'Alter-Ego, Images Made with Toy Cameras and Alternative Photographic Processes'

[arts-somerville.livejournal.com]

 

Nave Gallery Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

36^th Exhibition Opens May 2^nd

'Alter-Ego, Images Made with Toy Cameras and Alternative Photographic Processes'

 

 

SOMERVILLE, Mass. – The Nave Gallery opened May 15, 2004. This May ARTSomerville and the Nave celebrate its 5^th anniversary with their 36^th exhibition, appropriately entitled ‘Alter-Ego’. Since its inception the Nave has become known as an innovative and alternative venue for visual artists and musicians alike. Curated by two young artists, Greer Muldowney and Bridget Kane, 'Alter-Ego, Images Made with Toy Cameras and Alternative Photographic Processes' showcases work that bucks the trend in the today’s world of photography.


 

 

 

 

Curators’ statement:
During times of change, there are always those who rebel. In the current era of digital media, many photographers are reaching for ways to create work that is relevant in the world today, but by using manual processes that have enriched photography since its inception. Be it with taped up plastic toy cameras from the 1970s, to making their own pinhole cameras, to creating cyanotypes outside in the sun—these are not photographers who simply want to plug in their memory card and click away to create an image.  There is a lot of trial and error, duct-tape and elbow grease in making each of these images.

Many alternative photographers live by the mantra “don’t think, just shoot”.  There are minimal options and settings in the cameras, and much is is left to chance, intuition and happy accidents.  The process takes on a life of its own--be it light leaks in the camera, one frame overlapping to the next, or variations in environment and chemistry-- the intentional loss of control over the medium gives the artist an ability to let go of what might be sacred, as what is being captured through these mediums many times is unknown until the film is processed.  It is a balance of give and take between the artist and the medium.

These photographers portray work that is whimsical, nostalgic and engrossed in their respective mediums to create the work that has been chosen to display.  With polaroid, cyantope and other analogue techniques falling to the wayside in this digital age, we hope to celebrate these artists and their unique processes at the Nave.

 

ARTISTS
Leslie Bastress
Heather Blakney
Kayla Brenes
Mark Richard Brown
Derrick Burbel
Christina
Myriah Leshea Douglas
Erica Frisk
Alice Grossman
Mellisa Gruntkosky
Janisha
Theresa Kelliher
Ariel Kessler
Mary Kocol
Cassandra Martin
Karen Molloy
Natasha Moustache
Dana Mueller
Denyse Murphy
Eric Nichols
Cade Overton
O Gustavo Plascencia
Serrah Russell
Shayna
Erika Sidor
Annie Smidt
Roberta Stone
David Strasburger
Andy Takats
Tricia
Molly Van Nice
V VanSant
Ann Zelle
Lexie Zippin

 

During Somerville Open Studios, the Nave will be hosting free poetry readings by local New England writers in the gallery. For a full schedule and lineup:

http://www.artsomerville.org/event/2009/poetrySOS.html

 

Also join us on May 16, as local bands come together to celebrate the Nave Gallery’s fifth anniversary with a special tribute show at PA’s Lounge featuring the music of Pixies lead singer and songwriter, Frank Black.

 

Performing on two stages at the Union Square music venue, musicians participating in the tribute night include The Big Disappointments, Doomstar!, Tony The Bookie Orchestra, Choo Choo La Rouge, Wrong Reasons, Rococo La Boy, Audrey Ryan and Stephen Brodsky, Thom from Bon Savants, Ryan Lee Crosby, Vanessa Hayes, and Caitlin Frame. The songs cover a wide range of Frank Black’s back catalogue, ranging from the Pixies to his solo efforts. The show begins at 8:00 pm and the cover charge is $8. For more information:http://www.artsomerville.org/event/2009/frankBlack.html

Since its debut in 2004, the Gallery has showcased more 400 artists from across the globe, including 6 countries. Additionally, the Nave hosts a variety of alternative music performers, many of whom are recorded and posted online at Jamendo, the free Internet music platform and community.

The Nave Gallery, located in Teele Square, Somerville, MA, is a collaborative effort between ARTSomerville and the Clarendon Hill Presbyterian Church. Solely operated by volunteers, the Nave Gallery provides exhibition space for both local and regional artists. Area musicians are regularly featured and the Gallery provides a great opportunity for visitors to purchase affordably priced original art. The Nave Gallery participates every summer in Davis Square’s ArtBeat celebration; sponsors Project Mum, an open-air summer dance party under the McGrath Highway in Somerville, MA; and has sponsored music festivals in collaboration with the Somerville Open Studios. For more information, visit artsomerville.org.

 

Comments

[dominika-kretek.livejournal.com]

I will be one of the poets reading for Somerville Open Studios, so I am obliged to encourage everyone to attend!

[fefie.livejournal.com]

And if you're participating in Somerville Open Studios elsewhere and can't get over to the Nave next weekend, there's an opening reception for the exhibit on 7 May, 7-9 pm. (Images from the show: http://www.artsomerville.org/nave/2009/alter.html)

[deftlyd.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of Bill T Miller's circuit bent pixel vision camera. See http://billtmiller.com/images/bentpxlcam.jpg

Looks like a good event.