Queer artist Jackson Hammack unveils male forms at Craighead-Green

While trying to describe just a fraction of Jackson Hammack’s new canvases at the Craighead-Green Gallery, I came across a new word: “Shoregasm.”

It doesn’t take a cunning linguist to figure out the meaning. Of the 11 new Hammack works on display at the Design District gallery, three of them depict water scenes: Two are canoe paddling and one of a guy on the beach. But those figures — hollowed out eyes, oval faces and beanie-looking hats — are right out of a nightmare.

Hammock is a fiftysomething Dallas-based artist who was born Anchorage and now lives in Oak Cliff. On top of his self-taught paintbrush skills, Hammock is also a contractor who specializes in historic renovation (he worked on the Belmont Hotel restoration).

During a recent visit to Craighead-Green, I checked out some of Hammock’s earlier stuff. His vision has considerably evolved. A canvas barely five years old shows that his lines were more curved and sensual — like Modigliani’s. And he used to paint women.

All of his new canvases feature men. Hammack says he uses water as a metaphor “to show the depth of a subject’s emotion.” He also gives his dudes hats, which shows that they are “protected on their journey.”

Hammack’s images that contain water are bright, almost placid. The others are stiffer, suspicious and spooky — and it’s hard to tell if they’re wearing hats … If you get too creeped out by Hammock’s incredible vision — just run to the water.

Clockwise from top right, “Not a Care in the World,” “Serenity” and “Tranquility.”

---

---

This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition June 20, 2008.