Stephen Barnett’s Photographic Sculpture

Stephen Barnett is showing his work at Papouli's (9 Hyatt Street) through until September 30, 2009. Stephen is an artist and a friend from Staten Island, so if you have some time, go show some love! Here is an example of his work, and the related press release:

25 Years: Photography and Sculpture Alike

Staten Island, New York: August 3, 2009 -Papouli’s, (9 Hyatt Street), is pleased to present Stephen Barnett’s quarter-century culminated thesis works of, Photographic Sculpture; which are manifestations of the symbiotic relationship between realism and formalism. These works play with the three-dimensional quality of a two-dimensional world. The exhibition will continue through until September 30, 2009.

This commemorative hallmark of Mr. Barnett’s work as an artist honors his perseverance in forging a new syntax into the language of visual art. These exhibited works represent his interpretation regarding, “the art of symbiosis; with nature and humanity both holding the familiarity that ultimately grounds the work,” said Mr. Barnett. “I begin with traditional Black and White film, processing, and printing of Silver-Gelatin Prints, which are the realist elements of the relationship. I then juxtapose the mounted and framed images with gestures of lattice-cut Poplar wood, then usually incorporate found objects, such as: rusted nails, bent wire, and hairpins. Occasionally, I will include a touch of color to draw a line or to highlight. These, ‘added materials,’ are the formalist elements, which spark a harmonized relationship between themselves and the traditional photographed images,” said Mr. Barnett. As a result, his work reminds us of the sentiment within the symbiotic relationship between Yin and Yang.

The project is made possible in part by a Staten Island Creative Communities Grant from the Council on the Arts & Humanities for Staten Island, and with public funding from the New York State Council on the Arts.