An Alchemic Crowd at The PCT

The Pocono Community Theater in East Stroudsburg, PA held an Artists’ Reception on Saturday March 3rd for their exhibitions presented in their front and back galleries. The images shown in the front gallery featured the work of John Kolbek in a show titled “The Alchemist Cookbook.” The images shown in the back gallery featured the work of Sherwood Samet in a show titled “Far From the Madding Crowd.” Both sets of work contrasted well with one another as their approaches and techniques sought to entreat the imagination as the very differing images were explored.

Those images created by Mr. Kolbek delved into the realm of the subconscious with it’s dreamlike depictions enhanced by the use of oil layered with a resin alloy which gave many of the images a darker countenance. This effect obscured a significant portion of the work which made it difficult to ascertain what was on the canvas. However, this obscuring effect led the viewer toward a more intimate relationship with the work as the act of determining its characteristics moved the viewer deeper and deeper into its domain.

Once there, the viewer could begin to not only experience the nether regions of the piece but begin to acknowledge those very aspects of his or her inner being. These nether regions are frightful and are areas we seldom have a desire to explore. However, failure to do so forbids us from partaking of the life enhancing opportunities to be discovered as we transcend our limiting perceptions of what constitutes the fabric of our lives when we embrace all of who we are including those aspects of ourselves we find strange and foreboding. These aspects are the ingredients found in The Alchemist Cookbook enabling all who partake of its recipes to gain a new understanding whose truths will eventually create concoctions that will turn our leaden lives into gold.

The photographic images created Sherwood Samet seems worlds away from those created by Mr. Kolbek. They are filled with light and depict scenes we experience during our waking lives. But, upon further examination, their ephemeral similarities become apparent.

Beyond their beauty and deftly constructed composition, what makes Mr. Samet’s work particularly interesting is one can find a series of photographic mistakes in each piece. Some of these mistakes are well pronounced while other defy detection with their subtlety. However, it isn’t long until one speculates these mistakes were intentional as the high quality of the work belies the possibility these errors were unnoticed by the photographer while processing the image through Photoshop or some other editing program.

It could be further speculated that the use of editing programs could be seen by the photographer as a deceptive device in which the viewer un initiated in the techniques of photography could assume what is shown in the displayed image is what was seen in the camera by the photographer when it was captured. It is unrealized the images they see were manipulated to not only correct or enhance it’s hues but to create a whole new world through the various editing tools available to the digital photographer. It is also true many photographer becomes ensnared by the tools available to him or her and finds themselves adding layer upon layer of doodads obscuring the image and why it moved the photographer to capture it in the first place.

The mistakes found in Mr. Samet’s work could be an attempt educate the viewing public to how the integrity of the images they view are manipulated by various editing techniques and to address how this constant tinkering of what the camera shoots creates a maddening effect on the photographers themselves. It could be best to accept the image for what it is, let it stand, and do as the title of his display suggests which is to “Far From the Madding Crowd.” And, in accepting the faults in what we do and who we are, we begin to discover an easier and saner perspective on life which makes us human.

Therefore, the common thematic thread found in both John Kolbek’s and Sherwood Samet’s work could be interpreted as the concept of acceptance. Mr. Kobek explores this concept by encouraging us to explore, accept, and embrace the darker traits of our subconscious nature. Mr. Samet encourages us to acknowledgement, sanity, and acceptance of all the mistakes we make which makes us human. Regardless of their theme or how one would interpret it, the work presented at The Pocono Community Theater were stunning and provided a great deal of opportunity to explore the imaginative and thought providing aspects of the work. You’ll find more photographs taken during the reception in The Pocono Community Theater (PCT) 2012 Gallery at www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150717369405421.457049.636000420&type=3&l=9cf034d51b.

In addition to hosting art exhibits, The Pocono Community Theater presents a variety of films both popularly current as well revivals of those films released in the past. They also host special events such as their Pocono Got Talent competition and their Book Club which explore novels that have been adapted to the screen and are currently being shown. “The Alchemist Cookbook” and “Far From the Madding Crowd”  exhibitions will continue until April 22nd while the dates for their next exhibition is yet to be announced. Please Explore The Pocono Community Theater Website www.poconocommunitytheater.org for more information.