For a happy new year, start with art
For a sampling of what Columbia’s art world promises for 2007, check out PS:Gallery’s first exhibition of the year, featuring works by nine artists—four of them local—in multiple media, from photography to fiber. On display through the end of March, the exhibit can be viewed during gallery hours, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. An opening reception is planned for 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Jan. 13.
Avery Danziger | photography | Columbia, Mo.
Avery Danziger’s work explores a realm of art unique to still photography. By using long exposures and a small flash light to illuminate his subjects, Danziger has been exploring how things appear to the camera in times longer than our eye perceives light and subject in real time. The blurred appearance of moving elements, along with camera movement, creates a dreamy time expanse not experienced any other way except with a still camera.
Danziger likes to think of these images as examples of hakansas, which translates from the Japanese as “privileges that are small, fragile and fleeting because they are soon to disappear.” The beach scenes and the nudes in the show, all taken in the last year, reflect this simple Japanese truth.
Although these pieces are a departure from Danziger’s previous work in some ways, he has been examining these ideas all along, with slightly different techniques. I have spent time delving into this realm of photography as well, and what comes to my mind is from one of my favorite books, The Little Prince: the idea of the ephemeral. Photography is just an illusion, a window to the past.
Danziger’s accomplishments as an artist are considerable. He has received a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, and his work can be found in major museums such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York; nearby at the Daum Museum in Sedalia; and in corporate collections such as that of R.J. Reynolds Industries. He is also a filmmaker; his documentary Edward James: Builder of Dreams explores the life of the surrealist collector, poet and architect. Danziger shows his work in a sizable number of major exhibits each year. For a complete list go to www.averydanziger.com
Other Artists:
Joel Sager | tar, wax and oil paintings | Columbia, Mo.
Mike Sleadd | pen and ink drawings | Columbia, Mo.
Michael Dowling | oil paintings | Colorado
Carlos Michael Finn | acrylic paintings | Colorado
Gregory Story | ceramics | Texas
Bob Rynearson | glass | Texas
Keith Grace | mixed media | Illinois
PS:Gallery, owned by Jennifer Perlow and Chris Stevens, is located at 812 E. Broadway. For more information call 442-4831 or visit www.perlow-stevensgallery.com