An exhibition of new objects added to the photography collection at George Eastman House includes two triptychs by Carl Chiarenza, University of Rochester artist in residence. "What We're Collecting Now," the current summer show, is displayed in the New Acquisitions Gallery at the International Museum of Photography and Film, which is located at 900 East Ave.
Chiarenza’s two large photographs are among 285 contemporary objects that have been purchased or given to the museum in the past year. Revolving selections from this group will be shown in the months ahead at the museum.
Each of these triptychs, which are named Untitled Triptych 177/184/181, 1994 and Untitled Triptych 300/296/292, 1997, consists of three, 16-by-20 inch selenium-toned gelatin silver prints. The three are mounted edge to edge to form a continuous image on a 28-by-54 inch board, over-matted and framed. Chiarenza, a native of Rochester, also gave the museum 10 additional prints at the time the triptychs were purchased. These works complement several of his photographs already owned by George Eastman House.
Photographs by Chiarenza, who is also Fanny Knapp Allen Professor Emeritus of Art History at the University, are distinctive for their shades of black and white that result from the play of light on the wrinkles, folds, and torn edges of the collages he makes from varied papers, foils, and fabrics. They become the basis of his images produced as large photographic prints.
Chiarenza has exhibited in more than 75 solo and 200 group exhibitions, and has lectured and taught workshops at more than 90 institutions. His latest photographs are in a new book, The Peace Warriors of Two Thousand and Three, by Nazraeli Press.
For more information, contact George Eastman House at (585) 271-3361.