Through Fri., Apr. 25

CRITIC’S PICK: Jayne County’s Electric Dreams, Emory Visual Arts Gallery – Born in Dallas, Georgia, Jayne County first gained notoriety as a member the Theatre of the Ridiculous, an absurdist fringe outfit in New York in the late 1960s. She participated in the Stonewall Riots and joined Andy Warhol’s Factory where he cast her in his play ‘Pork’ as a character named Vulva Lips. County then moved to London and formed a band named the Electric Chairs; she signed a contract with David Bowie’s record label MainMan, but even they balked at releasing her product, deeming it too outrageous. “I couldn’t get anywhere for a long time because people were too freaked out by me,” County told The Guardian in 2021. “They had no idea how to market me.” The paper referred to her as “the first transgender rock‘n’roller.” 

Now a visual artist living in Atlanta, County’s show at Emory is said to defy artistic convention while bringing her dynamic visions to life. “My dreams come to me while I’m half awake,” says County. “They feel like visions descending from somewhere – maybe the Holy Spirit, maybe a distant planet. From there, they evolve into psychedelic houses spouting designs, smokestack lightning, and creatures that don’t belong anywhere but my own head. The result is a trip – both on canvas and in life.” – Kevin C. Madigan