Loyola Greyhound

Issue date: 3/17/09 Section: Arts & Society

Media Credit: Jesse DeFlorio/Greyhound "Food Science," a collaborative work amongst Loyola students, is an inkjet print that was taken from a Wet-Plate Collodion Negative.

1448 Gallery, an old row house converted into an art gallery, features the work of Loyola College photography students. The exhibition, Wet-Plate to Ink-Jet: Bridging Three Centuries, is a collection of photographs selected by Daniel Schlapbach, the associate professor of Fine Arts and director of the photography program at Loyola College.

He comments on the nature of the photography program as being a combination of ethics and philosophy. The images included in the exhibition were chosen for their persuasive power and ability to communicate with viewers. Though the artistic techniques and themes of the photographs vary, they each concentrate on controlling meaning. Every image in the gallery presents a message to viewers, but naturally, they remain open to personal interpretation.

Certain images present a straightforward message, however. For example, Lindsay Ianna's digital print, featuring human limbs growing in a greenhouse, seems to present a commentary on society, as though humans breed according to strict guidelines. By depicting humans growing from flowerpots in a manipulated digital image, she offers an opinionated message, claiming that society is conforming to a uniform state. While this image appears to deal with much larger social issues, other images included in the show deal with personality complexes. Valerie Hardt's pair of digital prints, boasting the phrase "Hey, do you remember that kid Mahoney?" capture the self-doubt so many teenagers and college students feel. The black-and-white images express the darker emotions of low self-confidence.

Another noteworthy image is Jess Hofmann's print, which includes a quotation commenting on the nature of dusk. The quality of the short period of time between day and night is such that it represents the "closing of another day, permanently a part of the past." Interestingly, not only does this provide a commentary on dusk, but also on the nature of photography.
Pictures capture a fleeting moment, never to be experienced again. The duality of the quotation included with the image strikes viewers for this very reason. Other images in the show also present a double meaning.

For example, Valerie Hardt's print, dealing with the definition of the word "fan," presents two different interpretations of the word. As the text on the image indicates, it can either represent an "enthusiastic devotee or a spectator" or a "fanatic: excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion." Overall, the nature of these dualistic images embodies the premise of the exhibition, demonstrating different interpretations of a work of art.

These students' images will be on display in 1448 Gallery, located at 1448 E Baltimore Street, until March 29. Be sure to view the exhibition and see how the artists' works communicate their messages and alter your opinions. The gallery is open on Saturday and Sunday from 1-5 p.m. Don't miss the opportunity to view Loyola College students' artwork in such a unique gallery space.

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