The White Room Gallery’s latest captivating visual experience is a joint exhibition: Hidden Desires by Ann Brandeis and Horse Show by June Kaplan. A group show, with works from Anna Fenimore, Alyssa Peek, Zoe Breen, Kevin Bishop, Asia Lee, Kat O’Neill, and Melissa Hin, will also be highlighted. The exhibitions will be on view from Thursday, October 26 through Sunday, November 12, with an opening reception on Saturday, October 28 from 5 to 7 p.m.
“This show exhibits the darkly mysterious and seductive photographs by Ann Brandeis, juxtaposed to the primitive, colorful and playful horse paintings by June Kaplan,” stated Andrea McCafferty of The White Room Gallery.
 |
|
“Beowulfflat” by Ann Brandeis. (Courtesy Photo) |
Ann Brandeis has traveled the world, seeking images to incorporate into her visual thoughts and dialogues. She has an MFA from Pratt Institute and teaching positions at Rochester Institute of Technology, Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC, and Manhattan Marymount College. She recently published her book Color Processing and Printing for Prentice Hall and has several accomplishments validating her expertise, including multiple IPA, Luci awards, PX3 Prix de la Photographie, WPGA Awards, Society for Education Juror’s Award, upon which selected works were exhibited at the Center for Fine Art Photography. Brandeis’ work has been exhibited in multiple national and international venues. The presented work by Brandeis is part of an ongoing series called The Landscape of Memory.
 |
|
“Double Masks” by Ann Brandeis. (Courtesy Photo) |
“By combining both realism with the many techniques favored by the surrealists, including the alteration of space, perspective, tonality, focus, manipulation, the content of the image is then open to the viewer’s personal interpretation,” said Brandeis. “Memories are visceral, they are not dependent upon a strict visualization of an event or a scene recreation. Rather, they often surface, sometimes unexpectedly, triggered by visual clues, sounds, smells, which serve to remind us of an experience, a feeling or component of life.”
Brandeis’ work features darkly printed sepia images that are both mysterious and elegant. The light in the images directs viewers’ eyes. All images are printed on handmade Japanese Kozo Paper or all rag paper. Brandeis continues to interweave her themes of memory, reality, and fantasy. Her images reveal a slice of life, imagination, and dreams. A new image is created through the combination of realism and surrealism. A sense of solitude, sensuality, and melancholy desire reappear throughout Brandeis’ work. Some images tell a clear story, while others are left for interpretation. Brandeis looks to the viewer to participate in her work. All work is produced using archival materials and each image is framed using conversation methods. The images are limited editions.
June Kaplan described her artwork in the form of poetry:
“i paint horses for love, for the love of a
friend who lives in the South. It is this
labor of love that i find i out do myself.
in going beyond my preconceived
notions i have created a body of work
that hangs together so to speak.
it is harrowing at times, i have lost many
good pieces in the process-yet with each
journey i learn to allow myself to
leave the studio let the
image dry to wait for another time, have coffee, get into HG or
start a new canvas.
the one idea i wish to express is i believe
with no uncertain terms, that when i ask for help from The Gods i undoubtedly
receive divine intervention to create to
the best of my ability good works.”
The White Room Gallery is located at 2415 Main Street in Bridgehampton. For more information, call 917-526-2767 or visit www.thewhiteroom.gallery.
