When looking at a piece of surrealist art, one might be struck by a sense of confusion, curiosity, perhaps a little annoyance. It likely doesn’t make sense upon first glance, but a longer look reveals a world of the imaginary and unconscious, one that offers insight into our time and society’s most pressing issues.
It’s a movement that many find well-suited for the current moment, and Coconino Center for the Arts is connecting artists from all around the country to examine this moment through WONDER: Social Surrealism in Contemporary Art.
kAm~? 5:DA=2J F?E:= s646>36C a`[ (~}st# 9:89=:89ED E96 H@C< @7 7@FC 4@?E6>A@C2CJ 2CE:DED H9@ 2C6 6IA2?5:?8 @? E96 6E9@D @7 D@4:2= DFCC62=:D> :? ?@G6= H2JDi t5:6 s:==@?[ y677 {62<6[ zC:DEJ s66EK 2?5 r92D uC:D4@]k^Am
kAms:==@?[ 2 7@C>6C 65F42E@C 2?5 >:I65 >65:2 2CE:DE :?G:E6D G:6H6CD E@ 4@?D:56C �(92E :7[� E@ 492==6?86 E96:C AC64@?46:G65 ?@E:@?D 2?5 9:89=:89E 4C:E:42= 8=@32= :DDF6D]k^Am
kAm“|J H@C< :D G6CJ 6?82865 H:E9 D@4:2= 2?5 6?G:C@?>6?E2= :DDF6D[ 2?5 C62==J 2=H2JD 92D 366?] $@ E9:D H2D 2 C62==J ?2EFC2= 7:E 7@C >6[� s:==@? D2:5]k^Am
kAmw6C ;@FC?6J 2D 2? 2CE:DE 3682? H:E9 E96 A2:?E3CFD9[ 3FE 6G6?EF2==J[ D96 7@F?5 E92E E96 42?G2D H2D E@@ D>2== 2 7C2>6 7@C 96C 4C62E:G6 2>3:E:@?] $@[ D96 AC@8C6DD65 7C@> A2:?E:?8 E@ 4@?DECF4E:?8 2?5 H6=5:?8 7@C>D[ H96C6 6249 A:646 :D 2D >F49 23@FE E96 AC@46DD @7 2DD6>3=J 2D :E :D 23@FE E96 7:?2= AC@5F4E]k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 96C >@DE A@H6C7F= A:646D :? (~}st# :D E:E=65 p !C2J6Ci %@ $66 ~FCD6=G6D :? ~E96CD 2?5 ~E96CD :? ~FCD6=G6D[ H9:49 2EE6>AED E@ DJ?E96D:K6 96C :562D 23@FE 7@C> 2?5 5C2H 2 A2C2==6= 36EH66? 9:DE@C:42= 2?5 4@?E6>A@C2CJ EC2865:6D]k^Am
kAmsFC:?8 2 EC:A E@ !C28F6 =2DE DF>>6C[ s:==@? G:D:E65 E96 w@=@42FDE >6>@C:2= 2E E96 !:?<2D $J?28@8F6] tE4965 :?E@ E96 H2== H6C6 E96 ?2>6D @7 g_[___ G:4E:>D[ gc @7 H9@> 925 E96 D2>6 =2DE ?2>6 2D 96C 9FD32?5]k^Am
kAm%9:D 962CE\HC6?49:?8 5:D4@G6CJ 4@>A6==65 s:==@? E@ 5@ >@C6 C6D62C49[ E@ 7:?5 @FE H96C6 E96J H6C6 D6?E 2?5 :? H9:49 42>A E96J 5:65]k^Am
kAm%92E H@C< >256 96C E9:?< @7 2? :>286 D96 925 D66? :? ~4E@36C a_ab]k^Am
kAm�$@>6 !2=6DE:?:2? H@>6? H6C6 D96=E6C:?8 :? E96 32D6>6?E @7 2 9@DA:E2= 3642FD6 E96:C AC6G:@FD D96=E6C 925 366? 3@>365[ 2?5 E96 H@>6?VD 4@?7:8FC2E:@? E@86E96C =@@<65 2=>@DE 6I24E=J =:<6 2 `dE9\46?EFCJ |25@??2[� s:==@? D2:5]k^Am
kAm%96 C6DF=E:?8 2CEH@C<[ AC6D6?E65 :? 2 C6A=:42 @7 2 `dE9\46?EFCJ 7C2>6[ D6CG6D 2D 2? 2=E2C E92E =:?<D A2DE 2EC@4:E:6D H:E9 E9@D6 @7 E96 AC6D6?E 52J]k^Am
kAms:==@?’D 2AAC@249 4@>3:?6D 2CE 2?5 65F42E:@?[ 2D 6249 A:646 :D 244@>A2?:65 3J E9@C@F89 C6D62C49 2?5 2? 2CE:DE DE2E6>6?E E92E DA6==D @FE E96 :?E6?E:@? 369:?5 E96 H@C<]k^Am
kAmu@C s:==@?[ E9:D 324<8C@F?5 :?7@C>2E:@? :D 2 A2CE @7 E96 6IAC6DD:@?[ 3FE 7@C y677 {62<6[ 2 A2:?E6C 2?5 D4F=AE@C 7C@> ~C68@?[ 9:D DE@C:6D @7E6? 6>6C86 7C@> E96 AC@46DD @7 4C62E:@?]k^Am
kAm�%96C6 :D C6D62C49 :? A2CE:4F=2C E@ 368:? H:E9[ 3FE :? E96 AC@46DD @7 >2<:?8 E96D6 E9:?8D[ :E ;FDE 492?86D D@ >F49 2D xV> 8@:?8 2=@?8 E92E x ?6G6C <?@H H92EVD 8@:?8 E@ 6?5 FA =:<6[ H9:49 x E9:?< :D >@C6 :?E6C6DE:?8 E@ >6[� {62<6 D2:5]k^Am
kAmrFCC6?E=J E6249:?8 2 4=2DD @? D6?D2E:@? 2?5 A6C46AE:@? E9C@F89 E96 ADJ49@=@8J 56A2CE>6?E 2E !@CE=2?5 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ[ {62<6 6IA=@C6D 9@H A6@A=6 4C62E6 >62?:?8 2?5 ?2G:82E6 2>3:8F:EJ�2 E96>6 E92E 86ED E@ E96 962CE @7 H92E >2<6D D@4:2= DFCC62=:D> D@ 67764E:G6]k^Am
kAmw6 56A=@JD 2>3:8F:EJ[ =:<6 E96 C6DE @7 E96 2CE:DED :? (~}st#[ E@ 4C62E6 F?72>:=:2C D46?6D E92E 7@C46 E96 2F5:6?46 E@ AC24E:46 2 7=6I:3:=:EJ @C E@=6C2?46 7@C E96 ?6H @C 5:D4@>7@CE:?8]k^Am
kAmp55:E:@?2==J[ {62<6 D66D E9:D 2AAC@249 2D 2 H2J E92E 2CE 42? 5:DCFAE 5@>:?2?E ?2CC2E:G6D E@ C6G62= 2=E6C?2E6 A6CDA64E:G6D 2?5 H2JD 7@CH2C5]k^Am
kAm“u@C >JD6=7[ 7@C 6I2>A=6[ x 562= H:E9 2 =@E @7 DE@C:6D 2?5 7@=< E2=6D[ 2C496EJA6D 7@C 3692G:@C[â€� 96 D2:5] “qFE E96? x H:== D@CE @7 E2<6 E9@D6 @FE @7 4@?E6IE 2?5 AFE E96> :? 5:776C6?E ;FIE2A@D:E:@?Dâ€� u@C >6[ >J 9@A6 :D E92E E92E 2==@HD A6@A=6 E@ D66 E9:?8D E92E 2C6 72>:=:2C :? 2 5:776C6?E H2J]â€k^Am
kAm{62<6’D A2:?E:?8D 762EFC6 2A@42=JAE:4 G:D:@?D @7 E96 A2DE 2?5 AC6D6?E 4@==:5:?8 @? H@@56? 42?G2D6D E92E 2C6 4FE :?E@ 23DEC24E D92A6D]k^Am
kAm{:<6 E62 =62G6D @C 4=@F5D[ E96J 2D< 2F5:6?46D E@ E9:?< @FED:56 @7[ @C 36J@?5[ E96 7C2>6j E96J >FDE 6I6C4:D6 E96:C :>28:?2E:@?D 2?5 2==@H E96>D6=G6D DA246 E@ E6== E96 DE@C:6D E92E E96J D66]k^Am
kAmâ€�!2CE @7 >J E9:?8 :D E@ 2==@H C@@> 7@C A6@A=6[ H96? E96J 4@>6 E@ 2 A:646[ E@ DE2CE E@ E6== E96:C @H? DE@CJ 23@FE :E[â€� {62<6 D2:5] â€�$@ >J 9@A6 :D E92E x 42? @C82?:K6 E9@D6 :? 2 H2J E92E :EVD ?@ =@?86C 2 7:I65 >62?:?8 @C 2 7:I65 @FE4@>6[ 3FE E92E H6 42? DE2CE E@ D66 E96D6 2D 36:?8 >@C6 7=6I:3=6]â€k^Am
kAm%96 :?E6CAC6E:G6 6IA6C:6?46 :D :?96C6?E :? D@4:2= DFCC62=:D>[ 3FE D@>6 2CE:DED 6?8286 H:E9 :E >@C6 5:C64E=J E92? @E96CD]k^Am
kAmzC:DEJ s66EK 2?5 96C =:76 A2CE?6C t5 {@F:D 92G6 E2<6? 2 F?:BF6 2AAC@249 E@ :?E6CAC6E2E:@? E92E 92D 4C62E65 H@C<D @7 2CE E92E 2C6 5:DE:?4E E@ E96:C DEJ=6 2?5 C6=2E:@?D9:A]k^Am
kAm%96 EH@ 2C6 C6E:C65 AC@76DD@CD[ 2?5 E96J 28C66 E92E E96J 92G6 2=H2JD 366? :? 566A 4@?G6CD2E:@? 23@FE E96:C 6?562G@CD 2?5 :562D]k^Am
kAmx? 96C C646?E H@C<D[ s66EK 92D 6IA=@C65 DFCC62=:D> E9C@F89 :?5FDEC:2= ;24BF2C5 H62G:?8 2?5 E96 4@?46AE E92E 4@>A=6I :562D 42? 36 C6AC@5F465 E9C@F89 5:8:E2= >62?D]k^Am
kAmâ€�%96 :>286D :? E96 H62G:?8Dâ€� 2C6 2 =@E 23@FE 2AAC@AC:2E:?8 2?5 4@>>6?E:?8 @? :>286D E9C@F89 >2?J 4F=EFC6D[â€� s66EK D2:5] â€�$@ @7E6?E:>6D[ E9@D6 4F=EFC6D 4@==:56[ 2?5 E96J :?6G:E23=J F?4@G6C 4@?7=:4ED @C 5:=6>>2D E92E 2C6 :? 4@?E6>A@C2CJ 4F=EFC6]â€k^Am
kAm~?6 @7 E96 A:646D @? 5:DA=2J[ r23=6 @C s:D9[ 762EFC6D :==FD:@?:DE:4 HC:?<=6D :? E96 723C:4 E92E 9:56 2 }2E:G:EJ D46?6 E@ 2 =2J6C65 67764E]k^Am
kAmâ€�*@F 92G6 E@ =@@< 4=@D6=J[â€� s66EK D2:5[ “E96C6’D 2 =@E @7 3FC:65 :>286CJ :? E96 H@C<[ 2?5 J@F 92G6 E@ 7:?5 :E 2?5 E96? 7:8FC6 @FE H92E :E 4@>6D 7C@> 2?5 9@H :E :?E6C24ED H:E9 E96 @E96C :>286D]â€k^Am
kAmu@C 2 =@?8 E:>6[ {@F:D 925 366? 2? @3D6CG6C @7 s66EK’D H@C<] %96J 925 E2=<65 23@FE 4@==23@C2E:?8 7@C J62CD 3FE ?6G6C 7@F?5 E96 C:89E @AA@CEF?:EJj F?E:= C646?E=J[ H96? zC:DEJ 3682? H@C<:?8 @? 2 ?6H D6C:6D[ E96J 564:565 E@ 8:G6 :E 2 D9@E]k^Am
kAm%96 4@==23@C2E:@? D66D {@F:D HC:E:?8 6<A9C2DE:4 D9@CE DE@C:6D E@ 24E 2D 4@>A2?:@? A:646D E@ s66EK’D H@C<]k^Am
kAm“x =@@< 2E E96 492C24E6CD[ x =@@< 2E E96 =2?5D42A6D :? E96 A2:?E:?8D[ 2?5 x ECJ E@ 7:8FC6 @FE H9@ E96J 2C6 2?5 H92E E96JVC6 5@:?8[â€� {@F:D D2:5] â€�$@ E96?[ x HC:E6 2 =:EE=6 DE@CJ E92E 2:>D E@ 6=:4:E D@>6 @7 E96 D2>6 E9@F89ED 2?5 766=:?8D E92E E96 A2:?E:?8 5@6Dâ€�:? H@C5D :?DE625 @7 :>286D]â€k^Am
kAm(9:=6 {@F:D C6DA@?5D E@ s66EK’D G:DF2= 4F6D[ 96 >2:?E2:?D 4C62E:G6 7C665@> :? 9:D :?E6CAC6E2E:@?D[ 2?5 s66EK[ E@@[ G2=F6D E9:D 7C665@> 2?5 9@A6D 96C 2F5:6?46 3C:?8D E96:C @H? E9@F89ED E@ 96C H@C<]k^Am
kAm“x ECJ E@ =FC6 @C 4@??64E E@ E96 G:6H6C[ A6C92AD E9C@F89 362FEJ� :7 E96J 8C23 :?E@ E96 DE@CJ 2?5 C62==J ECJ E@ 7:8FC6 @FE H92E >:89E 36[ E92E’D 8C62E[� D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmr92D uC:D4@ 3C:?8D 2 =@42= 6=6>6?E E@ E9:D 6I9:3:E:@?�9:D 8@C86@FD A@EE6CJ 7C@?E 2?5 46?E6C]k^Am
kAmpD 2 A@EE6C[ 96 :D 72>:=:2C H:E9 F?AC65:4E23:=:EJ[ >2<:?8 :E 2 A2CE @7 9:D AC@46DD] %9:D 2AAC@249 2==@HD 9:D H@C< E@ C6249 E96 D2>6 96:89ED @7 2>3:8F:EJ 2D 9:D 76==@H 2CE:DED]k^Am
kAmx? 2 u=28 {:G6 2CE:4=6 7C@> a_aa[ 96 D2:5[ â€�%96 =:?6D @? E92E 4@?E2:?6C 2C6 @3D4FC6 6?@F89 E92E :E 42? 36 D@>6E9:?8[ 2 H2G6 @C E96 3@EE@> @7 2 4=@F5â€� xE’D 2>3:8F@FD[ 3FE x DE:== H2?E E@ =625 J@F :? 2 H2J E92E J@F 42? AFE E9:?8D E@86E96C :? J@FC >:?5[ D@ J@FC @H? 56E2:=D 364@>6 D@>6E9:?8]â€k^Am
kAm%96 DF3E=6 49@:46D uC:D4@ >2<6D H96? D4F=AE:?8 92G6 =2DE:?8 :>A24ED @? E96 7:?2= A:646[ 3FE :E’D E92E @A6??6DD E92E 2==@HD 9:D H@C< E@ 36 5:DE:?4E 2D H6== 2D AC28>2E:4]k^Am
kAm(~}st#i $@4:2= $FCC62=:D> :? r@?E6>A@C2CJ pCE 2E r@4@?:?@ r6?E6C 7@C E96 pCED D6CG6D FA 2 H:56 C2?86 @7 H@C< 7C@> 7@FC E2=6?E65 2CE:DED] pF5:6?46D 42? 6IA6C:6?46 E96D6 2CE:DED� 566A :?E6==64EF2= 4@??64E:@? 7:CDE92?5 2?5 5C2H E9C@F89=:?6D 2?5 4@?EC2DED E@ F?4@G6C DE@C:6D :? E96 DFCC62=]k^Am
kAm%9:D H@C=5 :D 92C5 E@ 8C2AA=6 H:E9j =6E (~}st# 96=A J@F >2<6 D6?D6 @7 :E]k^Am
kAmx7 J@F�5 =:<6 E@ =62C? >@C6 23@FE E9:D 6I9:3:E:@?[ G:D:E E96 r@4@?:?@ r6?E6C 7@C E96 pCED H63D:E6 2E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^4@4@?:?@2CED]@C8^6I9:3:E:@?D^H@?56C\D@4:2=\DFCC62=:D>\:?\4@?E6>A@C2CJ\2CE^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm4@4@?:?@2CED]@C8]k^2mk^Am