Photography Exhibition Explores Altered States of Reality
by Lacey Luce
The Ohio Art Council’s Riffe Gallery is exploring altered states of reality with its latest exhibition opening May 11 and on view through July 9. Altered States will feature works of photographic art by 12 artists from Ohio and Kentucky.
Produced by the Weston Art Gallery in Cincinnati, Altered States is co-curated by Dennis Harrington, director of the Weston Art Gallery, and Dennis Kiel, associate curator of prints, drawings and photographs for the Cincinnati Art Museum.
“Traditionally the photographic medium is perceived as being true to the subject. However, by positioning their sitters and selectively planning their compositions, photographers controlled or altered the finished product,” said Kiel.
Altered States shows work that goes a step further by featuring many diverse and innovative approaches to photography—from subtle fabrication to hand manipulation to total abstraction.
“In examining different perceptions of reality, Altered States references where photography has been and where it may be going with the advancements in digital technology now available,” said Kiel. “The creative solutions presented by the artists engage the viewer on a number of levels and ultimately redefine preconceived notions of what a photograph should be.”
Participating artists include: Barry Andersen and Diane Kruer (Ft. Thomas, KY); Barbara Houghton (Alexandria, KY); Kimberly Burleigh, Jymi Bolden, Diana Duncan Holmes, Cal Kowal, Guennadi Maslov, Nancy Rexroth and David Rosenthal (Cincinnati); Shawn Scully (Columbus); and Joel Whitaker (Dayton).
Altered States opens May 11 with a reception from 5- 7 p.m. An exhibition tour led by the curators is scheduled for May 12, noon – 1 p.m. The gallery will host a family workshop, Alter the State of a Photograph, 2–4 p.m., June 11, during which children will hand tint black-and-white photographs (registration is required as space is limited). Altered States is on view in the Riffe Gallery May 11 – July 9, 2006. Gallery admission and events are free and open to the public.
The Riffe Gallery is located on the first floor of the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts, on the corner of State and High streets, downtown Columbus, Ohio.
Gallery hours are Tuesday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 10 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday noon-8 p.m. and Sunday noon-4 p.m. Closed Monday and state holidays. Admission is free. For more information, visit www.riffegallery.org, e-mail riffegallery@oac.state.oh.us or phone 614/644-9624.
Free group tours are available Tuesday through Friday throughout the run of the exhibition. To schedule a group tour contact Riffe Gallery Director Mary Gray at mary.gray@oac.state.oh.us or 614/728-2239.
Image seen here: Sheep and Standing Stone, Avebury England 2002, digital pigment print, 16'' x 20'' artist: Barry Andersen
The Riffe Gallery is supported by the Ohio Building Authority. Media sponsors include Alive, CityScene, Movie Media, Ohio Magazine and Time Warner.
The Ohio Arts Council’s Riffe Gallery showcases the work of Ohio's artists and curators, exhibitions produced by the Ohio Arts Council’s International Program and the collections of the region’s museums and galleries. The Riffe Gallery’s Education Program seeks to increase public appreciation and understanding of those exhibitions.
The Ohio Arts Council is a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically.
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