Opening Fri 10/17 @ 5 – 9pm
Psst, you. Yeah, you. Come here. I’ve got a story for you (and it’s true…)
It’s about twins, zombies, bikers and pinups, but oh so much more. It brims with layers of imagery and implied narratives. True Story: Narrated by Hadley K. Conner and Sarah Curry is set to prove that an image is worth a thousand words. What story are you telling?
In the exhibit, Curry’s large-scale paintings use contemporary images to retell classical tales from mythology, the Bible, fairy tales and fables. Each piece refers to a specific legend while alluding to biographical elements specific to the woman it depicts.
Conner’s two-dozen or so photographs range in size from 10” square single prints to 18” by 29” framed diptychs. They are shot on film with a medium format camera (sometimes a toy Holga) and presented as silver gelatin prints she creates in a darkroom.
“These are portraits of people who are all embracing some sort of theater in their lives through their general appearance or events in which they take part,” she explained. “The color work is portraiture, while the black and white images are more of a documentation of events.
“I am fascinated by people, who they are, what they do and what they leave behind,” she continued. “I work in both black and white and color, often using diptychs to tell more of the story. I am driven by narrative and relationships, both physical and psychological.”
Man, these chicks really know what they’re doing!
Armed with masters of art in art education, the duo has taught at Charles F. Brush High School (Curry teaches art, while Conner teaches photography) for more than a decade. They have shown their work separately, together, and with students throughout those years.
“Our work is both figurative and narrative; our compositions are tight and complex,” Conner explained. “Our use of rich color ties the work together, and the black and white photographs also create a nice contrast (although, in this show, Sarah has some monochromatic drawings/prints as well). The work will be intermixed within the gallery to play off each other.”
Hey! I know that guy from somewhere!
“Many of the subjects in the show will actually be in attendance,” Conner said of the opening reception. “Being so close to Halloween, we are hoping people will come as the characters they are or aspire to be. We have also done portraits of each other, which will be included in the show.”
Oh, and recognize that sideshow artist performing a tease outside the opening at 7:45 and a full show inside at 8:45? Conner photographed him for the show as well. He’s Lucky the Painproof Man, honored by Ripley’s Believe It or Not.
True Story runs Fri 10/17 through Fri 12/5, with an opening reception Fri 10/17, from 5 until 9pm, at HEDGE Gallery, 1300 West 78th Street, Suite 200 in the 78th Street Studios complex.
The Real Nitty Gritty is scheduled to spin their signature slabs of soul on Fri 11/21.
Painting: She’s a Little Sheepish by Sarah Curry
Photo: Beauty is in the Eye of the Drinkholder by Hadley K Conner
http://hedgeartgallery.com/events/true-story
Cleveland, OH 44102