Village Voice, March 19-25, 2003

American Dream

“Gentlemen, America is in trouble,” says Ida Applebroog’s sweet statuette with a thought balloon. From George Petty’s vintage pinups and Jane Philbrick’s Jesse Helms to Jason Salavon’s Playboy centerfolds and Michael Wilson’s Ashcroft, this sprawling survey of socially engaged works by nearly 90 artists considers sex, violence, politics, race, the state of the union, and the gap between dream and reality. With Ed Ruscha’s Miracle, Roxy Paine’s Bible, Dyke Action Machine’s posters, and a lot else, it looks great at the gallery. If the law of diminishing returns sets in at the annex space, concentrate on the terrific videos in the basement.

KIM LEVIN