Studio Gallery in Washington, D.C., has unveiled an intriguing display of photography and photography-related art within its limited lower gallery space.
This exhibition features four distinct yet loosely connected showcases by local artists, each bringing a unique perspective and style to their work.
One of the artists, Suliman Abdullah, captivates viewers with his innovative photography and collage techniques.
Abdullah employs ‘intentional color manipulation’ to create circular abstractions layered with grainy hues, producing visually stimulating pieces.
Meanwhile, Beverly Logan aims to encapsulate the ‘Essence of Place’ through her digital collages.
Her work is notable for its vibrant colors, especially in an image set in Buenos Aires, where a vintage station wagon finds itself wedged in a weathered alley, surrounded by a palette of tomato red, mustard yellow, and inky blue.
Logan also presents a manufactured tableau from an Amtrak passenger-car window, showcasing receding layers of track, water, yellow-painted homes, and a carefree sky.
In another exhibit, Judy Bonderman uses photographic manipulation to freeze fleeting moments from walks in the Tregaron Conservancy, located in Cleveland Park.
Bonderman’s images of aquatic plants and wildlife reflect her approach of exaggerating and romanticizing her observations rather than depicting them literally.
Though her works often feature calming shades of green, one standout piece titled ‘Rolling’ diverges with a striking blend of dark red hues, evoking a sense of fiery intensity.
The highlight of the exhibition may be Jo Levine, whose previous works at Studio Gallery have garnered positive feedback.
In her current collection, Levine documents an impressive variety of locations throughout D.C., ensuring that few of her more than a dozen images feel wasted.
What distinguishes Levine’s work is her ability to create seamless presentations through overlapping layers.
For example, one photograph captures a crisp reflection of the Empire State Building off the smooth hood of a black car.
In another image, a myriad of hanging light bulbs reflected in a window cheekily implies a UFO invasion above a mundane street scene.
A third image presents a kaleidoscopic view with mirrored reflections on a building’s exterior, further demonstrating Levine’s talent.
While many of her photographs highlight the stark lines of modernist architecture, they also reveal unexpected distortions, as if influenced by some unseen force.
In one instance, reflected lines take on forms reminiscent of genitalia; in another, they resolve into an hourglass or infinity symbol.
Moreover, a striking image captured from the Hirshhorn Museum illustrates the reflections of Henry Moore’s ‘King and Queen,’ portions of the U.S. Capitol dome, and a prominent brutalist architecture.
Ultimately, two of Levine’s most compelling works are those that embrace abstraction.
One portrays the organic texture of water’s surface through gentle undulations in olive and gray, while the other captures a view of the Kennedy Center’s REACH, merging geometric lines with shades reminiscent of Hopper’s drawings and a watercolor effect resulting from slight disturbances in the reflection.
This captivating exhibit, dubbed ‘Real and Surreal,’ featuring the works of Judy Bonderman and Jo Levine alongside Beverly Logan’s ‘Essence of Place’ and Suliman Abdullah’s ‘Global Empathy,’ runs through June 14 at Studio Gallery.
The gallery is open Wednesday through Friday from 1 to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free, and more information can be found at studiogallerydc.com.
image source from：https://washingtoncitypaper.com/article/765758/on-camera-four-local-artists-on-view-at-studio-gallery/
