David Snyder
Through July 27 - David Snyder: The Other Interview at Martina }{ Johnston. If you've never visited Martina }{ Johnston's gorgeous Berkeley space this is the week to do it, before David Snyder's very sharp and very funny show closes this Sunday. Snyder is prolific video and installation artist, and the first work of his that you encounter in the gallery is The Other Interview/Rogue Gallery, a triptych of live self-portraits. Using generic job interview questions as a framing device, Snyder adopts a distinct personality in each video and takes turns embodying rage, fear, general douchiness. At first his hilarious responses might seem over-the-top, but I can't count the number of times I've sat in an interview or even just a conversation and barely caught something unacceptable from coming out of my mouth. Snyder recognizes the extent to which we all curate our personae, in particular when we are trying to fit into the perceived wants and needs of a new work gig. He describes the job interview as "the ultimate real-life incantation – if you weave the right spell, you suddenly find yourself with an occupation, a salary, health benefits and a 401K." That interest in magic and the power of language also has a strong presence in Snyder's video Cents and Incantations, playing in Martina }{ Johnston's screening room. An aggressively friendly realtor, two buddies trading philosophical thoughts while they dig a hole in the forest, a parlor trick that takes on the weight of a sinister seance, heavy metal shrubbery: it's all part of Snyder's weird and wonderful cosmology.
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