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"Raccoonicorns" and Scared Scarecrows Are Just as Awkward as We Are

Jim McKenzie's ragtag band of hybrid creatures struggle with self-confidence.
Raccoonicorn, Courtesy of Copro Gallery, Santa Monica

The surreal worlds of Lewis Carroll and C.S. Lewis find themselves encapsulated in Jim McKenzie's enchanting new sculpture series, Lost Magic. McKenzie, who is New York-based, applies meticulous processes to bring his storybook creatures to life. They shock the viewer with their storm of color-infused fantasy at McKenzie’s first solo presentation, which opened yesterday at Copro Gallery in Santa Monica.

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Lost Magic blends equal parts surrealism and humor with feature film-worthy character design. Speaking to The Creators Project, McKenzie calls the results of this concoction, "candy-coated misfits with a glimmer of despair beneath the shell." He explains, "There’s a lot of personal sarcasm within the pieces … I try to have fun with my work, keep things meaningful, but not take it too serious."

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Case in point: a scarecrow with a meek expression becomes a visual contradiction, as the subject outwardly struggles with a pronounced and “ironic phobia of crows.” A crow-scared scarecrow. Other members in this motley crew include a half-unicorn and half-raccoon mutation, a squirrel with the scales of a dragon, and several creations with a third eye.

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McKenzie describes his pieces as at “the intersection where beauty and sadness intertwine… I've chosen to create contrasting hybrids and though they have these brilliant colors and seemingly majestic qualities, ultimately, they are all outcasts. This show is for those who've lost touch with the magic this world has to offer and for those who still want to see it."

Looking towards the future, McKenzie has an interest in cultivating his expertise in stop-motion. He shares, "I’d like to push myself further in directing more animations while still working in sculpture and painting."

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Pumpkin Crab Cyclops, Courtesy of Copro Gallery, Santa Monica

Lost Magic runs through June 26, 2016, at Copro Gallery. See more of Jim McKenzie’s works, and perhaps purchase them, here.

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