The Pelham Art Center presents The Ocean Reglitterized an exhibition on view September 16 – October 29, 2011.
This exhibition is about the fragility and awe-inspiring nature of our oceans. The exhibition features an extensive look at life in the ocean through photography by Edward Burtynsky and Edward Dorson, a site-specific sculpture by Jae Hi Ahn, an ocean sound installation specifically created for this exhibition by Liz Phillips and an outdoor sculpture installation by Chris Smith in the Art Center‟s courtyard.
The Opening Reception will take place on Friday, September 16 from 6:30-8:00 p.m. The reception is free and open to the public. During the opening, visitors of all ages may participate in a free Art Workshop held in the studios.
The Ocean Reglitterized gives viewers the opportunity to re-see and re-experience the wondrous and fragile nature of the ocean through image and sound. Edward Dorson, underwater photographer and a staunch activist for the oceans, presents a series of images that brings rarely seen ocean life up close and personal. His photographs are meant to provoke an understanding of the ocean as a fragile environment that supports incredible and essential life. Edward Burtynsky probes into the nature and visual result of the impact of humanactivity on the planet. His photograph of last year‟s oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico inspires a sense of marvel at the majestic nature of the ocean while revealing the vastness of the spill itself.
Internationally renowned sound artist, Liz Phillips, incorporates sound into sculptural installation. Sound is the primary descriptive material in her installations: it acts as a catalyst to reveal three-dimensional forms that vary in depth and time. Her sound installation Spectral Reservoir, which was created specifically for the Pelham Art Center, uses an open electronic sampling and synthesis system to recreate wave patterns in a pool of water in the gallery. The sound used by Phillips is harvested “live” from the Long Island Sound, supplemented by previous ocean recordings and the sounds produced by visitors to the exhibition. By interweaving these different sounds, Phillips‟s installation reveals to us once more that everything is connected in our universe.
Jae Hi Ahns’ site-specific installation for The Ocean Reglitterized is created using industrial materials such as PVC tubing, wire and plastic (a scourge for ocean environments). The materials are repurposed by the artist to represent the intricate organic designs that are found in natural environments. Based on repetitive processes, such as those that can be found in coral reefs, her work is a tribute to the ocean’s many wonders.
Media artist Chris Smith, combines projected images and everyday objects into sculpture, marrying high technology with blue-collar material. In his piece “Fish Bowl,” swimming fish are projected onto the windshield of a „67 Buick.
The exhibition is organized by Titia Hulst, chair of the Pelham Art Center‟s Gallery Advisory Committee.
Related Programming
Underwater Mosaic Workshop with Lisa Vassalotti Saturday, October 1, 1:30 – 3:30pm Participate in an underwater-themed group mosaic, celebrating the exhibit The Ocean Reglitterized. The final masterpiece will be put on display at the Art Center. This event is free and open to the public.
Pelham Art Center, 155 Fifth Avenue, Pelham, NY 10803 914-738-2525 [email protected]
www.pelhamartcenter.org
Image: Edward Dorson, “Longfin Spadefish School”, Kodak Metallic Print