Duration: January 13 – February 3, 2012
Reception: Friday, January 13 @ 6:30-10:30pm
Curator: Kathryn Mecca
LIVE Music: New World Order
Special Guest Photographers: Andrew Darlow and Whitey Warner
On Tour: the third annual group photography exhibition at Alfa Art Gallery. Featuring works from five talented artists, this exhibition focuses on photography as a reflection of space and place. From the local markets of rural South Korea to the majestic landscapes of Switzerland, each of these artists provides us with a piercing sense of place. As a collection, these works offer a glimpse into the natural and cultural diversity across three continents.
Join us for the opening reception on Friday, January 13th at 6:30pm, with live music by the New World Order and photography by Jay Seldin, Jennifer Lugris, Christopher McGuigan, Mary Conlon and Mike Lindwasser (click each artist’s name for more info). The exhibition will remain open through February 3rd.
Jay Seldin is a professional photographer, digital media artist and master digital printmaker. His photographs have been featured in various solo and group exhibitions nationally and abroad. He travels the world to document cultures through portrait based photography. Past series include location based works from Cuba, SouthEast Asia, China and Italy. On Tour features nearly 15 pieces from his Haitian and Indian series. He captures people in ordinary yet whimsical moments, which effectively communicates the idiosyncrasies of their culture. His systematic use of color makes his subjects pop from their monochromatic backgrounds. The resulting photographs are personal, playful and optimistic in nature. Jay has been awarded numerous awards including a fellowship from the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation and is currently the artist-in-residence at Montclair Art Museum.
Jennifer Lugris is a graduate of Rutgers University, where she received her BA in Sociology with a concentration in Photography. Her work combines her interests in travel, photography and the study of culture. With series from South Korea, Spain, Germany, Guatemala and Uruguay, Jennifer studies the social and cultural diversities that range with location. She focuses on simple images and primary colors to give the viewer an unembellished record of a place. Jennifer currently lives in Alhambra, California, where she works as a research assistant for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Mary Conlon is currently pursuing her BFA in photography at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. Alfa is proud to present this emerging artist’s five diptych Spain series. Her images are captured in public spaces, with subject matter ranging from architecture to pedestrian life. This series captures her desire to understand a foreign culture as an outsider. Through her process, she remains detached from and observant of the culture she visits. Originally from Trenton, New Jersey, Mary has participated in various exhibitions throughout the State. This past year, she interned at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.
Mike Lindwasser attended the School of Visual Arts and currently lives and works in New York City. Alfa presents his location based photographs, all of which are shot in various cities throughout the United States. He distorts his images with the use of fades and colored tints and focuses on such dream-like subjects as windows, puddles, docks and trees. With their limited colors and reflective imagery, the viewer cannot escape their solemn tones/moods. Mike is originally from Queens, New York and comes from a family of artists. His artistic focus has been on photojournalism, portraiture, fashion photography and the documentation of social events.
Chris McGuigan has been the resident photographer for Alfa Art Gallery for the past year. His work is a mix of staged studio photography and candid landscapes and cityscapes. On Tour features his majestic black and white landscapes of the Adirondacks region of New York State. This series captures the raw but dormant power of the region and focuses on its tumultuous skies and rocky landscapes. Their monochromatic format underscores further the contrast between the explosive potential and the docile solitude of nature. Chris received his BA from Rutgers University and currently works as a wedding and portrait photographer at the Rivington Studio.
