The McEachern Art Center in downtown Macon will unveil a new exhibit, Guilty Pleasures, by Brittany Coburn on Friday. The exhibit will also feature a collaborative piece with artist Krista Voto and is curated by MAC Director Johnny Cohen.
“Coburn employs polished finishes, bright colors, bold language and layered symbolism to create work that initially appears playful, bubbly and inviting," the MAC's website says. "Upon closer inspection, satire gives way to sincerity, revealing deeper conversations about anxiety, shame, desire and emotional endurance.”
Coburn said she has been working on the vision behind Guilty Pleasures for over 10 years, taking inspiration from her own mental health struggles as well as the struggles of those around her. The exhibit, she said, offers a unique look at mental health and coping mechanisms through the lens of contemporary art.
Through her designs, Coburn wants to create an alluring gateway into meaningful discussions around coping with mental health.
“The reason so many of us lean into our vices isn't because of how irresistible they are, but rather because we've been conditioned societally to believe that if we're struggling, there's something wrong with us,” Coburn said.
Coburn delves into the complexities surrounding the struggles of guilty pleasures and indulgent habits in order to challenge the stigma associated with the human nature of coping and healing, according to the MAC's website.
“I love being able to help people who feel uneasy about it be able to soften to the idea that conversations about our mental health aren't as taboo as society wants us to believe, and that an open mind and a new perspective might just change your life for the better,” Coburn said.
Cohen said he wanted to bring Coburn’s emotionally resonant exhibit to the Macon community because he believes it is deeply relatable, timely and invites viewers to recognize the importance of asking for help.
“Coburn’s work speaks directly to those who may be struggling, offering a quiet but powerful reassurance: you are seen, you are heard and you are not alone,” according to the MAC.
The New Jersey-based artist's work tests the boundaries of the traditional art industry’s standards and forms a space where vulnerability is encouraged and the topic of mental health is out in the open, Cohen said.
“It creates a sense of support and community, reinforcing the importance of having these conversations and understanding that no one is navigating these struggles in isolation,” he said.
Guilty Pleasures is intended to be an interactive experience to make the exhibit more immersive and impactful to viewers, Cohen said.
“The work exists beyond what you see; it is something you engage with and feel,” he said.
The opening reception is Friday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. with free admission. Light bites and refreshments will be provided. The exhibition will be featured at the MAC until March 22.
