Currently the art scene at Draper and Maynard is playing host to an art exhibit with a wide range of photographs from contemporary artists. Curated by Chehalis Hegner, “Minotaur In The Mirror” opened on Weds., Oct. 28 in the Karl Drerup Gallery. The exhibit is focused on self-portraits that celebrate the journey of creating ones own persona or being. The artists featured had the freedom to illustrate emotions that are outside their own self and capture the courage of revealing personal secrets. The exhibit’s overall allure is enchanting and almost mystical with contemporary photographs.
Starting off with artist Seth Riskin his digital prints look electric and lava like, aptly titled “Red Circle” and “Blue Light.” Both pieces have a figure in the middle with beams of light emanating from all sides of the artwork. It shows the intensity and power of the body which presents the piece in a modern light though at first glance, it is difficult to unearth the concept behind the production.
Artist Cig Harvey created “The Hope Chest” and “The Rip” which are C Prints and a gallery pleaser. In the artwork “The Hope Chest,” Harvey captured the creative mind of a young girl by having her head covered with a large chest. It was created to show her searching for something to believe in. Being young and hopeless, the young girl searches within the chest for a means.
Another work of art is Franz C. Nicolay’s silver gelatin print entitled, “1:1.618.” Nicolay’s piece was futuristic and contemporary as the human head involved in the production appeared as a working machine.
Amy Sue Greenleaf created two outstanding giclee prints. The two pieces, titled “Sleep” and “Stairs,” both have a certain way of bringing the viewer into a fantasy world. Each print portrays the emotions of being lethargic and adventurous, which are two different sides of Greenleaf and the person she was trying to convey.
The artist’s main purpose was to focus the lens on the self and depict their personality inside the artwork. They could bring across whatever emotion to the photograph and control the outcome as a whole. “Minotaur In The Mirror” at first glance is rather shocking with its contemporary photographs, but after closely viewing each piece the beauty of why it was created can be found. The artists each use their own self as the catalyst to create emotion in the viewer which, makes exploring the show beneficial to the onlooker. The Karl Drerup gallery is open Mon. through Sat. between 12 p.m. and 5 p.m. and Weds. 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. The exhibit will be up until Dec. 12 and is worth the hike down High St. to Draper and Maynard.