By Raine Blunk
Hiding on an unsuspecting corner west of the park lies Sicky Nar Nar, Savannah’s newest gallery and quite possibly the city’s newest little gem for artists and gallery hounds alike. Friday night, Sicky opened its doors for the first time with “Rum Eyes and Crow’s Feet,” an exhibition featuring live music, apparel, prints, jewelry, Le Snoot Gallery’s pop-up shop “Camp Le Snoot,” snacks and drinks to satiate attendees, and (of course) some “gnarly” artwork.
Seeking to create a name for itself in the world of Savannah galleries, it makes sense that Sicky would feature Art Without Limit, an apparel line by fourth-year illustration major, Ronald Reed.
AWOL got involved in the show through his T-shirt printer, Dilated Spectrum. Reed says his designs try to send a message, whether it be “personal, political, or just ridiculous.”
From one-eyed triangle stickers to “EVERYTHING IS UNDER CONTROL” T-shirts, each of AWOL’s designs catered to the stylistic urban-wear eye. “It started because I’m really picky about T-shirts and didn’t like the [designs of] big brands,” says Reed. “All the designs strayed away from the art.”
Sicky Nar Nar and Reed must share a focus on impactful art, because the gallery filled the recently renovated space with paintings, illustrations, and mixed media work by a variety of local and national artists, each with a unique style. Logan Crable, who oversaw the event, admits he was worried not everything would be finished in time. “We wanted to make it bad ass and live up to the hype,” said Crable, who hoped the opening could offer a “high energy” perspective on art in a “comfortable, cool environment.”
The atmosphere of the gallery was similar to that of Gallery Le Snoot’s on State Street, but much more open. With space to roam, viewers scanned the walls to the sounds of Melissa Hagerty and Tyler Cutitta, the duo behind YonahBug. YonahBug’s smoky sound was simple, but with just the right amount of twang to compliment the gallery’s acoustics. With high ceilings, show-goers had full viewing range of featured work, large-format and otherwise.
Cutitta, a New York native, said he felt “the average art in Savannah is better than everywhere else — maybe even in Brooklyn!”
While Savannah is no New York, West Duffy Street might now have the key to blowing up the arts scene south of Forsyth Park. After such a turnout, Crable feels that the gallery’s future events will be just as huge.
And their upcoming exhibitions might be what separate them completely from already established galleries in Savannah. “Our next show is going to be a zine show. Then we’re going to try a furniture show. We’re trying to step out of featuring just two dimensional works and move into the 3D world,” said Crable, who will keep coming up with ways to make Sicky Nar Nar the “gnarliest” gallery downtown.
