RULE amazes again

RULE gallery continues to impress me. A beautiful photo show, part of photography month, is up until April 5th, so catch it today!

"A Simple Truth", features approximately 4 pieces each by 5 women photographers. Most of the photos are details of things, close-ups of everyday objects - thus being the simple truth. Nothing is complicated or harsh on the eyes.

Rebecca Dolan's dramatic cloudscapes, incorporate much more black sky then you would imagine. Anna Newell's photos of texture and patterns, are calming. If you've been down to the Contemporary, you'll recognize the black and white floral building shot. Newell's and Katie Taft's work looks fabulous in big white frames with white mats. It's really the only way I want to look at photography now. Very clean. I just loved Katie Taft's work, pictured above, "Baked in a Pie". Reminds me of the children's nursery rhyme - "Sing a song of six-pence,...... 4 & 20 blackbirds baked in pie", creepy featureless birds except for a beak. Rachel Hawthorn's work was somewhat milder next to the others, details of windows, reminiscent of film stills. And finally Ellen Yeiser's work, bold and interesting details of nature.

The show was well curated, and it's rare that my thoughts go to the curator, but they did an excellent job, picking work with similar themes. Well done again RULE.

Also in the back, check out the piezographic pigment print on white paper titled, "Rich 1978", by Bryan Boettiger. Simple and interesting, nostalgia provoked. Paola Ochoa's work is much better in person than in reproduced image. Really wet media used to make collages of wings and grass.

Always something fantastic at RULE.

More of Photography Month @ AI

If you're not bothered by photography hung crooked on linen wrapped walls, than this is the place to visit. Also, did I mention, there's a moment where you feel like you just landed in Brazil, with an American Passport? To enter into Art Institute now, they take your photo, name, and print it out on a sticker I.D. badge to wear. And YES they are open to the public. So how long am I in their computer system?

Warnings: If you are offended by nudity don't see this show. If you like Rhubarb and will no longer make rhubarb pies because of the previously mentioned element in the show, again, don't see this show.

As I feel about most exhibits, you are bound to find one thing you will like, thus worth adventuring out to the gallery. "Elements" is at the Art Institute of Colorado on Lincoln St. in the John Jellico Gallery, and is up until March 31st.

Elements is a collection of Contemporary photography curated by photographer Angela Faris Belt. She has a good opening piece at the entrance of the show, a flock of birds printed on paper, almost like a lithograph.

I was a little confused as to whether the show is for the purpose of contemporary photography, or to promote her new book. Regardless, there are a few strong pieces.

Suzanne Szucs's photographs are in a large Polaroid format but they're actually ink jet prints. I really didn't need to see her breasts for her self portrait. Far away the 12 photos work well together, but up close it lost my respect, I didn't want to be intimate with the photos, or her, perhaps her point. Also see above mentioned Rhubarb warning.

On the cleaner sweeter, sugary side, Alexis Abrams black and white photo of "Flower Girl at a Bridal Fashion Show", was elegantly beautiful yet still voyeuristic and creepy.

Last highlight: Alexandre Orion, "from Metabiotics Series", great devil chasing a child through shadow. mmmm nice shot and manipulation of image.

The show is a little disjointed, but the strong work shines through very well.

Photography Month

Apparantly it's Photography Month in Denver, so in honor of capturing light, I'll mention a photography show I enjoyed recently on First Friday this month. Anthony Camera's show is up at Fresh Art Studios, behind Core Gallery on Santa Fe. It's a maze back there, but worth navigated to find the good stuff. You can tell right away Camera has a sense of humor. He prints bright colors, high contrast (in a good way) and humorous expressions. His work is commercial, yet his Raphaelesque female portraits, resemble some great contemporary photographers such as Jeurgen Teller. There's also some interesting wedding shots, which is hard to do creatively when we're talking wedding photography without looking cheesy. Have a look, it's worth the time.