Paradise lost in 'Promise Land'

David Schirm's "Welcome to the Promise Land" conveys a mastery of subtlety. Lavish arrays of color seep through to construe an unordinary world.

Schirm's work is displayed on the CFA's second-floor gallery through May 20. As chair of the new visual studies department at UB, Schirm showcases an assortment of works of oil paint on canvas. His work ranges from religious themes to the effects of war on today's society.

In "Celebrating the Birth of," Schirm uses a limited palette containing dark blues and greens to create a beautiful backdrop. On the forefront of the painting is a collection of what seems to be floating torches that blanket the dark sky.

In other works such as "Milk and Blood, Madonna with Succor," a slew of reds are used to conjure a vivid scene of a bloodbath. In the midst of this suffering and anguish, massive drops of white milk fall from the sky into the pool of blood, creating a terrific scene that border on sacrilege.

Schirm's ability to provoke emotional and intellectual musings in his viewers is constant throughout his work. His talent of crafting these paintings with simple colors is astonishing.

In the visually powerful "Martyred Landscape," green human-like structured tree trunks spew blazing blood into the surrounding murky basin.

"I think the ripple effect he does with the blood coming from the trees is aesthetically pleasing," said Chelsea Harmon, a freshman media study major. "I like the fact that his work isn't clear-cut, and is open to interpretation making the visual quality more enjoyable. You aren't bombarded by direct meaning at first glance."

With Schirm's paintings, meaning may be an enigma but in his drawings interpretation is easier. In a short series drawn exclusively with colored pencils, the artist depicts the effect of war. In a set of drawings that include pieces such as, "Soft Targets," and "What We Leave Behind," Schirm investigates the impact of war on society.

There is also a set of paintings that are comprised of a handful of civilians being attacked by planes dropping missiles and blowing their bodies into smithereens. In "Friendly Fire," he has two cigarette-smoking onlookers standing before the wreckage that occurred after an attack.

With penciled-in text, Schirm has one of the soldiers saying, "Jesus man! I guess they were in the wrong place at the wrong time!" The other infantryman replies, "Fuckin' smart bombs, my ass!"

In another series of drawings, Schirm illustrates a battle of good versus evil with a giant man colored in white with long golden hair portraying what seems to be an almighty deity. In the early pieces, evil demons run amuck while creating havoc.

Apparent in some of his other works, Schirm combines the realms of sex and religion. With penises dangling and some being clenched by the Supreme Being in his mission to destroy evil, may bring about disturbing reactions.

"I like the message within the paintings and drawings, but the mysterious sexual tension and abstractions I can't understand most of it," Harmon said. "I don't know how to respond to that. It's creepy!"

The CFA is open for viewing Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.