The passed-out passions of George Jones

Editor's note: Writer Rob Kimberly aided in the installation of this show.

Artist Wayne White had a vision in store for Houston. He heard the line “Well, I got big electric fan to keep me cool while I sleep…” in country musician George Jones’ song Ragged But Right. It gave him the seed of an idea for his installation at the Rice University Art Gallery. It grew into something huge.

Photo by Rob Kimberly

"BIG LECTRIC FAN TO KEEP ME COOL WHILE I SLEEP” is not a subtle installation. Dynamic pop-art text surrounds a giant, comically decapitated caricature of George “No Show” Jones. Known for ballads about bars and heartache, the country musician was equally notorious for missing gigs due to chronic drinking. The text races around the gallery walls and on the floor, as the massive head sleeps off one of his many benders.

Photo by Rob Kimberly

It’s not often that whiskey is a legitimate gallery expense. As
patrons get to open and close the drunk giant’s mouth, a swamp-cooler mechanism blows a sour-mash breath whenever the mouth is opened. A ‘lectric fan juts out of the end of his neck, two blades made of the word “dreaming,” eternally spinning.

Photo by Rob Kimberly

The large scale of the work reverses the puppet/stage relationship. Inside the mechanized head lifes a small stage representing the singer’s mental state. A miniature Jones jerkily dances in a dimly lit dance-hall, with a sky endlessly going from night to day and back. The tiny portal, a literal window into the man’s mind, is on the backside of the head.

Photo by Rob Kimberly

Photo by Rob Kimberly

A small side room houses an abstracted icehouse, the drinking establishment that lead to the head’s current state. But the big room has the biggest punch. It’s definitely a young George Jones passed out on the gallery floor. He hasn’t sported the flat-top haircut the sculpture has in some time. Older Jones has a sculpted coif that would have been fun to have seen on the passed-out giant. But to complain that the garish and theatrical caricature doesn’t look much like Jones is missing a lot of the fun in the piece.

With Jones (who turned 79 this week) on tour, the gallery folk hope that the country star will stop by. What he would think of White's vision, only a visit from the man himself will tell.

On display through Oct. 18 at Rice Gallery [1]. Free.