Justin Gibbens

Speaking of animals tortured almost beyond recognition, Justin Gibbens' new show, Hydras and Basilisks, is worth seeing. Coming out of Thorp, Washington, Gibbens uses delicate layers of watercolor, gouache, graphite, and oolong tea to create uncanny imitations of conventional 18th and 19th century zoological illustrations with disturbing modifications. His new show at Seattle's Punch Gallery features naturalist paintings of animal/monster hybrids that result, perhaps, from the new breed of environmental catastrophes. For this show, Gibbens has also painted the walls of the gallery, extending the habitats of his creatures off their canvases and into the surrounding space. The show is up at Punch until June 26th.