"It Tastes Like Whiskey"

Los Angeles—Black Maria Gallery announced the opening of a new exhibition, “It Tastes Like Whiskey: The Art of Paul Chatem.” This solo exhibition, which opens on February 11 and will continue until March 2, presents the entirety of Paul Chatem’s twenty-five part series “It Tastes Like Whiskey.”

“It Tastes Like Whiskey” tells the story of a charismatic, murderous snake oil salesman, who peddles a miracle cure that offers to restore youth to its imbibers. By manipulating the fear of mortality and the hopes of his victims, Mordecai P. Wisecarver cuts a swath of death through the West. While each panel stands alone as an individual story, the totality of these works weaves a complex narrative of misplaced hopes, deception, and retribution.

Paul Chatem was born in Washington state and is currently living and working in the Los Angeles area. After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Illustration from the Kansas City Art Institute, Paul has worked as a commercial illustrator and artistic director in the entertainment industry. Drawing from creative influences as diverse as Dock Boggs, Tom Waits, William S. Burroughs, John Fante, as well as artists such as Jim Woodring and Al Columbia, Paul’s works are notable in their emphasis on narrative structure and story telling ability.

His non-commercial art works have been shown at La Luz de Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles, Blue Bottle Gallery in Seattle, WA, and The Unknown Gallery in Salt Lake City, Utah. “It Tastes Like Whiskey” at Black Maria will be his first solo show.


Black Maria Gallery is located at 3137 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90039. Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 12PM-6PM and by appointment.

OPENING RECEPTION: February 11, 2006. 7PM-11:30 PM