Visions Solo Show: 6-4-10

Visions the Art of Hair
2300 W Main St
Richmond, VA
7 pm

This coming First Friday, I have my first solo show at Visions Salon! On display will be Still in Life and After I Die in their entirety, Assent (single image from The Ribbon series), and most of my ceramic work from this year. There is also discussion of having a local band at the opening.

This show has been put together by The Red Hand Society of Richmond and Visions' owner Doug Curtler and awesome stylist/representative Meaghan Hobson. Come and enjoy some local art, support The Red Hand Society, or even get a fabulous hair cut! Also, look forward to more collaborations between Red Hand and Visions on future First Fridays.

Visions' Bio:

Visions the Art of Hair opened its doors on Main Street over thirty years ago in the heart of the fan. Owner Doug Curtler planned to utilize the space for two things: hair and art. The front lobby was put to task as an art gallery, showcasing artists from all across America, and permanently housed a collection of paintings by local artist, Greig Leach. The main rooms were used as the body of the salon, and the back as the owners personal sculpture studio. The studio has since been converted into private wax and massage rooms, while the owner has moved his focus to the "sculpting" of hair. The salon is excited about their latest prospect of joining the Red Hand Society in reopening the lobby as a gallery to support Richmond artists and further enriching their relationships within the community.

Rodeo Christmas, Still in Life, 2009
Assent, The Ribbon, 2009
Arctic Mask, After I Die, 2008

Untitled, 15''x10'' Stoneware Jar, 2010

What are chairs, anyway?

Why have I been so subconsciously interested in chairs during the process of Still in Life? Unsure of how this could have gone unnoticed for so long, I have put together a little research on the history of the chair in hopes that it may shed some light on my subliminal self. Perhaps 'the chair' has been anthropomorphically ingrained to represent the following:

Chair:

(n)A chair is a raised surface used to sit on, commonly for use by one person. Chairs often have the seat raised above floor level, supported by four legs.

Types of chairs:

Stool: chair without a back or armrests (when raised, it is a bar stool)
Armchair: chair with arms
Recliner: chair with folding action and a footrest
Seat: permanently fixed chair on a train or in a theater
Saddle: chair meant for riding
Wheelchair: chair with wheels
Swing: hanging chair

"The chair is of extreme antiquity and simplicity, although for many centuries and indeed for thousands of years it was an article of state and dignity rather than an article of ordinary use." [thank you, Wikipedia] Think: thrones, committee directors, academic leaders.

Chairs are often used as a symbol of power and wealth, but they can also represent institution, rigidity, strength, comfort, laziness, absence, and even death (etc). I would say that a chair could probably be fashioned to portray almost anything. Furthermore, it's not always about the physical appearance of the chair, but about how, where, or what is interacting with the chair. A chair with a piece of clothing flung over the armrest gives the viewer a completely different feeling than an empty chair.

Most of the chairs I have portrayed in my photographs are empty. Their emptiness represents the loss or absence of an inhabitant or a space worth achieving (as in "Portrait of a Throne"). Chairs provide a sort of architectural knowledge and stability within their simplicity, not to mention they are universal in their accessibility.

BFA Thesis Follow-up

Thanks to everyone who showed up for the VCU photo senior's BFA thesis production last Friday. A lot of hard work went into refurbishing the Richmond National Bank building over the past two months and it more than paid off. There was such a great turn out that the show was open for an additional hour. Special thanks to my mom and aunt for driving as far away as Philadelphia for the exhibition!

Here are some installation photos of Still in Life:


It wasn't until I began installing my work last week that I realized how many of my images include chairs. It sounds strange to have gone unnoticed for so long, but the majority of my research has long been focused on animal symbolism, anthropomorphism, the domestication of animals, still lifes, taxidermy, and influential artists.

There must be a subconscious symbolism that works seamlessly with my concept. While all the photos are in a domestic setting where chairs are abundant, I am unquestionably biased towards single-seat furniture... at least in terms of this series.

VCU Photography's BFA Thesis Show: 5-7-10

This Friday is the VCU senior photographer's BFA Thesis Show from 6-9pm. There will be lots of great work, refreshments, and discussion. Not to mention, it's taking place in the Richmond National Bank building located on East Broad Street. The now empty sky scraper was built in 1929 and still has some of the old interior architecture visible. Check it out!


Some of the participating artists:

Arlie Trowbridge
The 70's Addition,2010
Urban Revisions


Kerry McDonnell
Untitled (Places for Breathing), 2010
Graffiti Skies Photography


John Cameron
Required, 2009
John Cameron Photography


Sarah D'Eugenio
Indentured Servants, 2010
Sara Marie D'Eugenio


Also, look for my Still in Life series.

Sarah Hauser
The Second Departure, 2010