Fire Retard Ants
(Fred Muram, Mike Simi)

We 8 Ourselves
(for your Urgent Need)

January 3 – 27, 2008

Fire Retard Ants culminated out of the awkwardness that both artists had experienced during their respective childhoods; one the perpetual daydreamer and the other with the persistent need to conform to the norm.

It is about everything else that occurs tangentially to those experiences, growing pubic hair, fighting ninja's, eating Cheez Whiz, all while maintaining a C+ average, so their parents will take them to Pizza Hut. But, most importantly the memory of early social interactions and how they manifest themselves in our lives as adults.

This exhibition will include this consideration of adolescence and it's nostalgic persistence as a vehicle for creativity. We believe this to be an important subject in contemporary culture; when a person grows into an adult who are they supposed to be, and is any stasis that is attained as an adult only just a fleeting sentiment? Is pissing your pants as a kid the same as losing your job as an adult? Fred Roger's from Mr. Roger's neighborhood said that each and every one of us is special just the way we are, no matter what. We aim to prove it to ourselves.