FEBRUARY SHOWS:

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The reason for all the efforts to beautify our space is for you to see art in a gallery worthy of its contents. For February, Steve Kuzma’s “Winter Light” will feature sea and landscapes. In Steve’s words, “I see this exhibit as being light and festive work inspired by nature within and without. This exhibition will be comprised of oils and studies painted on location and distilled in the studio. Professionally, he is an illustrator and educator. His clients include ABC, CBS, NBC, NY Times, Time Magazine, Olympics, World Cup Soccer, Atlanticare Healthcare, NJ, and Harper Collins. We featured many of his sports illustrations in our “Hometown Teams” exhibit. Kuzma has been a recipient of the A. Gottleib award, he Jackson Pollock-Krasner award, the New York Foundation for the Arts grant and the Joan Mitchell Foundation award. Steve lives in Ventnor, NJ with his wife Catherine Boyd who is a professional violinist.

In our window exhibit this month is Ken Larter’s “Photography is a certain kind of loving” Ken describes his show far better than I ever could so I will paste his comment verbatim below these comments. His previous show with Gallery 50, Inc. had images that were thoughtful, inviting and well executed. We are very much looking forward to what he may show in this show.

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Ken C. Larter’s description of his show:

PHOTOGRAPHY IS A CERTAIN KIND OF LOVING

It was the twentieth century Austrian born photographer, Ernst Haas, who said that "photography is a certain kind of loving." I agree with this, for an artist will not invest time and effort in something to which he or she feels no attachment. This show includes images of people, places and things, which in every case generated an affectionate response in me.

The photographs of places range from Upper Deerfield to Malta and Sicily. Each recorded moment was preceded by a strong visual and emotional impulse to pause and capture the scene for no other reason than it moved me.

The portrait studies have been selected from photo sessions with people who consented to participate in the process. Though some individuals are casual acquaintances, others have been known for some time. What links them all is a sense of intimacy that emerged in the time of our interaction as they allowed themselves to be vulnerable to the gaze of the photographer. It produces what I call a soul moment, in which something essential to the person surfaces for a brief moment. To be given that privilege calls for profound respect, and careful treatment in the editing.

The series with the musicians reflects their passion and love for music. The calling to express one’s self musically is an extension of the whole person, not just something they do. For this reason I included their instruments, or photographed the singer singing. 

The montage of the skeleton of Harry Eastlack is a tribute to my late friend, Dr. C. Everett Koop, former Surgeon General of the United States of America. This was his favorite exhibit at the College of Physicians in Philadelphia. Harry suffered from a condition in which the body gradually forms an additional skeleton. When he died, just days before his fortieth birthday, he was frozen in one position, and could only move his lips. Harry is the only person in the Mutter Museum who asked to be there. Since much is already known about this young man, I wanted to convey a sense of the poignancy of his condition, and a suggestion of ongoing life, hence the title, "Intimations of Immortality." 

Finally, this exhibit is presented in loving memory of Joshua Samuel Ross, artist and friend, who died in July of 2014. His loss brings to mind words I saw on a World War I grave stone in Belgium: "After Labour, Peace."

Special thanks to T&F Camera of Vineland and Michael Billick, without whom this exhibit would not be possible. I appreciate and value their friendship, expertise and patience.

Kenneth C. Larter
February, 2015