxi, literally; and when artist Will Small and I had a Dada Xmas Tree thrown out of the Galleries of Trees. Jawboning in the lobby with Smitty (former FAC security guard Sylvester Smith) during performances and after hours.

What is art?
Art is the ability to dodge the question 'what is art' … Or, any object/concept that instills an intellectual and emotional reaction, good or bad. Artist Marcel Duchamp once said, "Art is whatever artists point at."

What do you remember about your hometown that you miss?
I moved here in 1968 as a teen, and while I never meant to stay past High School, I've left and returned a few times, yet here I am, 40 years later. So a lot has changed, and yet a lot is exactly the same. I miss wrapping the Hank Statue in Black Plastic.

What can people expect in your upcoming FAC exhibition?
Video, Humor, Video, Sarcasm, Video, Chalk on Black Foam-core, Video, Irreverence, Video, Absurdity, Video, Experimental Oddities, Video, Incomprehensible Concepts, Video, Parodies of Michael Garman's Magic Town, Video, DADA, I may also put some Video in the show.

ABOUT THE ARTIST

Tom McElroy, also known as Atomic Elroy, was born in Massachusetts and moved to Colorado Springs as a teen. He started his career in professional theatre, in fact, he worked at the FAC from 1978-1990 in the Performing Arts department and was that department’s director when the REP theatre company was born. His video work has appeared in numerous museums and galleries in the U.S. and abroad, including five appearances at The San Francisco Fringe Festival. Elroy is a winner of Günter Selichar’s “Who’s Afraid of Blue, Red and Green?” which ran in the Creative Times’ 59th Minute series on the NBC Astrovision in Times Square. Elroy considers himself a conceptual art humorist, and uses a self-mocking approach to artistic values and standards. He is represented by + Gallery in Denver. Visit atomicelroy.com.