Virtual opening reception: Saturday, February 13, 6 - 7:30

SEE A VIDEO OF THE OPENING RECEPTION

440 Gallery is pleased to present New Color Work, a series of photographs by David Stock. Big cities are an endless inspiration for Stock. His current neighborhood of Jackson Heights, Queens, has proven to be an especially rich and ever-changing source of imagery. Stock searches for situations on the street where light, color, texture and iconography can be distilled into an evocative picture. His photographs are formal and graphic, and rife with social observation and humor.

“There are many reasons why I make photographs. On a literal level, I try to chronicle revealing aspects of our culture, aware that what I photograph today may not exist in 50 years, or tomorrow. Aesthetically, I’ve found that urban landscape provides infinite possibilities for expression through abstract design. On the most personal level, my photographs are visual equivalents, reflecting my outlook on life and my emotional state. And of course there’s the sheer pleasure of soaking fine art papers with colorful pigmented inks!”

Stock is dedicated to digital photographic craft. Images are captured using a high-resolution digital camera, then processed for hours or days before being output as small proof prints. Studying these proofs usually prompts subtle changes to the digital file. Eventually, the images are printed as larger proofs, then final prints on fine-art paper. The whole process is time consuming, but results in photographs that have a highly intentional quality, while still remaining true to life.

This new color work is a continuation of three overlapping long-term projects: “Hard-Working Storefronts,” “Surface Tension,” and “Unintended.”

David Stock's photography has been widely exhibited in museums and galleries in the U.S. and abroad. Venues include Fogg Art Museum, California Museum of Photography, Museet for Fotokunst (Denmark), University of Sinaloa, Powerhouse Arena, Casa da Fotografia Fuji (Brazil), Angels Gate Cultural Center and Colorado Photographic Arts Center, to name a few. This is his fourth one-person show at 440 Gallery.

“New Color Work” is viewable on ARTSY.

Project Space: “Present Tense”

Present Tense features new work by Gallery artists Barnet, Gibbons and Makon. These artists have each elected to show new work. The striking contrast in style and approach is tempered by a clarity of vision and underlying passion which these artists bring to their distinct craft. Gibbons work is mixed media collage, Barnet draws in ink with colorful wash, and Makon uses a meticulous watercolor technique. While each artist shines, the real joy of this show is in finding the connections in line and form. Echos of palette and tone create something more than the sum of its parts.

Richard Barnet’s work is from a series he calls Mortal Limits. Using the theme of “play” he mingles a sense of melancholy with the puzzling, scary and imaginary. In this way he builds a vocabulary of dreams and fantasy. Barnet says, “ Play is often more honest than inner or outer social expectations, which may direct us to appear composed, cheerful or normal.” He envisions the drawings as concept sketches for large scale play environments; sculptural environments that people could enter and move or dance through.

Karen Gibbons’ recent work revolves around the theme of “transformation”. In every piece many images merge and emerge, bringing up myriad associations. Color, line, and composition lend coherence and integration as the viewer is swept up in a sumptuous saga alluding to emotions, cycles, and rebirth. Gibbons says, “The images refer to both physical bodies and our collective body. These works are reflections on the idea that we are ‘all one,’ and the path of transformation is both personal and collective.”

Joy Makon’s paintings are an acknowledgment of the beauty and the eclectic realism of these times. Joy Makon says, “The pandemic may have restricted my mobility, yet I have taken advantage of the quiet isolation to spend time in the studio to indulge in color, light and detail. I am transported to places that flourish in my vision as well as memory. Smoke Gets In Your Skies depicts the Central Park Reservoir as smoke from West Coast wildfires tinged the sky this September. Green-Wood In The Snow is from a December snowfall in nearby historic Green-Wood Cemetery. This past year I have been fascinated by the views and finally found a subject that was inspiring to paint.”