Personal Views:
Contemporary Photographic Portraiture in Philadelphia
September 16 - November 14, 2009
Opening Reception: Wednesday, September 16, 2009, 6:00-8:00 pm
With Personal Views, Gallery 339 presents a sample of the outstanding photographic portraiture that is currently being made in Philadelphia-area artists. While Philadelphia has always counted talented portrait photographers among its artistic ranks, the number of local photographers receiving national and international recognition for their portrait work has reached a notable level. Highly praised recent books by Jessica Todd Horper (Interior Exposure), Zoe Strauss (America) and Sarah Stolfa (The Regulars), are just one sign of this current attention. Other emerging artists in Personal Views, Justyna Badach, Rita Bernstein and Nadine Rovner, are similarly seeing their work recognized through local and national awards, competitions and exhibitions. And further adding to the city’s gravity in this genre is the recent arrival of renowned portrait photographer Andrea Modica, who took a teaching position at Drexel University. Madica is already having an impact on the local photography community through her teaching activities, exhibitions and workshops.
While these artists are not joined by a single movement or aesthetic view, the convergence of so much talent and strong work and the visibility of these artists through their books, exhibitions and other projects has created a palpable sense of momentum in local photography and a greater public interest in portraiture. Though it remains to be seen if this is the creating of a wave or the beginning of an even broader development of talented artists, the depth and diversity of the work in Personal Views bodes well for the latter. While these artists are contemporary in their sensibilities, their images are neither trendy nor fleeting; instead they unfold slowly and resonate deeply. The same can be hoped for in their long-term effect on Philadelphian photography.
Gallery 339
339 South 21st Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
215.731.1530
info@gallery339.com
HOURS:
Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
www.Gallery339.com