http://www.clevescene.com/2006-09-20/culture/capsule-reviews-of-current-area-art-exhibitions/full

Miscellaneous Debris -- You've probably never bothered to look closely at a late-night TV test pattern, but it's actually an impressive study in contrasts, as one of these quirky creations by Clevelander Dana Depew demonstrates. Though steeped in pop art, Depew's work transcends pop's rather narrow boundaries with keen observation, humor, and unusual materials rich in associated meaning. For each piece, he removes stripe symbols from their original contexts in business, sports, politics, and entertainment, and transforms them into full-scale paintings. Thus excerpted, they become strangely unfamiliar and invite fresh appreciation. Depew scores his deepest hits when the medium comments on the subject, as in "Terror Alert Chart," a large rendering of Homeland Security's color-coded warning system. He paints solid horizontal bands on threadbare burlap, implying the concept itself is weak and nearly useless. Encyclopedic notes accompany many images, piling on trivial details and compounding the magnificence of the mundane. A lengthy etymology of stockings is the perfect complement to the already absurdly enchanting "Hanes Tube Socks," which all but envisions socks as historical treasures. Painting three faint stripes apiece on a few vertical sections of nubby chenille fabric, Depew mimics the exact look and feel of worn-out footwear. They may not be priceless relics, but they're certainly something to behold. Through October 7 at Asterisk Gallery, 2393 Professor Ave., 330-304-8528, www.asteriskgallery.com. -- Zachary Lewis