Debi Cornwall at the Filter Photo Festival

The 8th Annual Filter Photo Festival took place this past weekend in Chicago. Attracting fine art photographers from around the country, the event offered a variety of workshops, artist lectures, portfolio reviews and social programming. Participating periodically since 2010, I was again asked to take part as one of the event’s portfolio reviewers. I spent this past Sunday meeting some amazing artists, discussing various visual concepts and exploring some wonderful imagery.

The event organizers sent each reviewer a list of the photographers who had scheduled a time slot to meet with them. From the very beginning of my participation, I found this helpful. With the use of the Internet, the list offered me the opportunity to review each artist and the history of their published work—providing me a bit of insight… an extended context to review the work. During my research, I found that many of the artists had been creating work focused on human rights issues. I was intrigued since these atrocities have been my curatorial focus for the past decade.

The imagery of one artist is still seared into my mind. That is the work of Conceptual Documentary Artist [and Former Civil Rights Attorney], Debi Cornwall. Debi Cornwall’s work documents life at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp. Cornwall’s project, “GITMO at Home, GITMO at Play” explores the grim absurdity of life for those displaced to Guantanamo Bay after 9/11, as well as the soldiers who guard them.

Sixty-one men are currently being detained at Guantanamo Bay—many of who were cleared for release years ago. They are being held as “unprivileged belligerents.” Cornwall’s conceptual photographic documentary project is powerful but a second series of photographs titled “Beyond GITMO” is—to say the least—heart wrenching. Cornwall presents a view of the alleged terrorists after they have been cleared of charges and released. Hundreds of these men were held for years without being charged or tried. When they were released, they returned home or were displaced to foreign countries. Cornwall’s imagery presents them within their environment. She creates powerful portraits replicating the same regulations required of her while photographing at GITMO—concealing the identity of the subject. The situation is horrifyingly offensive and Cornwall’s imagery is powerfully moving.

This March, a book documenting Debi Cornwall's GITMO Bay Project will be published. You can learn more about the upcoming book release as well as the coinciding exhibitions at: debicornwall.com

I hope to see you, next year, at the 9th Annual Filter Photo Festival, which will be held again at the Millennium Knickerbocker. The dates are: September 21–24, 2017. You can learn more about the event at: filterfestival.com

The Labyrinth and A Midnight Carnival

Image: Audry Cramblit, “Agatha” 2010, bronze

Audry Cramblit ~ “Labyrinth”

Chris Raecker ~ “A Midnight Carnival”

September 5 - November 3

Reception: Friday, September 9, 5:30-7:30

With a special Second Reception: Wednesday, October 12, 5-6:30

Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago presents the figurative sculpture of Chicago artist, Audry Cramblit, alongside the moody, digitally-enhanced photography of Chris Raecker. Combining the work of these two amazing fine artists brings the mystery of surrealistic fantasy to Gallery 180.

In the body of work titled “Labyrinth”, Sculptor Audry Cramblit creates stunning textural surfaces and exquisite patinas that adorn her intimate figurative forms of clay and wax. The final pieces—ceramic or bronze—address the mind and body of humanity, paying homage to the psyche and physical elegance of the human form. Each figure is uniquely embellished to define Cramblit’s intention: The meandering but purposeful journey toward self-reinvention.

Image: Chris Raecker “Disk”, 2007, digitally enhanced photography

Perception is manipulated in the body of work titled “A Midnight Carnival” created by Chris Raecker. In these photographs, Raecker presents moody, digitally enhanced imagery of the annual mid-September fair called the Cattle Congress. The event—Located in Waterloo, Iowa—has a midway with bizarre contraptions and activities. Upon his first encounter, Raecker knew that this environment was perfect for creating imagery flavored with joy and modified to expose a darker side. His photographs only begin to tell a story that touches on childhood memories, perception and the surreal impression of the psyche.

The sculpture of Audry Cramblit and the photography of Chris Raecker will be presented at Gallery 180 of The Illinois Institute of Art-Chicago through November 3. Previews begin on September 5th. An Opening Reception will take place on Friday, September 9 from 5:30-7:30 pm …with a special second reception on October 12th from 5-6:30pm. This second reception will be in conjunction with the events of Chicago Artists’ Month, as well as to kick off this year’s Filter Photo Festival. This exhibition is free and open to the public. All works are available for purchase. Gallery 180 is located at 180 N. Wabash—at the corner of Lake and Wabash—in Chicago’s Loop. The gallery is open Monday through Thursday from 8am-8pm, Friday 8am-5:30pm and Saturday 9am-5pm. Additional information can be found at gallery180.com.