The ancient device known as a camera obscura (from the Latin for “veiled chamber”) was an indispensable art-making tool for centuries. A new exhibition at Northside’s Prairie Gallery tries to continue its relevance for contemporary artists. One component of Prairie Gallery’s current exhibition Camera Obscura was to build a room-sized camera-obscura device inside the front room. Seven artists then were invited to use or consider the device in creating their works. Also, visitors to the gallery are invited to enter the enclosure and gain a firsthand experience.
Prairie’s shed-like camera obscura is a warm, dark space in which glowing, upside-down images of Hamilton Avenue realize themselves across the wall. According to the exhibition statement posted in the gallery, only two of the artists created traditional images using the camera obscura. Many of the artists show an interest in photography deployed as fantasy rather than direct documentation. The show is informed by presence and history, but the artists primarily responded to broad notions about technology’s usefulness and interference in artful expression.
The exhibition runs 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesday-Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday through Aug. 8.
Read Matt Morris’ review here.
This article appears in Jun 17-23, 2009.