There is a huge mountain topped with fake snow inside the gallery at Western Bridge this winter. Standing on it are two taxidermied mountain goats. Apparently it is very difficult to obtain taxidermied mountain goats. This makes no difference to me as a viewer.

Frankly, after repeat visits, I'm still staring at the goats with the same blankness with which they are staring at me. Them and their flashy mountaintop are both too spectacular and too dull. I am mildly annoyed by their attempt to get my attention, then I forget them.

According to the press statement for the show, "the piece asserts itself as a commonplace despite its uncanniness. The extraordinary is expressed as if ordinary." I suppose this is the same as saying "they are both too spectacular and too dull," so perhaps the piece is working by not working. In this case, working by not working is not working for me.

That said, I can recommend the other works in the gallery by Euan Macdonald (goat artist). In particular, do not miss the back room: a less obvious but more evocative landscape, where sheet music covers for old songs are paired with photographs and drawings taken/made/lifted by the artist. A loose and tender story starts to come together as you mentally connect the images and the titles of the songs (a video also plays snippets of the songs, some floating into familiarity for a few seconds before another song interrupts). The connections are dreamlike, not direct.

More images on the jump.

And don't forget: Corin Hewitt is performing at WB tomorrow through Saturday, noon to 5 pm. Don't miss.