Punching the Clock: Arranging inspiration
Artists are in a trade that rewards tedious attention to detail and an important part of one’s work depends on how it’s presented to the public.
The Chenango County Council of the Arts is the liaison responsible for that vital introduction. When a gallery puts an artist’s work on display, there is one chief consideration above all the rest – how can the display enhance the creator’s interpretation.
Executive Director Victoria Calvert Kappel introduced me Wednesday to the volunteer “troop” that regularly helps arrange the council’s West Main Street gallery: Mike, Linda, Van and Joyce. Victoria said the council relies on about 100 regular volunteers throughout the year to do a variety of tasks.
My job yesterday was to aid the other volunteers in setting up a renowned artist’s work, which can be far more difficult than it may seem.
On the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, the Council of the Arts has the honor of being the first to host “Countdown to Eternity,” an intimate, black and white photographic collection of Dr. King himself from the preserved archives of world-renowned photographer Benedict J. Fernandez. The exhibit will begin its tours in the halls of the Chenango art gallery and then travel south, eventually ending up at the site of his assassination in Memphis, Tenn.
This historical archive is complete with 78 total photographs depicting the toils of protesting and Dr. King’s personal life.
The set came with a timeline dating back to Dr. King’s birth and each photograph was numbered. The collection arrived in a large crate and we had to organize every single piece. This required the handling and re-handling of the pictures far more times than I care to remember. The next task and the most difficult was to arrange the photos in the gallery itself.
A basic requirement in this kind of display is making sure all the photographs hang evenly. This activity proceeded like a sculptor slowly chipping away at a marble block with each step painstakingly evolving into a final product.
Each of the frames had to adjusted, measured and then specifically placed in order along the gallery wall. It sounded easy to begin with – just hang the photos in the crate on the wall in a straight line. The backs of the frames were wire-hung and no two wires had the exact same length or tension. Nothing exaggerates minor differences more than an uneven line of skewed picture frames. Needless to say, the process presented me with plenty of opportunities to make mistakes. After going back once or twice to make some last-minute readjustments the work got a little easier. “There isn’t really an exact science to it,” said Van.
While I worked along with the group I realized that one of the most enduring qualities one can have when working on such diligent tasks was a sense of humor. (Thank you).
“These guys are just some of the greatest I’ve met. They can always make me laugh,” said Linda.
As I worked I found the appeal of the collection compelling and I caught myself wandering off into deep thought on more than one occasion. The images tell a tragic tale. The emotional pieces included a range of incredible shots that only a professional photographer could make. A very young Jesse Jackson making his debut. Another shot that caught my eye was a group of white supremacist children on the march holding up anti-protest and segregation signs. One of the signs they held read “Love it or leave it,” as if love had anything to do with it. There are other signs found in the images of the exhibit and my favorite was a black man holding up the trademark board reading, “I am a man.”
“Countdown to Eternity” is sponsored by the George and Elisabeth Mead Foundation and the Raymond Foundation. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Council’s Mariea Brown and Raymond Loft Galleries at 27 West Main St. in downtown Norwich. The exhibit will be available for view during regular hours until Feb. 7. There is no admission fee. For the gallery hours and additional information, contact the Council of the Arts at 336-2787 or www.chenangoarts.org. I hope I see you there.
The Chenango County Council of the Arts is the liaison responsible for that vital introduction. When a gallery puts an artist’s work on display, there is one chief consideration above all the rest – how can the display enhance the creator’s interpretation.
Executive Director Victoria Calvert Kappel introduced me Wednesday to the volunteer “troop” that regularly helps arrange the council’s West Main Street gallery: Mike, Linda, Van and Joyce. Victoria said the council relies on about 100 regular volunteers throughout the year to do a variety of tasks.
My job yesterday was to aid the other volunteers in setting up a renowned artist’s work, which can be far more difficult than it may seem.
On the 40th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, the Council of the Arts has the honor of being the first to host “Countdown to Eternity,” an intimate, black and white photographic collection of Dr. King himself from the preserved archives of world-renowned photographer Benedict J. Fernandez. The exhibit will begin its tours in the halls of the Chenango art gallery and then travel south, eventually ending up at the site of his assassination in Memphis, Tenn.
This historical archive is complete with 78 total photographs depicting the toils of protesting and Dr. King’s personal life.
The set came with a timeline dating back to Dr. King’s birth and each photograph was numbered. The collection arrived in a large crate and we had to organize every single piece. This required the handling and re-handling of the pictures far more times than I care to remember. The next task and the most difficult was to arrange the photos in the gallery itself.
A basic requirement in this kind of display is making sure all the photographs hang evenly. This activity proceeded like a sculptor slowly chipping away at a marble block with each step painstakingly evolving into a final product.
Each of the frames had to adjusted, measured and then specifically placed in order along the gallery wall. It sounded easy to begin with – just hang the photos in the crate on the wall in a straight line. The backs of the frames were wire-hung and no two wires had the exact same length or tension. Nothing exaggerates minor differences more than an uneven line of skewed picture frames. Needless to say, the process presented me with plenty of opportunities to make mistakes. After going back once or twice to make some last-minute readjustments the work got a little easier. “There isn’t really an exact science to it,” said Van.
While I worked along with the group I realized that one of the most enduring qualities one can have when working on such diligent tasks was a sense of humor. (Thank you).
“These guys are just some of the greatest I’ve met. They can always make me laugh,” said Linda.
As I worked I found the appeal of the collection compelling and I caught myself wandering off into deep thought on more than one occasion. The images tell a tragic tale. The emotional pieces included a range of incredible shots that only a professional photographer could make. A very young Jesse Jackson making his debut. Another shot that caught my eye was a group of white supremacist children on the march holding up anti-protest and segregation signs. One of the signs they held read “Love it or leave it,” as if love had anything to do with it. There are other signs found in the images of the exhibit and my favorite was a black man holding up the trademark board reading, “I am a man.”
“Countdown to Eternity” is sponsored by the George and Elisabeth Mead Foundation and the Raymond Foundation. An opening reception will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Council’s Mariea Brown and Raymond Loft Galleries at 27 West Main St. in downtown Norwich. The exhibit will be available for view during regular hours until Feb. 7. There is no admission fee. For the gallery hours and additional information, contact the Council of the Arts at 336-2787 or www.chenangoarts.org. I hope I see you there.
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