D.W. Marino‘s creative focus on weapons of mass destruction in his three-dimensional sculptures is a reflection of his years of employment in ammunition manufacturing in California’s Central Coast. Part of his larger “Bombardment” series, which uses bombs to deliver messages about culture, theology, consumerism and the military industrial complex. These are mounted in display boxes which give further context to the themes of the bombs. Derek spares no venom for gross polluters, global warming naysayers, and future Super Fund alumni who put profit over environmental catastrophe then try to explain it all away as their legal obligation to the company, either. It sounds bleak and sullen but the end results tend to look light-hearted and comical –especially considering issues that are no laughing matter at all.

This particular wood and glass diorama was created for the landmark La Luz de Jesus 25 exhibition as a tribute to the Laluzapalooza group show created by gallery director Matt Kennedy during his tenure at the original birthplace of pop surrealism.