Oxytocin and Pendent Tendencies give Ice Cube Gallery an installation charge

The evenhandedness of the artist's choices — equating the tea-baggers and the occupiers, for example — doesn't reveal the artist's own political view; Morris says he leaves it to viewers to come away with whatever message they will. As a political statement, then, the piece is a little wishy-washy, but as a work of art, it's an eye-dazzler.

The other Morris piece, "Balance and Harmony, Truth and Wisdom," in the center of the Ice Cube space, is both related to and different from "Can't We All Just Get Along?," though it's the older of the two pieces, having been shown at the CU Art Museum some months ago. Both works are suspension pieces with central forms, but they are formally very different, with the shapes used for "Balance and Harmony" mostly abstract rather than representational, like those used for "Can't We All Get Along." The topic of the piece is the pearl of wisdom being protected by a dragon and a phoenix; as is apparent, Morris is interested in Asian religion and philosophy.

Detail of "Oxytocin," by Katie Caron and Martha Russo.

"Can't We All Get Along?," by Jerry Morris, mixed materials.

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Ice Cube Gallery

3320 Walnut St.
Denver, CO 80205

Category: Galleries

Region: Downtown Denver

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Through January 28, at Ice Cube Gallery, 3320 Walnut Street, 303-292-1822, http://icecubegallery.com.

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More About

• Ice Cube (Rapper)
• Martha Russo
• Katie Caron
• Visual Arts
• Arts, Entertainment, and Media

On the floor is an arrangement of cymbal-like forms in the shape of a footed pedestal made of brown-glazed ceramics that balance on small stands so that they subtly move and shimmer. As a group, they sort of reminded me of roof tiles. Hanging from the ceiling are suspended shapes of cut transparent polycarbonate sheets that hang down to within a few feet of the floor. These razor-thin plastic sheets, some clear and others with a green tint, are hard to see and are thus actually dangerous, since I'm sure viewers could get hurt if they ran into the piece. But taking it all in from a safe distance, it's an apparent success as a visual statement, being monumental and ethereal at the same time, a difficult assignment for anything.

I've never been disappointed by any show I've ever seen at Ice Cube, but right now, with Caron, Russo and Morris doing their best, it's never looked better — as good as any museum around here.