Gallery Visit

I was recently at Prairie Gallery for the opening of Forms of Authority. After hiking up the steps to the gallery, which is located on the second story of a small building in Northside, you reach Prairie. Prairie is fairly simple in presentation. White walls, unfinished wood flooring. The place was full of people that I felt that I should know. I saw a few professors that I know through school, but most of the people seemed to be wealthy wasps...And since I do not fall into either of those categories it was very interesting to listen in to their conversations. Many of which were about how conceptual the works were. However, none of them ever said why...

 A piece by Hanry Navarro

On display were three artists, Hanry Navarro, Stewart Goldman and Joseph Winterhalter. Each artist worked to explore the contemporary institution through painting and drawing.

 # 26 by Joseph Winterhalter

"Together they explore the tension between natural forms and processes and the increasing complexity and power of contemporary social institutions, said gallery owner David Rosenthal.

I felt strongly that two of the artists really fit into the theme of the show. Both the works of Navarro and Winterhalter reflected a strange look into the idea of the institution.However, Goldman's works seemed to reflect more of the natural world. The images looked more like landscapes, rather than something to do with modernization. Unless the piece was trying to come off as a stark contrast to the others in the space. Yet, I think that the artists should have tried more to work together to really make the theme present. Overall, I liked the show, but I did leave feeling a bit confused.

A collective image of Winterhalter's works

Excitment in the Distance

    I had my internship interview today at Prairie Gallery in Northside, which is one of the many neighborhoods here in Cincinnati. I was really excited to learn that Prairie had interns, mostly because of the community outreach programs ran by the gallery's owner, David Rosenthal. He devotes a large portion of his time to bringing art to students at local high schools, many of which wouldn't have any exposure to art otherwise.He organizes and brings, what is essentially a mini photo lab to each of the schools that he works with. He also creates specialized programs to interest the group of students that he works with.
 

   This is an image from Prairie's current showing, "Forms of Authority"

 
      I will be interning with David at Lighthouse Community School. Lighthouse Community School (LCS) specializes in highly individualized, flexible, and intensive strategies to meet the educational needs of youth in the child welfare system.  LCS effectively deals with social and emotional barriers. David is currently working with local musicians who will be the subject matter for the students enrolled in his photography course.  I really think I'm going to enjoy the internship opportunity.