The Artists’ Studio: Nov. 1, 2012

 

To Jest Sztuka

 
Double your artistic pleasure on the AfA’s second floor this First Friday with a second exhibition by special guest artist Michal Dziekan, visiting from Poland upon the invitation of Scranton illustrator Ted Michalowski. During his week in Scranton the artist was scheduled to participate in Drawcore events at Afa and the Night of Clutter Indoor Music Festival at Funkadelic Studios in Manhattan and give talks to students at both Marywood University and Keystone College.
 
Dzieken moved from the small town in southwest Poland where he was born and raised to study Architecture at the University of Technology in Wroclaw. He later moved to Warsaw to work as a concept artist and painter at Platige Image (www.platige.com), a company specializing in the creating computer graphics, 3D animation, special digital effects and image composition for advertising and feature length productions. In four years at Platige he was able to strengthen his own voice and after a brief stint at Ars Thanea (www.arsthanea.com) in 2011, he worked as a freelance illustrator and character designer to broad acclaim.
 
Among his clients are the Wall Street Journal, Briefiengs Magazine, Procycling Magazine UK, Przekrój Magazine, DDB Warsaw, and Ogilvy & Mather Dubai. He has previously exhibited in group shows in London (After the Utopia, 2010) and New York City (Designers Against Child Abuse, 2011). He has been featured in Spectrum (www.spectrumfantasticart.com) 3×3: the magazine of contemporary illustration (3x3mag.com), and Juxtapoz.
 
Dziekan will be in attendance at the opening reception of his AfA exhibition on Friday. Festivities also include live music from Smeltzer & Smith on Theremin and piano. Visit www.michaldziekan.com for more images and links to more information.
 
 

Personal Revelation

The science of photography is as crucial to the art of capturing significant film and digital frames as the art of eyeing up color, texture and composition. Take the macro lens, which allows for a reproduction ratio greater than life-sized. In magnifying a subject, the images allow a notably more intimate experience with the camera’s subject than otherwise possible.
A new exhibition of photographs by Laurinda Faye Rubin on display at Camerawork this month explores the meditative potential of the macro lens.
The photographer first began pursuing close-ups after attending a workshop with the late Nancy Rotenberg in the ‘90s. Rubin has dedicated this exhibition to Rotenberg, whom she cites as a mentor, for giving her the courage and encouragement to share her work with the public. The images in the collection are intended to “open the viewers to a different perspective of our world and the unique subjects, designs and colors that can be found sometimes in the simplest places and in our surroundings,” Rubin explained in an artist’s statement.
“Each subject has its own unique light which shines through my photographs and allows me to share my vision of the world.”
Rubin has honed her skills not only behind the camera but through working as a mentor herself to youth in the Monroe County 4-H Photography Club.
“Every photograph I take is a result of my experiences, vision and influences from everyone that has touched my life,” she wrote. “Passion comes from within; photography gives me the ability to share my passion with the world through my camera lens.”
An opening reception for Up Close & Personal: Photographs by Laurinda Faye Rubin will be held Friday from 6 to 8:20 p.m. The work will remain on display through Dec. 3.
Camerawork, Scranton’s only dedicated photography gallery is located on the basement level of Marquis Art & Frame at 515 Center Street in Scranton. Gallery hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit www.cameraworkgallery.org for more information.
 
 

Self Exposure

 
On the other side of Lackawanna Avenue at the AfA Gallery, photographer Lori Ryan has turned the camera on herself in a new exhibition titled Out of the Dark. The series of self-portraits will remain on display through Nov. 10 due to the annual Artists for Art Holiday Art Auction on Nov. 17. A native of Scranton, Ryan studied at Keystone College and Tyler School of the Arts before settling in the Poconos and opening her own studio.
 
“This series of portraits encapsulates an emotional journey through self reflection, documenting the darkest days of a relationship in ruins, the grief that followed, the uncertainty, and the resolve of what the future holds. The process has been cathartic, to say the least, and has contributed to my growth as a photographer and partner,” she offered in illumination of her work.
 
Ryan’s experience includes work as a photo editor in NYC and photo credits in national magazines. Aside from this, she has exhibited her personal work in various places such as New York, Philadelphia, PA, and Trenton, NJ. She is also currently an adjunct instructor at Keystone College. Visit loriannryan.zenfolio.com for more information.