New Print

This is the latest, just completed this afternoon in a series I've been calling Religion as a Chain of Memory. The image of me and my father is being reused from my prototypes in the first posting. This print uses the first question from the Heidelberg Catechism, still memorized by my father from his youth. I too studied it in my youth...although it is not lodged quite as firmly as it is for him. In a sense that is what these pieces are about...human effort to convey meaning, morality, religious creeds and other confessions of faith from one generation to another. Thus far, just happen to be those that my father has shared and embodied with me during my life.

Topos/Chora on Archaeologists/Photographers Site

Upon my return from Cyprus and the PKAP project, Bill Caraher passed along a link to the newly opened Archaeologist/Photographers site. This project is meant to explore the emerging discussion between the arts (particularly) photography and archaeologist. Last week, my work from PKAP went up as the 4th featured artist. Not only is it great timing, as it corresponds to the show at the Empire Arts Center, but it also lines up nicely with the podcast and online gallery componenents hosted by the UND working group in digital media.

Please take some time to check out the Archaeologists/Photographers site and the other artists and their work.

UND Press Release Regarding Topos/Chora

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—Wednesday, Feb. 3, 2010—UND historian, photography student collaborate on Empire Arts Center exhibit featuring art from Cyprus research project

Topos/Chora: Photographs of the Pyla-Koutsopetria Archaeological Project

The exhibit Topos/Chora: Photographs of the Pyla-Koutsopetria Archaeological Project is featured now through the end of the month at the Empire Arts Center. The exhibit features the photographs of UND Master’s of Fine Art student Ryan Stander. These images were produced during Stander’s time as the artist-in-residence at Pyla-Koustopetria Archaeological Project in Cyprus.

Since 2003, the Pyla-Koutsopetria Archaeological Project has conducted archaeological fieldwork in the Republic of Cyprus under the direction of Bill Caraher of the UND Department of History. It is one of very few archaeological projects in the Mediterranean to support an artist-in-residence program.

Stander's photos seek to present the relationship between the archaeologist at work in the field and the physical and natural environment. Portraits, landscape views, and dynamic work images capture the intersection of physical energy, personality, and the striking archaeological and natural landscape of the Cypriot coastline.

Stander’s photos will be at the Empire Arts Center through the end of the month. The exhibit is free and open to the public and is open during Empire Arts Center events and by appointment. Check the Center’s Web site for a calender of this month’s events. An online exhibit supported by the Working Group in Digital and New Media will be released later this week.

Topos/Chora Opening

Friday night was the opening for Topos/Chora show. It was a bitterly cold night in Grand Forks but we still had 50 or so brave souls that filtered through during the two hour event.

I was pleasantly surprised with turnout. One never knows how many folks will show up to such and event. It was well attended by art faculty, students, friends, the UND housing dept, as well as the department of history.

Guests were treated to a sneak peek at Ian Ragsdale's forthcoming PKAP documentary (which looks to be a great addition to the ever growing PKAP media venues).

If you missed the opening, the show will be up at the Empire Arts Center in Grand Forks through the end of February.

Topos/Chora Comments

Today Bill Caraher has a nice posting about the Topos/Chora project and the relationship between photography and archaeology. Take a read here.

Topos/Chora Show Opening

Topos/Chora: Photographs of the Pyla-Koutsopetria Archaeological Project
Topos/Chora is the result of an artist residency provided by the Pyla-Koutsopetria Archaeolgical Project. PKAP is a transdisciplinary, landscape oriented investigation that has drawn upon an interanational team of archaeologists, artists, historians, geologists, illustrators, and other specialists to produce a vivid, diachronic, archaeological history of a significant coastal site in Cyprus.

Opening Reception
Friday, January 29th
6:30 - 8:30 pm
With gallery talks at 7:00 and a sneak peek at Ian Ragsdale's upcoming PKAP documentary.

Empire Arts Center
415 DeMers Ave.
Grand Forks, ND, 58201

The show will be hung today and will be open for viewing through late February. If you are in the area, please stop the Empire and check out this unique body of work.

Two New Prints

I've recently completed two more prints in editions of 10 each continuing this idea of religion as a chain of memory. I've begun this series with my own father and images of him and his own handwriting of central religious statements in his life.

The top landscape image is from Karina's cousins home just down the road from hers in Sask. The left image is of my father at 19 or so visiting Pompeii while stationed in Germany. The image on the left is me at Paphos this past summer on my residency in Cyprus. The text is the Lord's prayer.

The second print is also a landscape just down the road from Karina's home. The image is of me being held by my father with the Apostles Creed printed over top of both images.

I think I have committed myself to using gold for the text. As I think about its significance and associations with value, it seems to make sense to put the "tradition" in what makes an easy tie to value.