Lou Pimentel's "My Pride and Joy" painting for Eat Your Art Out V.

Yesterday we revealed Sket-One's piece for the upcoming "Eat Your Art Out V: Carnival After Dark" charity art auction event, so it only seems fair that today we give Lou Pimentel's simultaneously dark and joyous 16" x 22" watercolor painting a show. Pimentel tries to nonchalantly pass this off as simply a piece inspired by the freak shows of the old traveling circuses — and there is no denying that the child pictured would be regarded as a freak — but because he chose to exhibit a baby as opposed to an adult and entitled the piece "My Pride and Joy" I think we can assume something more is afoot. Call me crazy, but I think Pimentel is trying to make the viewer recognize that even those the masses regard as freaks are someone's child, someone's pride and joy, someone's dearest love… and that the painting is begging you to think twice before you judge someone based on physical appearance. And — for me — it completely works.

"Eat Your Art Out V: Carnival After Dark" is a one-night only charity auction held on February 25th starting at 7PM. It will be located at Titmouse Inc., 1121 Seward Street, Hollywood, CA 90038. http://titmouse.net/