An exhibit in fine art photography featuring the work of:
Stephan Brigidi ~ Karen Callan ~ Elaine Fisher ~ John Hames ~
Denny Moers ~ Sheila Oliveira ~ Marc St. Pierre
The Opening Reception is Sunday, May 17th from 2:00 – 5:00. The public is cordially invited to attend. Admission is free and refreshments will be served.
by Sheila Oliveira
Selecting the photographers for ‘angles & views’ began with the preview of Karen Callan’s portfolio ‘Window Treatments’ for the Narrows Gallery. Karen sees light and reflection to photograph ambiguities that result from unexpected combinations of visual elements. It was from this point the idea of a group photography exhibit began to emerge.
Over the years I have become acquainted with the work of the artists exhibiting in this show. I know both Marc St. Pierre and Elaine Fisher from the University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth. Both are art professors. They are photographers whose working process and concerns are different yet the genesis is photographic. Elaine Fisher’s prints are of urban fragments ‘ ‘depicting human isolation in harsh unyielding environments’. Marc St. Pierre’s uses pinhole photography to explore architectural forms and nature ‘ ‘the camera’s shapes are designed to challenge the image and modify it accordingly’. I have a longstanding admiration for both Elaine and Marc and asked them to participate in this exhibit.
Denny Moers, Stephan Brigidi and John Hames are Rhode Island based photographers who I was not personally acquainted with. Many years ago I had attended an exhibit at the Bell Gallery in Providence, RI and saw the work of Denny Moers. I was so impressed with the evocative nature of his prints that touch a familiar yet distant feeling. He combines his imagery with a darkroom process that creates ‘one of a kind’ prints. He uses various materials as substrates that add a unique quality and unpredictability to his photographic images.
Stephan Brigidi is another photographer whose work I have seen exhibited and admired. I visited Stephan’s studio in Bristol, RI to review work for this show. It was a difficult decision. Stephan has wonderful portfolios in silver prints, digital and Cibachrome. His work of the Venice ‘Carnevale’ is exhibited here. These are large, bold and colorful prints ‘‘I believe that Venice is its own source of light with a pulsating energy, which comes from the canals themselves’‘
John Hames is a photographer whom I contacted from his website and Gallery Z in Providence, RI. He also works in several processes and has a range of portfolios. When I met with him I was especially drawn to his work that is documentary. He uses the camera to record and translate ‘ ‘What drives my own work is simply this: I am interested in the subject matter itself, the real world as it exists, and the challenge that the fluidity of life demands upon the act of photography’‘ John brings a vision and interpretation to his work that transcends the pure documentation.
For this exhibit I decided upon a split portfolio of images. Most of the images describe two cities (New York and Fall River). The work expresses my interest on ‘marks and edifices’. The process is both silver print and digital media. The images capture the expression of human existence in cities and differs markedly from the extreme of New York and the starkness of the Fall River. I have also included several pieces created here in my studio at the Narrows.
Finally, it was my intention to put together a visually diverse exhibit that would bring to you a representation of the photographic medium from subject, to capture, to expression, to print. Hope you enjoy the exhibit. My thanks to Debra Charlebois, Director of Public Relations, Narrows Center for the Arts, for her support.
The Narrows Gallery is located in the Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan Street, Fall River, MA. Gallery Hours are Wednesday ‘ Saturday, Noon ‘ 5:00 and by appointment. Admission is free during regular Gallery Hours. All concert ticket-holders are welcome to view the exhibition on performance night. For more information: Website: www.ncfta.org / Email: publicrelations@ncfta.org / Phone: 508.324.1926
