Bathroom portraits on display in Nelson
If you’ve ever wondered how you could be more productive while using the bathroom, Mary Marinangeli’s new exhibit offers some ideas.
Opening Friday at Our Glass, her new show Portraits of my Friends on the John is 17 drawings of people she knows with their pants down (or otherwise absent) in their bathroom. Many of her subjects are also reading, drinking or getting high while on the toilet. One guy is passed out naked, drink in hand, hugging the porcelain. 
“I like the idea of taking something private, like using the bathroom, and making it public through my art,” Marinangeli explains.
And lucky for her, lots of her friends were game to model for her bathroom portraits. Also, conveniently, many of her friends have roommates who could also be convinced to sit on the john for her.
She began this project by snapping quick reference photos of the models. Then took those back to her Nelson home-studio to start drawing.
Initially she planned to turn them into paintings, but ended up liking the simplicity of the ink on paper.
The Our Glass exhibit is all the original framed pages from her sketchbook, which will be for sale. Prints will also be available.
“I’m also interested in doing commissioned work, if anyone wants a portrait of themselves on the john,” Marinangeli says.
She plans to keep growing this collection of drawings with the idea of eventually turning it into a book.
The opening reception for Portraits of my Friends on the John is Friday, March 15 at Our Glass Studio and Gallery (568 Ward Street) from 8 to 11 p.m. The artist has invited all her models to attend and encourages everyone to dress in Canadian tuxedos (denim on denim) or Salmo dinner jackets (flannel shirts).
See more of Marinangeli work at marymarinangeli.com.
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