"Beyond, in, and here"

Classic, ordinary and standard are a few words that would never, ever be used to describe these works.

In fact, there is nothing the least bit conventional about the art currently on display at the Carnegie Art Center, 240 Goundry St., North Tonawanda.

The exhibit, entitled "Beyond/In Western New York," features the work of three local artists: John Knecht, Tammy Renee Brackett and Patrick Robideau.

While the name alludes to the inclusion of Western New York and its surrounding regions, these three artists bring a different meaning to the name of the exhibit, going above and beyond with their creative projects. Animated cartoons, a musical score based on the Human Genome Project, and a life-size memory can all be found in the gallery.

"Crisis in democracy is what it is all about," Knecht said when asked about what inspired his work.

Not far from where he stood, 12 TV/VCR combos were mounted on the wall in a grid pattern making up his work entitled, "Whee! The people."

Colorful cartoon characters were repeatedly banging their respective heads up against brick walls, complete with sound effects, on each of the television sets. This was Knecht's take on the state of American democracy.

Frustration was not spoken by his art, but yelled - he screamed his message at the top of his lungs through his artwork.

On another wall in the same room hung "Pore In Fallacy," his series of alkyd and enamel paintings. Brilliantly colored flames, severed appendages and dashed lines representing sight were depicted against dark black backgrounds.

In one, a cartoon head with nine lumps is depicted in a circular frame, which in turn resides in "outer space." The head looks down at two cartoon hammers with arms and legs fighting each other, encased in their own frame.

Clearly, Knecht would be happy if cartoon violence were the only kind. As exemplified by both his sentiments and his work, he is a man fed up with war.

However, Knecht was not the only artist who displayed artwork rooted in current events.

Tammy Renee Brackett recalls her thoughts when she first encountered the Human Genome Project as published in a scientific journal.

"I was overwhelmed by the amount of information and asked myself, 'What could I do with that information?'" she said.

The layout of the scientific document reminded Brackett of sheet music and the idea for a musical score based on the Human Genome Project was born. There is a conceptual elegance inherent to a project in which a human sings the code of humanity into the ears of an audience.

The results of Brackett's work can be heard emanating from speakers in one room of the gallery. A human voice hums harmonics based on the basic building blocks of human life.

One can't help but be inspired by Brackett's project.

The largest piece in the gallery makes no sound, but is exceptional nevertheless.

"2013" is a simple name for an intricate and large piece of artwork constructed by Patrick Robideau. The piece is the size of a small bedroom. The basic framing is constructed out of plywood and two-by-fours.

Viewers who wish to fully experience the piece actually walk up five steps into the room through darkness. Inside the artwork, sparse lighting illuminates the space as observers peer into and move through the unknown.

"2013" is the street number of Robideau's childhood home and the piece is based on a combination of visual and emotional memories.

The utter darkness of the room seems to suggest uncertainty, and the dirt tunnels illuminated under the floorboards and packed dirt outside the window frame convey a sense of enclosure.

The room is lightly furnished; a bed, a chair and a toy chest full of green plastic army trucks are arrayed about the room.

Robideau's piece is not as politically challenging as some of the other pieces in the gallery, but fits in with its overall theme of using complex media to push the artistic envelope.