Princeton Day School’s Anne Reid ‘72 Art Gallery will present the photographic work of faculty member Jerry Hirniak in the exhibit “Still/Moving” on display from Nov. 24 through Dec. 18.
Hirniak’s current work explores how photographic processes and technologies connect to perception, memory and culture. The exhibit features time exposures, multi-exposures, Xerox reproduction, direct manipulation of the film stock, and issues of scale and of context, such as installations using photographic images.
“My recent work reflects on the implications of the massive numbers of photographs that can be captured and displayed in a digital environment. The ‘contact sheet’ project is a playful way to draw attention to the process of photography in the digital age,” he said.
Hirniak explained that, traditionally, contact sheets were used to find the perfect image among inferior images; this selecting activity carries implications of exclusion, as discussed in cultural studies work on the camera’s gaze. “For this ‘contact sheet’ project, I visited historically significant subjects and events, not looking for the iconic image but shooting in burst mode to the full capacity of the card size to record thousands of repetitive images of the ordinary as well as the momentous, providing alternative cognitive maps of experience,” said Hirniak.
An opening reception will be held on Dec. 5 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.
“Still/Moving” will be open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday when school is in session and by appointment on weekends. For more information about the Anne Reid ‘72 Art Gallery, contact Jody Erdman, Art Gallery Director 924-6700 ext. 1772 or visit pds. org.
