MONROE — Two new gallery exhibits will open the Monroe Arts Center 2018-19 season. From 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 31 in Wellington and Muranyi Galleries is “Salvage” by Tennessee artist Heather F. Wetzel. Frehner Gallery will host the entries in the 29th Annual Photography Contest. The artwork in all gallery spaces will be on display at MAC, 1315 11th Street, through Friday, Oct. 19.
Wetzel’s series of ferrotypes, also known as tintypes, titled “Salvage” are made using the tops and bottoms of recycled cans and bottle caps collected from a variety of sources. By using a circular format of varying diameters, these photogenic drawings become little worlds. The plant material used to create the imagery indicates growth, biodiversity and potential regeneration.
The “Salvage” exhibit is constantly growing. The images depict corn fields in various stages of growth representing genetically modified crops and mono-crop farming practices. This “field” is arranged in an orderly grid, with some “blowing” out of the field and into the circular ferrotype, or natural, environment. Where these two shapes interconnect, it symbolizes the intersection of natural plant life and mono-crop culture, and the imagery on the unique round ferrotypes will become almost nonexistent, a faded shadow of what once was, symbolizing GMOs and monoculture’s propensity for crowding out indigenous flora and fauna.
“Salvage” now includes both large and small constructed landscapes, using the smooth can walls of many of the cans collected for this body of work. These landscapes utilize the same botanical materials used in the making of the circular plates.
As an artist working primarily in historic photographic processes, hand papermaking and book arts, Wetzel is currently Assistant Professor, Head of Photography, at Memphis College of Art in Tennessee. Her work has been widely exhibited, and can be found at the Anzenberger Gallery in Vienna, Austria, as well as in multiple collections. Pieces from her “Salvage” series were recently included in the 2018 MIA Photo Fair in Milan, Italy.
For the 29th consecutive year, Monroe Arts Center has hosted the annual Photography Contest and Exhibit. The photographs entered in this contest are currently on exhibit in Frehner Gallery.
This year, 21 photographers entered a total of 48 photographs. The contest was open to both adult and junior (under age 18) amateur photographers. Wetzel serves as the judge for this year’s contest. The winners will be announced awarded at 6 p.m. Aug. 31.
A gallery opening reception is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 31 in MAC’s Wellington and Muranyi Galleries.
A brief artist gallery talk will begin at 5:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.
This exhibit has been made possible by MAC Corporate Underwriter Colony Brands, Inc., and Season Media Underwriter Big Radio, and with additional support provided by the City of Monroe, Terry Haller, Mike and Shelley Muranyi, Pete Guenther and Barb Woodriff, Lee and Chris Knuteson, Monroe Clinic, The Monroe Fund, Don Amphlett and Jan Johnson and Chuck and Chris Wellington.
