The photographs of Mark E. Chernin will be on display at the Academy of Music on Main Street in Spotswood starting Sunday. SPOTSWOOD — The Academy of Music on Main Street will present a new show at its art gallery featuring photographs by Mark E. Chernin.
An opening reception will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Sept. 28, including a gallery talk by the artist at 1:30 p.m.
The show, “Tuscany: A Photographic Journey,” includes photographs taken by Chernin depicting a richly varied impression of the northwest Italian countryside through sweeping vistas, little scenes and intimate portraits.
The “Tuscany” collection is divided into three categories that include images of Tuscan scenes, people, and doors and windows. They all were made in medieval village locations such as San Quirico d’Orcia, Monticchiello, San Miniato al Monte, Pienza Montalcino and Montepulciano, Italy. Prints are signed by the artist and constructed with archival quality materials and pigmented inks rated to last over 80 years. All are matted in 8 ply, acid-free museum matter.
Chernin’s photographs create a paintlike effect through his use of light and color, according to the gallery owners. He emulates the dramatic luminosity of landscape paintings by 19th-century American artists from the Hudson River School, including Thomas Cole and Jasper Cropsey. He has also studied privately with prominent photographers including Nancy Ori, a former student of Ansel Adams.
“My vision as an artist is to create images that move, or better still, inspire the observer,” Chernin said. “I believe that images that inspire are ultimately the result of an ability to capture light in its different forms and intensities.”
In addition, photographic images of storage towers found during a vacation in the Caribbean will be on display at the gallery.
“I was first attracted to Mark Chernin’s unusual photos of water or fuel tanks,” said Kevan Lunney, curator of the gallery. “The abstract images were closely cropped, broad expanses of color. The only detail was a delicate spiral of black lines. This was actually the staircases and the shadows of them that wrapped around the tanks. It was the only clue to the content of the image. Upon investigating his work further, I was impressed by the breadth of his talent when I saw his collection from Tuscany.”
Melody Blasenheim, director of the academy, said the beauty of the photography “truly brings Tuscany into an artistic light.”
The show opens Sept. 28 and runs through Jan. 6. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.