May
Kirsta Joy Niles: Co-Authored
Opening Reception: May 8, 2016, 12:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M.
The Manayunk Roxborough Art Center (MRAC) is pleased to feature the work of Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Krista Joy Niles, along with new artwork in various media and styles by members of the Manayunk-Roxborough Artists’ Co-Op. Titled “Co-Authored”, the exhibit represents a collection of abstract photographs based on the artist’s many pilgrimages to view and capture works by some of her favorite artists in museums around the United States and Europe. The result is a mysterious and alluring collection of fine art photographs that are playful and fun, yet sophisticated and elegant. The opening reception for “Co-Authored” will be held on May 8, 2016, from noon to 3:00 P.M., in MRAC’s gallery, located at 419 Green Lane, Philadelphia, PA 19128. The exhibition continues at MRAC on May 14th, 15th, 21st, and 22nd.
From May 23 rd to June 20th the exhibit can be seen at MRAC’s sister gallery at the Roxborough Development Corporation, 6111 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19128.
During her extensive travels, museums became Krista Joy Niles’ studio spaces and the treasured artworks therein her subjects. Her photographs are homages to these subjects, providing a link to the original artist and inspiration, but also imbue a wholly unique way of seeing and appreciating them through abstraction. Each photograph is “either an emotional response or a creative response” to the artworks and shares Niles’ personal story and aesthetic journey. All the images are created by employing very long exposures, moving the camera strategically while the shutter is open to capture the abstractions. The results are vibrant images infused with her affection for modern art and nostalgia.
“Co-Authored” will include “After Josef Albers”, based on the abstract painter’s “Homage to the Red Square”. Albers capacity to control color in shape and shade has long been an inspiration to Niles. The painting is housed at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri, as is Henry Moore’s “Seated Woman”. With “After Henry Moore” Niles pays tribute to the 1957 sculpture, which, despite being crafted in bronze, depicts the female figure in voluptuous shapes both alluring and compelling. “After Andrew Wyeth” is based on “Christina’s World”, Andrew Wyeth’s iconic painting that is housed in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Niles’ piece reminds the viewer of how much a painting such as this can illicit feelings of “pity, wonder, and love for its subject” all at once.
With 20+ years of experience behind the camera, Niles has worked for the New York Times, the Associated Press and many media organizations. In 2002, she won the Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News for her contributions to the Times’ coverage of September 11, 2001. Her 9/11 work is on permanent display at the Newseum in Washington, D.C. Niles holds a B.A. in photojournalism from San Francisco State University and a M.A. in Art History from the University of Arizona where she also earned a certificate in Museums Studies. She served as the Ansel Adams Intern and curatorial assistant at the Center for Creative Photography – one of the leading photo archives in the world – from 2013-2015. Niles lives in Philadelphia where she is a board member of the Manayunk Roxborough Art Center. She has been teaching and mentoring photographers of all ages for over 15 years.
MRAC’s gallery hours are Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. except for holidays. Admission is free and donations are encouraged and appreciated. For more information about the Roxborough Development Corporation, call 215. 508.2358.
MRAC is a non-profit arts organization supported in part by a grant from the Philadelphia Cultural Fund and by its volunteer members.
