March | April 2007 - Boston Photography Focus

exhibitionsPicture ShowMarch 30 – May 6, 2007Opening reception, Thursday, March 29,5:30-7:30pmPicture Show features artists who engagethe idea of moving pictures in the 21stcentury via work that evokes early opticaland cinematic devices. In purpose, practice,and philosophy, these contemporary conjurersremind us of practitioners of bygoneeras and pursue the same goal: to incitewonder. Within a gallery space turnedtheater/cabinet of curiosity, you can interactwith, peer into, and animate many of theartworks—constructions that exist somewherebetween photography, new media, sculpture,and installation. Although often antiquein appearance, each piece uses technology—highor low, revealed or concealed—to produce allusions and illusions to delightthe eyes and the mind. Artists include SteveHollinger, Olivia Robinson, Erica von Schilgen,Deb Todd Wheeler, and work on loanfrom le Musée Patamécanique by HansSpinnermen. The exhibition is presentedin conjunction with the biennial BostonCyberarts Festival (April 20-May 6,2007), a region-wide celebration of artand technology. More information on allexhibitions and events can be found atwww.bostoncyberarts.org.EXHIBITIONS ONLINEThe PRC announces the next installments in the Northeast Exposure online (NEO)series. The virtual gallery is by invite only and features a selection of images, abiography, artist and curator statements, and links.NEO | MARCH 2007Ben Safdiewww.bu.edu/prc/safdie.htmCurrently a junior, Ben Safdie is a film majorin Boston University’s College of Communications.Safdie has actively pursuedphotography concurrently with his film studies,studying at the International Center ofPhotography as well as independently. Hehas shown at Paul Rodgers/9W Galleryin New York and one of his films was anofficial selection the 2005 Independent FilmFestival of Boston. Safdie is also a memberof the film collective, Red Bucket Films,which creates films collaboratively. Featuredonline will be selections from his ongoingseries “Common Things.” Within Safdie’seye, one can see glints of the 1970s colorphotographers in his interest in the everydayand the overlooked. His concentration onmundane surfaces, objects, and cornersreveals a distinct sense of humor via surprisingformal and metaphorical juxtapositions.Ben Safdie, The Complete Frame Shop, 2006,C-print, 11 x 14 inches, Courtesy of and copyrightBen SafdieNEO | APRIL 2007Thomas Gustainiswww.bu.edu/prc/gustainis.hthmThomas Gustainis received his BFA fromthe Savannah College of Art and Design,Savannah, GA, and his MFA from theSchool of the Museum of Fine Arts, Bostonin 2003. He has worked for the PolaroidCollections and boasts his own active commercialpractice with clients such as BritishPetroleum and TASCHEN. Currently, heis teaching at two area schools: the NewEngland Institute of Art, located in Brookline,and the University of Massachusetts at Lowell.In Massachusetts, he has shown at theDeCordova Museum and Sculpture Park inLincoln and the Yamawaki Gallery at LasellCollege in Newton. He is represented inBoston by Gallery Kayafas. Gustainis’s workoften confronts and challenges our notion ofwhat is real and fabricated, be it narrative,artistic genres, or the nature of photographyitself. Featured online will be selectionsfrom his series “Little Urban Landscapes,”in which he creates temporary site-specificinstallations using miniature landscape models,and selections from other new series inprogress.Thomas Gustainis, Only Begotten, from the series“Little Urban Landscapes,” 2006, Color CouplerPrint, 40 x 33 inches, © Thomas J. Gustainis andCourtesy of Gallery Kayafaswww.prcboston.org | presentations