Mr. Pennygaff, George the Giant, Crispy, Lokey, Roderick Russell, Mystic Marlow, Red Stuart, Insectivora and Tyler Fyre are all real and all alive, on the inside. Watch as they socialize together and ingest the only substance available to them, in the middle of no where, in the darkness of night, after a long day at the Sideshow Gathering.  An unprecedented event of freaks, oddities and personalities commune at this diner after the Sideshow Gathering.

With the exception of a few visible differences, everyone seated at the table appears normal. Most are not even aware of the present company they keep dining a few feet away.  Is Insectivora dining on her daily dose of meal worms, or will Mr. Pennygaff suddenly choose to down twenty-six inches of cold hard steel for dinner instead? Given the current state of the sideshow, the scene is reminiscent of a skewed Last Supper of oddities or a group of 19th century outcasts at a Parisian café. This intimate scene is one few will ever witness and it is in great contrast with their stage personalities.

When these performers are on stage we gaze in disbelief, excitement or disgust at the seemingly preternatural acts that they perform and the seeming unpredictability of their chosen lifestyles. Questioning and crossing over boundaries, the lifestyle of the sideshow performer is one of extremes which explores the age old themes of pain and pleasure, reality and illusion and of the beautiful and grotesque. The extreme nature of the acts that they perform demonstrates that boundaries can be broken through courage, strength, discipline and utilization of the mind to overcome both mental and physical obstacles.

Their performances are extraordinary. The intimate moments in their daily lives are ordinary. Both are part of a myriad of moments that occur in each performer’s life. I choose to focus on their offstage lives. Having painted sideshow banners for both performers and collectors, this current body of work fulfills my need to explore human nature and dig further beyond the literal.

Photographs, sketches, small scale models and studies in both acrylic and oil are all created prior to working on large paintings. Multiple panels are chosen in various sizes to create an asymmetrical whole. The panels reflect multiple moments experienced by each performer, which in turn are part of a grander interpersonal experience. Certain planes recede while others come to the fore, further emphasizing the mosaic nature, fractured reality and breaking of boundaries. Multidimensional planes in combination with manipulated images and reflections blur the line between illusion and reality and encourage the viewer to go beyond the literal.

                                                             Artist Statement related to the series: The Sideshow Gathering

                                                                                                                                               Toni-Lee Sangastiano