In a daring move that rivals its July 2001 grafitti show, Urban Archaeology, the opening of which was attended by approximately 1,200 people, FLATFILEphotographyGALLERY announces this summer's blockbuster - Politically Incorrect. The show, which opens on Friday, July 26 with a reception from 6-9 pm, will run through August 31st. FLATFILE's monthly Meet the Artists Evening for the show will be on Friday, August 9th from 6-8 pm.

Based on the premise that political correctness (or lack thereof) is in the eye of the creator and beholder, Gallery Director Susan Aurinko has asked gallery and guest artists to show that which they either 1) feel is not PC, or 2) think the public would construe as not PC. The results of the experiment are fascinating.

Main Gallery artist Shelly Corbett, who lives and works in Seattle, and counts many book cover images among her credits, will premiere a provocative new body of work in this show. Instead of her usually delicate, ethereal underwater images, Corbett has created underwater scenarios of anger, war, and rivalry, primarily between women. Decked out as warriors in chain mail and armor, with swords and medieval instruments of pain, Corbett's women clearly mean business.

In the project room, Keith Hackett presents an installation entitled "± " - the symbol for not equal. Hackett, also on of FLATFILE's gallery artists, has created striking portraits of various ethnic faces and added voices speaking in a cacophony of languages to make his point. Hackett is best known for his project creating magnificient large scale color images of Chicago El stops at night, of which he has completed 50.

In Gallery II, gallery and guest artists share their views of what is and what should be politically incorrect. Stand-outs are guest artists Cara Judea Alhadeff, who will show a sampling of the images that have been removed from museum shows on both coasts, including the San Francisco museum of Modern Art. Judea Alhadeff is the daughter of gallery artist Micaela Amato, who will also have a piece in this show. Incidentally, mother and daughter will have a two person show together at FLATFILE in January 2003. The title? Thicker Than Water.

Fredrick Holland, who is represented in Chicago by Carrie Secrist Gallery, has also created a provocative installation piece for this show. Holland prides himself on pushing the envelope both artistically and politically. Sociologically shrewd gallery artist Lewis Koch, whose "totem" piece in FLATFILE's outside the box alternative processes show received critical aclaim, will show another equally intriguing assemblage.

Playing at multiple exposure, Aurinko has also curated a show of Shelly Corbett's earlier, gentler work simultaneously at Takohl Gallery of Jewels at 110 North Peoria troughout the summer. Jeweler Tammy Kohl has named her collection Underwater after the work. In another coup for the artist, Aurinko has placed Corbett's most controversial new work at Feitico Gallery at 1821 West North Avenue. Feitico's Corbett show will have its opening on July 27 from 8 pm to midnight.