'Super Heroines' on display at Patriot Hall's art gallery

Nicole Heere’s ‘Super Heroines’ opened at Patriot Hall Thursday evening with a reception, live music, some good food and plenty of discussion about art that’s fun and different.

Heere is a native of South Texas who lives in Columbia with her husband Bob and paints at the Tapp’s Art Center with a style and vision sure to make Sumterites visit Patriot Hall to see her take on suburbia and superheroes done in an utterly unique way.

You will see Iron Man ironing. And Spider Man doing the laundry. Hulk is getting centered with some yoga, memorialized in a downward dog pose.

“If I had a superhero for a day, there’s nothing I need except for chores to be done,” Heere said, laughing, just after a nice crowd showed up Thursday night. “I don’t need to be saved. I would put him to work.”

Batman? Don’t bother him, because he’s busy vacuuming. Chewbacca is shedding and trying to keep the place tidy. And the suburban housewives from the 50s are anything but typical.

Heere said she’s inspired by “the small realities of life.”

“We don’t think about who cleans up after our superheroes, or what was that 50s housewife really thinking,” she wonders. “I think it still resonates with women today.”

She’s not afraid to deconstruct today’s superheroes and incorporate what’s seen as feminine, like Hulk seeking balance with yoga. Right now she’s working on a Renaissance-era Marie Antoinette type figure, but with boxing gloves.

“I like to add juxtaposition but with a shred of truth. I like girl power but don’t want to come at it from an angry perspective,” she said. “I love being a woman, I love men. It’s fun and there’s still truth to it all.”

Live music was provided by Johnny Hilton, Donny Floyd and Darren Polutta.

Heere’s art will be on display through May 12.

Patriot Hall’s Gallery 135 is located at 135 Haynsworth Street and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday. It’s free. For more information, call For more info call 803-436-2260803-436-2260.

Visit Nicole Heere’s website: http://www.nicoleheere.com/