EXHIBITION DETAILS
Black and White
June 17 - July 23, 2011
Public / Artists’ Reception: July 1 from 6-9pm
THEME
All black and white photography is welcome. This includes alter native, traditional, digital, and toned black and white images. All subjects are eligible.
JUROR:
Catherine Edelman is the founder of Catherine Edelman Gallery which opened in 1987 quickly establishing itself as one of the leading galleries in the Midwest devoted exclusively to the art of photography. From its inception, the goal of the gallery was to exhibit prominent contemporary photographers alongside new & young talent, showcasing a broad range of subject matter and photographic techniques.
JURORS STATEMENT
The history of photography, while still in its infancy, has produced a wealth of amazing images which inspire us, cause us to reflect, and often reminds us of our humanity. Whether looking at a portrait, a landscape, an animal, a fictitious setting, or a billboard advertisement, photographs transport us to places that are both familiar and obscure, uncomfortable and often perplexing. From the moment we wake, we are surrounded by pictures that frame our daily experience, making photography one of the most understood art forms. It is this access that makes it so difficult to create a photograph that is lasting and meaningful to a stranger.
Serious photographers spend a tremendous amount of time, energy, and money working on a project. A juror spends a handful of seconds making a definitive decision that is highly subjective, relying on personal taste and knowledge of the medium and its history. It is through this visual rolodex that I edited Black and White. With more than 3,000 submissions, the task seemed daunting and yet, numerous hours later, the final result is wonderful. The selection features so many areas in which contemporary photography is focused: landscapes, portraits, personal projects, abstractions, text based images, and fashion, among others. I want to congratulate the photographers whose works were selected for Black and White and the two artists whose works moved me the most.
Choosing the Juror’s selection was not easy. There were a handful of images that really stood out and yet, I kept coming back to the photograph of man holding a newborn, a breathing tube emerging from the infant’s nose. I’ve always found myself most drawn to figurative, narrative works -- photographs that presents a story without a beginning or end. I like to imagine what happened before and after a picture is taken. Whether I am right or wrong does not matter – the fact that a photograph compels me to think, is the true gift a photographer can give his/her audience. In my narrative, this is the man’s first child whose birth was difficult. Through a simple embrace, he expresses his concern and love for a child that does not know what lies ahead. All the child knows is a heartbeat and the warmth of his arms. It is a powerful scene that the photographer witnessed and one that is worthy of recognition.
My other true passion, besides photography, is the study of Great Apes. I’ve seen a tremendous amount of photography taken of monkeys, gorillas, orangutans, baboons, but the one selected for an honorable mention literally awed me. The photograph captured the unquestionable link between ape and man in a way I have never seen. It is a powerful image and one that has stayed in my memory since first seeing it.
I believe the 50 images chosen for the show represents a terrific cross section of what is happening in photography today. On a personal note I want to thank Azarie Furlong and Hamidah Glasgow for inviting me to guest jury this year’s show. I truly enjoyed seeing what people are doing and thank you for the experience.
Catherine Edelman
