Review: READY FIRE AIM

Assistant Gallery Manager and Staff Writer Jaede Bayala recently viewed READY FIRE AIM by Archie Scott Gobber at Haw Contemporary.

READY FIRE AIM at Haw Contemporary offers commentary on culture and our political landscape through sharply painted text and comical irony. Gobber’s lettering seems to be a nod to traditional sign painting, with crisp lines rendered in latex, lacquer, and gouache. Several of his pieces play with language by painting over a letter or rendering it barely visible — as is the case with “You Can’t Make this Shit Up”. The largest piece in this collection, and arguably the most visually striking one, mirrors the show’s title, “READY FIRE AIM”. This 66” x 84” painting depicts a golden version of The Great Seal of the United States with the words ‘ready fire aim’ woven in and out of the emblem. The majority of the artwork is encircled by a gold ring and a navy blue ring adorned with white stars, while the corners of the painting feature a recreation of an ornate framework. Each of the seventeen works in this show holds its own power, but it's their synergy as a whole that makes the exhibition truly impactful.

READY FIRE AIM by Archie Scott Gobber is on view at Haw Contemporary from 9/12/2025 – 11/01/2025