Artspace in an Altered State

The PoconoArts Community Cultural Center in Stroudsburg, PA began their 2012 season with an Artists’ Reception Saturday January 14th presented by The Pocono Arts Council first juried exhibition in over 15 years. The exhibition is titled, “Altered State?” and features the work of numerous photographic artists to include those residing in New York, West Virginia, Delaware, Colorado, Montana, California, Germany, and Portugal as well as a number of photographers from the Pocono Region. The reception proved to be an enjoyable one with a multitude of art lovers sharing conversations with photographers and each other while experiencing some incredibly skillful depictions of images (lifelike and beyond) associated with the art form.

The work presented in the exhibition consisted of pieces created through the two main processes available to photographers in the 21st Century. The first being the traditional approach utilizing film negatives with digital photography being the second. There were several images embodying the aspects found in each method while a number of them combined the two creating some very interesting results. Regardless of the method used, each photograph presented not only captured the structure of the image it depicted but also the mood and the essence of it.

The variety of images exhibited ranged from straight up photographs of every day items and people taken from an unique perspective to surreal and abstract depictions reflecting the inner workings of the photographer’s psyche. Each piece beckoned each attendee of the reception to explore the depths of its content and corresponding subliminal context while the positioning of each work encouraged the viewer to expand their perceptions by moving from one piece to another in order to experience the entirety of the exhibit.

As for me, I was quite impressed with the work along with the photographic skill and initiative many of the photographers embarked upon in creating their piece. Even though some claimed to be innovative in areas I’ve seen before in other works created by other photographers, the overall show was not only an interesting one for the eye but also inspired that same eye to delve deeper into each image as many not readily discovered aspects of the piece contained information and concepts which expanded the scope of its overall visual effect.

However, there were some images which embodied aspects invisible to the human eye and could only be “seen” through the visionary abilities inherent within the soul. It is very much what William Blake wrote in his poem titled, “Auguries of Innocence” reminds us:

“We are led to believe a lie,
When we look with, not through the eye,
Which was born in a night to perish in a night,
When the soul slept in beams of light.”

The images I refer to softly awakens the soul allowing it to peer gently through the beams of light in order to experience them more consciously. The curiosity of what is beyond our perceptions become intrigues and partially satisfied as we soon return to our soul’s dreams bringing to them an altered state of awareness which enhances their qualities greatly. Thus it is when we live a life seeing through and not only with our eyes.

The Pocono Arts Council’s “Altered State?” juried exhibition is the result of an international photography competition which received over 150 entries. The exhibit at The PoconoArts Community Cultural Center whose facilities include the ArtSpace and Studio Galleries which presented 60 works created by 44 photographers. These photographers included Carol Adleman from Luck, WI, Roger Blanc from New York, NY, Eldred Boze from Wardensville, WV, Michele Cole from Southampton, NJ, Suzanne Comer from Wallingford, PA, Tomato Davis from Bellmore, NY, William Fridrich from Wilmington, NC, Shanna Kay Gordon from Blakeslee, PA, Carlo Grassini from Brooklyn, NY, Markus Haala from Dernau, Germany, Rudy Hilt from Duck, NC, Natalie Hruska from North Falmouth, MA, Liz Kolben from Bethesda, MD, Candace Law from Berkley, MI, Don Manza from Tannersville, PA, Claire Marcus from Bethlehem, PA, Anne Martino from Lake Harmony, PA, John Martino from Brighton, MA, Sheila Master from Bear, DE, Dana McElroy from Havertown, PA, Christine Medley from Olyphant, PA, Danielle Miller from Bartonsville, PA, Daniel Mohr from Stroudsburg, PA, Jorge Pedra from Porto, Portugal, Andrea Rimberg from Shawnee-on-Delaware, PA, Joan Sayer from Saylorsburg, PA, Linda Schwartz from Stroudsburg, PA, Sterne Slaven from Hoboken, NJ, Richard Spezzano from Stroudsburg, PA, Andrea Tremper from East Stroudsburg ,PA, Maggie Vlazny from Mt. Bethel, PA, Keith Waldrum from Dallas, TX, Andrew Wojtkowski from Blakeslee, PA, Margaret Wright from Chicago, IL, and Jennifer Zeller from Louisville, KY.

Although each photographer demonstrated exceptional proficiency in their craft, the reception also served as an opportunity to recognize those whom the jurors and curators found to be deserving of additional praise. These recipients include Scott Barnes from Norwood, NJ who received the Juror Choice Award for his work titled, “Campsite Quanta,” Anthony Monaco from Denver, CO who received the Curator Award for his work titled, “Underscape Series,” Nancy Breslin from Newark, DE who received the Juror Special Award for her work titled, “Self Portrait as the Patron Saint of Clementines,” Norma Bernstock from Milford, PA who received the Curator Special Award for her work titled, “Fence,” Carl Schy from San Diego, CA who received the ArtSpace Student Award for his work titled, “Companions,” Eva Gudnason from Brooklyn, NY who received the Curator Student Award for her work titled, “Clouded Dancer,” Sherwood Samet from Stroudsburg, PA who received the Juror Honorable Mentioned Award for his work titled, “Morning Light,” and Russ McIntosh from Woodbridge, VA who received the Curator Honorable Mentioned Award for his work titled, “Hands of Time.”

The Juror for the exhibit was Harris Fogel who is an Associate Professor of Photography as well as the Director and Curator of the Sol Mednick Gallery and Gallery 1401 found on the campus of the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. The Exhibit’s Curator is John Kopp who is a member of The PoconoArts Council Board of Directors. You may learn more about Harris Fogel by Exploring the University of the Arts Website at www.uarts.edu/users/hfogel and John Kopp by Exploring his Website at www.johnkopp.com.

The Pocono Arts Council’s “Altered State?” exhibition at The PoconoArts Community Cultural Center in Stroudsburg, PA continues until February 26th. The next event to be held at the Center will be an Arts Town Hall to be held on Wednesday January 18th beginning at 5:30pm and will include a talk given by the exhibition’s curator John Kopp. The next exhibit to be presented in the Center’s ArtSpace and Studio Galleries will be their Student Juried Exhibition which will hold it’s Artists’ Reception on Sunday March 11th and will continue until March 25th. You’ll find more photographs taken during the “Altered State?” Artists’ Reception in The PoconoArts Community Cultural Center 2012 Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150596801360421.441769.636000420&type=3.

The PoconoArts Community Cultural Center is part of The PoconoArts Council which is an organization designed to build the communities in which it serves artistically and culturally by providing leadership, service, and education. It does so by offering avenues for artists to display their work through the center and other galleries, educational opportunities for those who would like to explore and/or enhance their creative natures, and encouragement to those who seek to express and/or support the arts.

In addition to the Center’s ArtSpace and Studio Galleries, its facilities also houses their Wall of Writings featuring poetry and other literary works of local writers and poets. The poetic work of Noreen Ayers is currently displayed upon these walls. You’ll be able to learn more about The PoconoArts Council, The PoconoArts Community Cultural Center, and all they offer along with images of the work presented in the “Altered State?” exhibition at www.poconoarts.org.