Santa Ana, Calif. – Three local photographers will showcase their work in Santa Ana College’s upcoming exhibition, “Photo Abstraction,” where visitors can view the abstract photographs of local artists Jacques Garnier, Lizzie Moo and gallery director Phil Marquez between February 15 and March 29.
“When the concept came about to put together an abstract exhibition, I thought about a variety of approaches,” said Marquez. “Abstract art most commonly is referenced with painting, but as an art educator, I’d be remiss if I excluded photography in the mix.”
Marquez said Moo’s work is reminiscent of the photos from forward-thinking European photographers in the 1920s. Each photo, shot between January 1 and December 31, 2017, features everyday items distorted in a way that makes them nearly unrecognizable.
“They offer a different perspective of the small beauties in the world that remain unnoticed during our busy lives,” Moo said. “By playing with positive and negative space, light and shadow and composition, I abstract the mundane, allowing my audience to explore it as if it were foreign.”
Garnier’s submissions are a throwback to mid-century photography, with small, heavily contrasted photographs of historic landmarks throughout Los Angeles. Yet, each of his “beautifully slick, shiny flush mounted (to aluminum) photographs gives an almost futurist view of his vision of what might come to the urban Los Angeles landscape,” said Marquez.
“I have noticed with alarming frequency, the number of beautiful or even iconic buildings that are being torn down or repurposed in the LA area,” said Garnier, adding, “This work exemplifies a past that has not found its way into the future – a past left behind, but still occupying space –lonely, yet beautiful, present but unfulfilled, waiting to be taken on a journey not yet defined.”
As a counterbalance to the work of Moo and Garnier, Marquez’s photographs are displayed as a way to show another aspect to the medium and theme. By paying homage to Aaron Siskind and photographing his neighborhoods, Marquez shot with film and hand-painted each image in the darkroom.
“I wanted to create prints that had a vintage feel that looked authentic to the era,” he said.
Who: Santa Ana College’s Department of Fine and Performing Arts
What: “Photo Abstraction” featuring Jacques Garnier, Phil Marquez and Lizzie Moo
When: Thursday, February 15 through Thursday, March 29, 2018
Where: Santa Ana College Fine Arts Building C, 1530 W. 17th St., Santa Ana, 92706
“Often in art history classes or history of photography courses,” said Marquez, “I point out similarities and occasionally juxtapose images from different mediums to show students how they are connected and intertwined... Having a strong interest in the history of the medium, I wanted to pull together artists that would cover a wide range of approaches to abstraction while still complimenting one another.”
An opening reception is scheduled for Thursday, February 15 from 7:30-9:00 p.m. Santa Ana College’s Main Gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Visit www.sac.edu/art/Events/Pages/default.aspx for more information.
About Santa Ana College
Santa Ana College (SAC), which turned 100 years old in 2015, serves about 18,000 students each semester at its main campus in Santa Ana. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions, provides invaluable workforce training, and customized training for business and industry. In addition, another 11,000 students are served through the college’s School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation’s top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and other medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.
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