Midtown gets weird with a "Stranger Things" art show

Jessica Rine,
Brandenotto Friendsdontkeepsecrets
Image courtesy of artist
"Friends Don't Keep Secrets" by Richmond, Virginia-based artist Branden Otto

Lace up your Chuck Taylors and grab your Swatch watch—a new Stranger Things-themed art show promises creativity, ’80s nostalgia and a healthy dose of weird starting Jan. 27.

A collaboration between local art groups Menagerie Sacramento and Retrograde Collective, Stranger Things II: The Art Show will feature 80 works by 50 artists (both local and from around the world) themed after the Emmy-winning Netflix series. The exhibit will be on display until the end of February at midtown's Outlet Coworking, and is a follow-up to an inaugural Stranger Things­-themed art show, which was held in December 2016 in response to the first season’s release that year.

"I watched the show and immediately was like, 'I want to draw this, I want to paint this,'” says Sarah Marie Hawkins, co-founder of Menagerie Sacramento and creator of the art show. "Stranger Things is basically ’80s nostalgia porn. It has [references to] The Goonies, Stand By Me, Firestarter and Ghostbusters—it wasn't just the visual [elements], it was interesting to me because it was my childhood."

Artwork from Sacramento artists will be on display at the show, including (from left to right) John Cottrell's illustration "R.I.P. Benny" and Julia Garcia's sketch "Draw Me Like One of Your French Demogorgons" (Images courtesy of artists)

Fans of the series can view works like fiber artist Lindsay Swearingen's Members Only jacket—a reference to the one one of the main characters, Steve Harrington, wears in the show—embroidered with an image of Steve taking on the demogorgon with his nail-studded baseball bat; ceramicist Kurt Salinas' 12 doughnut sculptures, each inspired by characters from the series; and multimedia artist Filthy Forry's 3-foot-tall replica of Dart—the "demodog" introduced in season two that becomes a cat-eating monster—which features moving parts. Also on display will be graphic paintings of characters Eleven and Will by Boston-based artist John D. Wiltshire and Sacramento artist Julia Garcia's stylized demogorgon boudoir sketches.

"The Boy Who Came Back to Life," an acrylic on wood painting by local artist Molly Devlin (Image courtesy of artist)

At the exhibit's kickoff party on Jan. 27, Outlet Coworking's courtyard will be decked in tinsel and '80s decor to replicate the season two finale's Snow Ball. Attendees can dance awkwardly (remember, it's middle school) to throwback tunes spun by DJ Lady Grey, and participate in a costume contest—a prize will be awarded to the person with the best character getup, and the two with the best ’80s ensembles will be crowned Snow Ball king and queen.

While waiting to see the art show (admission is free, but entry times are every half hour), folks can munch on Stranger Things­­-themed snacks like 3 Musketeers bars, or pay a visit to the on-site Burly Beverages bar, which will be shaking up cocktails with names like The Upside Down Mule (vodka, ginger beer and pineapple and lime juices), Billy's Camaro (tequila, black lime and bay leaf shrub, butterscotch root beer reduction and French gray salt) and Hot Barb, a toddy with bourbon, cinnamon and honey-lemon switchel.

Kickoff party: Free ($10 suggested donation). $10 for pre-reserved, timed tickets, which can be purchased in advance at Eventbrite (password is Bologna). Jan. 27. 7:30 p.m.-midnight; last entry to the show is 11:30 p.m.. Outlet Coworking. 2110 K St. The exhibit runs through the month of February. For more information, call 916-642-9389.

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