galina kurlat: photographic explorations

reclamation

2010-06-08T03:24:00.018-04:00

I moved to Houston three years ago, and was immediately intrigued by the abandoned architecture, empty lots and vastness of Houston’s East End. Like many photographers I am attracted to the implications and aesthetics of abandoned spaces. Houston is unique in its mass of buildings and structures left to the elements. Low real estate costs and no shortage of land have created whole neighborhoods left alone to decay.

Initially it was the buildings of the East End that attracted me to that neighborhood, their monolithic stature and seeming indestructibility. But at a closer inspection, what may seem indestructible begins to show signs of abandonment and wear. The integration of man-made structures with the slow tenuous forces of nature is evident. A silo can become slowly entangled in ivy or a broken telephone pole can be flooded in a flash summer rain. Time, entropy and memory are themes which I continue to return to in my work.

These photos are taken using Polaroid Positive/Negative Black and White Film, a large format film that has been discontinued since 2008. It is a fragile medium that has a tendency to react to changes in temperature, humidity and other environmental factors. Like the structures I photograph, if uncared for, the film will continue to decompose and change. This combination of instability and susceptibility reinforces the duality of these crumbling landscapes.

Sanctuary (Untitled) 1 40x30 Inches C-Print Edition 5/5 galina@galinakurlat.com

Untitled 40x30 Inches Archival Pigment Print Edition 1/10 galina@galinakurlat.com

Untitled 40x30 Inches Archival Pigment Print Edition 1/10 galina@galinakurlat.com

Untitled 40x30 Inches Archival Pigment Print Edition 1/10 galina@galinakurlat.com

Untitled 40x30 Inches Archival Pigment Print Edition 1/10 galina@galinakurlat.com

Untitled 40x30 Inches Archival Pigment Print Edition 1/10 galina@galinakurlat.com

Untitled 40x30 Inches Archival Pigment Print Edition 1/10 galina@galinakurlat.com

Untitled 40x30 Inches Archival Pigment Print Edition 1/10 galina@galinakurlat.com

Untitled 40x30 Inches Archival Pigment Print Edition 1/10 galina@galinakurlat.com

Untitled 40x30 Inches Archival Pigment Print Edition 1/10 galina@galinakurlat.com

Untitled 40x30 Inches Archival Pigment Print Edition 1/10 galina@galinakurlat.com

Untitled 40x30 Inches Archival Pigment Print Edition 1/10 galina@galinakurlat.com

Kinesthetech Sense perform in DUMBO

2008-10-31T10:43:00.003-04:00

One of my closest friends (April Renae) just finished her residency with Kinesthetech Sense in Stony Brook LI, they will be performing their new piece at Galapagos Art Space in DUMBO on Saturday. Unfortunately I cannot attend, but hope some of you will make it.

Date:	Saturday, November 1, 2008
Time:	5:00pm - 8:30pm
Location:	Galapagos Art Space
Street:	16 Main Street
City/Town:	Brooklyn, NY

BKLYN:111

2008-10-16T16:56:00.002-04:00

In order to support the Brooklyn Artist Gym along with their highly effective community programs I have donated two pieces from Specimen for their "Everybody Gets Art" Benefit. Please view the press release bellow for more information, it sounds like a lot of fun!

Brooklyn Artists Gym
168 7th St.
Brooklyn, NY 11215
Between 2nd & 3rd Ave in Park Slope/Gowanus

Show dates: October 17th - 25th

Opening: Saturday, October 18th, 6 - 9pm

"Everybody Gets Art" Benefit: Saturday, October 25th, 6 - 10pm

In anticipation of Brooklyn's 111th year as a New York City Borough, The BAG Fund presents BKLYN:111, an exhibition, fundraising event, and dialogue about our urban space both as environment and as a participating factor in the creative process.

BKLYN:111 opens October 18th with a FREE reception during the AGAST Studio Tour, and closes in grand fashion on October 25th with the "Everybody Gets Art" party, beginning at 6pm.

At "Everybody Gets Art":

110 works of art from 65 artists will hang on the wall
There will be 110 ticket holders
When a ticket holder's number is called, they will have 11 seconds to find the work of art they want and remove it from the wall
Party!

All the works of art are valued at more than the ticket price of $200. A filming of the art frenzy will constitute the 111th work. Collectors, meet artists! Artists, meet collectors! All proceeds go to The BAG Fund. You may preview the art at The BAG Fund website, or by coming to the BAG Gallery during the week of October 18th.

Tickets (to get art): $200

General Admission: FREE

“Believe” a Cocktail Reception and Photography Benefit

2008-10-09T17:31:00.007-04:00

One of my pieces will be up for auction during “Believe” a Cocktail Reception and Photography Benefit Auction to Support the Obama/Biden Campaign.

I hope some of you will join me!

Believe
Thursday, October 16th 2008
6:00-9:00PM
Rogue Space
508 W. 26th Street, Studio 9E
www.chelseagalleryspace.com

Suggested donation at the door.

The New Orleans Photo Alliance: Odd Works

2008-09-30T14:38:00.004-04:00

The New Orleans Photo Alliance: Odd Works Exhibit will open on October 4th 6-9PM. I will be showing three new pieces from Specimen. Unfortunately I will not be able to attend, but for those of you in New Orleans please stop by the opening and take lots of pictures!

http://neworleansphotoalliance.org

DUMBO Arts Festival 2008

2008-09-17T13:56:00.001-04:00

Please join me during The DUMBO Arts Festival for the opening reception of Subdivision: Individual Intent, the opening is on Friday, September 26th 6PM to 10PM. Gallery hours are on Saturday, September 27th and Sunday, September 28th 12PM-6PM.

Pochron Studios
20 Jay Street 11th Floor
Suite 1100
Brooklyn, NY 11201

F Train to York Street

I hope to see you at the opening!

Some new work....

2008-09-17T10:07:00.011-04:00

Call For Artists-Fine Chocolates

2008-07-21T17:22:00.001-04:00

I just received this from a friend (and amazing glass artist), Anne Gant. It’s not the most conventional way to show work, but is a lot more fun than say eating work prints.

To see more of Anne’s work please visit: www.gantglass.com

~ CALL FOR ARTISTS ~

The mission of Ithaca Fine Chocolates is to both promote the works of contemporary artists and directly fund art education programs through Art Bars. Art Bars are exquisite, organic, and fair trade certified Swiss chocolate bars that feature an art reproduction by a contemporary adult artist or an international child artist on a card inside the wrapper. A minimum of ten percent of profits are donated to the International Child Art Foundation in Washington, DC, and the Community School of Music & Arts in Ithaca, NY.

Twenty-four total artists ranging from emerging to internationally known, such as Carrie Mae Weems, Patrick Dougherty, Mary Temple and Jim Goldberg are selected annually. Images of the works are included in our online gallery and on the art card reproductions, which are sent out with the bars nationwide for one year beginning in November. The original works are featured in an exhibition in the Ithaca gallery in December.

Art Bars have been covered in the New York Times and Art News, along with other prestigious publications. They are currently available for purchase in forty-four states in venues such as museum stores, art house cinemas, theatres and specialty food stores. There is no commission taken on art sales made through the art cards or the online gallery. Sales made in connection with the Ithaca show require a 20% commission to help defray exhibition costs. Selected artists receive a free case of up to 25 Art Bars featuring their own image and a lifetime artist discount on any subsequent Art Bar purchases (specific images are only in print for one year).

If you are a visual artist working in non-functional media and are interested in having your work featured in Art Bars, please submit the following by July 25, 2008:

- 5-10 digital images in jpg format at 72 dpi only (Only the first ten images will be reviewed if more are sent.)

- a separate, numbered image list, including the title, medium, date and dimensions of each image. Please be sure that the digital image names are both numbered and titled to match the image list and that your name is at the top of the document.

- artist statement, one-page maximum with your name at the top of the document. If the image list and artist statement are short enough, please combine them into one document.
- resume, one page maximum, including mailing address, email and telephone number.

Please note that reproductions are printed on cards measuring 1 3/4 x 4" for the small bars and 2 3/4 x 4 1/2" for the large bars. A selected work must be available in a good print-quality digital image (300 dpi or greater).

Please name each document in the following format:
last name, comma, first name, document title
Examples:
Modigliani, Amedeo Resume
Modigliani, Amedeo 1. Portrait of Young Woman

Email submissions to:
erika@ithacafinechocolates.com
or mail them to:
Ithaca Fine Chocolates Art Panel
125 Heights Court
Ithaca, NY 14850
www.ithacafinechocolates.com

A Glass Darkly

2008-07-08T09:36:00.003-04:00

Some of my pieces from Specimen, have been juried into A Glass Darkly, an online exhibition hosted by Projekt 30. Enjoy the show!

http://www.projekt30.com/a_glass_darkly.php

New Orleans Call for Entry

2008-07-01T16:16:00.003-04:00

A good friend of mine and fantastic artist, Orrie King recently put out this call for entries.

Dear fellow artists/ photographers,

As many of you know, I visited New Orleans for the first time this past February. I was invited to document the efforts of some volunteers, accompanying a group of high school students from the Beacon School in NYC. While there, I witnessed the devastation and destruction that Katrina left in it's path. The impact of seeing these conditions in person, of complete neighborhoods torn apart and abandoned, was chilling. I met people throughout the city, particularly the residents and volunteers working together to rebuild the Lower 9th Ward. Since my return I have been in the process of organizing a fundraiser, featuring photographs of New Orleans (due to show in a gallery in Tribeca on December 4th). The photographs will be sold to the highest bidders, through a silent auction, with proceeds going to lowernine.org. They are a non-profit group that has based itself there in the neighborhood, working hand and hand with home owners and residents of the community. The volunteers are working hard and quickly to clean the homes (from mold etc.), rewire and rebuild to get people back in, mowing lawns (to show that these homes are not abandoned by choice), hanging the street signs that were never replaced since the storm, and much more. They are people that have come from all over the country to make a difference where others have left off.

I am looking for photographers with images from New Orleans before and after Katrina. You may send up to 5 jpg images for review (no larger than 200K/ image, <600>

Thank you for your help and I look forward to hearing from you and seeing some amazing work!

Sincerely,
Orrie King
www.orrieking.com
orrie@orrieking.com