Out of the box

Conceal/Reveal, a group show running through this month at the Exploding Head Gallery at 924 12th Street, examines two normally mundane subjects: the book and the box. What’s fascinating is how each artist managed to interpret the vague subject, personalize it and make it alive. Each participant took a different approach to his or her subject, so the work is quite varied. But, when displayed together, the overall show develops a strange consistency. Upon viewing this exhibit, you’ll get the feeling that the artists took the subject personally and developed pieces that tend to focus on minutiae and details. Although the work in this show feels a little precious, the artists apparently had too much fun creating these works and wouldn’t want them to seem jewel-like. However, they almost seem out of place in the spacious, well-lit gallery; these wonderful works of art beg to be discovered somewhere in the back room of a dusty, dark library. The show runs through January 4.