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January Issue
2009
Artspace in
Raleigh, NC, Features Works by Allison Hunter, Cameron Johnson,
and New Members
Artspace in Raleigh,
NC, is presenting several new exhibits including: Recent Animals,
featuring works by Allison Hunter, on view in Gallery One from
Jan. 17 through Mar. 6, 2009; Restructured, featuring works
by Cameron Johnson, on view in Gallery Two, through Jan. 23, 2009;
and New Members, featuring works by new members of the
Artspace Artists Association, on view in the Upfront Gallery &
Lobby, from Jan. 2 - 31, 2009.
Allison Hunter
Allison Hunter's exhibition, Recent Animals, explores her interest in making people think about how they perceive and respond to the elements of the world around them that are often marginalized or overlooked. Hunter approaches this problem in her artwork by taking things, usually animals, out of context to show their beauty, grace, and uniqueness. She often removes elements from the original image to allow the viewer to focus more intently on the process of displacement and reinterpretation. For example, when photographing living creatures in zoo environments, Hunter frames the scene with the camera and later edits out background information in order to create a sense of mystery that evokes questions from the viewer.
Hunter's interest in non-human animals stems in part from her background in feminist art and feminist theory, where she first began to understand how sexism is linked to specieism. Hunter approaches the animals and their re-location in virtual environments as a way to exercise a desire for a better world, one where humans treat all living beings with equal care. Recent Animals includes large-scale photographs, some as large as 96" x 48," as well as three video works.
Hunter is an international visual artist who over the past twenty years has worked in photography, performance, video, painting, drawing, and installation. She earned her first MFA at the Cantonal Art School of Lausanne, Switzerland (1990), and her second MFA at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York (1997). She currently lives and works in Houston, TX. Her photographs have been included in numerous exhibitions in the US and Europe.
Hunter has participated in international video and sculpture art residencies at institutions such as the Banff Centre for the Arts, Calgary, Canada and the Hermit Center for Metamedia, Plasy, Czech Republic. Her installation project, titled SIGNMAKERS (1998-2003), was commissioned by three European sculpture centers in Lithuania, Latvia, and Finland, and by the 2003 Kingston Sculpture Biennial in NY. Hunter's work is part of numerous public and private collections including the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the University Art Museum at Albany (SUNY), the Albany Institute of History and Art, and the Center for Photography at Woodstock.
Cameron Johnson
As an artist, Cameron Johnson constantly evaluates what holds the most meaning for him. Whether it is family, money, religion, or friends, he attempts to prioritize the people and objects according to the value he believes they have. The collection of Johnson's work in Restructured aims to examine the way we establish value within art and our own lives. Most of Johnson's paintings have specific areas of emphasis that are highly detailed, contrasted by areas that are subdued or distorted.
From the lines and shapes
formed, Johnson creates continuity within the painting. He believes
that artists can not only fascinate people with their use of color
and line, but also inspire and motivate people to think and see
life differently. Art, like literature, can have great influence.
Johnson's goal is to reinforce a need for connection through positive
relationships.
Born and raised in Charlotte, NC, Johnson earned a Bachelor of
Fine Arts and a Masters of Fine Arts in Painting and Drawing from
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC. Johnson's work has been
exhibited throughout North Carolina. He recently completed a mural
with two other artists for Princeville's Heritage Park, Princeville,
NC. Johnson is an Assistant Professor at Meredith College in Raleigh
Meredith Steele
Susan Martin
New members of the Artspace
Artists Association (since Spring 2007) will be exhibiting work
in the Upfront Gallery and Lobby for the month of January. New
members include Dan Allegrucci, Emily Cash, Diane Feissel, JoAnna
Fireman, Linda Gourley, Scott Hazard, Rachel Herrick, Warren Hicks,
JJ Jiang, Lisa M. Jones, Michelle Levett, Susan Martin, Jenny
Mastin, Bruce Melkowits, Gretchen Morrissey, Casey Porn, and Meredith
Steele.
The Artspace Artists Association (AAA) is a professional membership
association. Artists are juried into the association through a
competitive process twice a year. The next deadline for membership
is Apr. 1, 2009.
Artspace, a thriving
visual art center located in downtown Raleigh, brings the creative
process to life through inspiring and engaging education and community
outreach programming, a dynamic environment of over 30 professional
artists studios, and nationally acclaimed exhibitions. Approximately
95 artists hold professional memberships in the Artspace Artists
Association. Thirty-five of these artists have studios located
at Artspace. Artspace is located in Historic City Market in Raleigh
at the corner of Blount and Davie Streets.
Artspace is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, the
United Arts Council of Raleigh and Wake County, the Raleigh Arts
Commission, individuals, corporations, and private foundations.
For further information check our NC Institutional Gallery
listings, call the center at 919/821-2787 or visit (www.artspacenc.org).
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