ART REVIEW

‘Dry’ Indeed: “Dry” is a 10-artist exhibition that makes even less sense visually than it does conceptually.

Organized for Miller Fine Art by guest curator Mary-Kay Lombino and artist Stas Orlovski, this unfruitful show is meant to emphasize the clever humor underlying the plain, matter-of-fact appearance of its 20 drawings.

Unfortunately, viewers are not treated to a light-handed display of subtle wit and restrained irony, but presented with a grouping that’s tedious and boring. Too many dull pieces ensure that “Dry” is lifeless and arid, a barren arrangement from whose lackluster juxtapositions sparks rarely fly.

It’s best to scan this exhibition for its highlights rather than to spend too much time trying to discover what ideas might link its diverse, uneven works. Standouts include: Adam Ross’ bird’s-eye views of sci-fi cityscapes; Megan Williams’ spunky pictures of cartoonish figures getting groped or showered; Ken Price’s tiny watercolors that resemble crisp, woodblock prints of car crashes; and Judie Bamber’s no-nonsense renditions of solitary sex toys.

There’s nothing dry about the bursting physicality of Williams’ animated pastels. Although Ross’ imaginary landscapes do not include water, they’re so saturated with fantasy that it’s difficult to think of them as being dry. Likewise, the bright tones of Price’s watercolors flow with juicy vitality. Among the show’s best works, only Bamber’s loaded drawings deliver dry wit.

Intended to show off understated drawings that are not colored by emotions, “Dry” actually features works that are not colored at all. Aside from the pictures by Williams and Price, muted grays predominate, making for a colorless, ineffective exhibition. Shrewdness and savvy are in too short supply to prevent “Dry” from being flat and uninteresting.

* Miller Fine Art, 8720 1/2 W. Pico Blvd., (310) 652-0057, through Sept. 6. Closed Sunday-Tuesday.