THROUGH A GLASS DARKLY

ArtSpring March 17- 25 2008

Hours Daily 10 - 5        Easter Weekend 11- 5

Through A Glass Darkly

12 Writers

9 Photographers

1 Passage from Corinthians

THE LENS, THE PEN AND THE MIRROR

Salt Spring photographers and writers interpret a biblical metaphor for the human condition. The central challenge of the show is to see if photographers and writers, working in radically different mediums can bring fresh meaning to this most ancient conundrum.

The idea is drawn from the verse, "For now we see through a glass, darkly, but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." First Corinthians 13:12

For scholars, "glass" presumably means  "mirror". The verse is about the idea of the imperfection of human perception, and dangles the further metaphor of reversal of perception in the mirror. It was anticipated by Plato whose idea of human consciousness was of men tethered in a cave, seeing only the shadows of real events.

"Salt Spring professional photographers have been exhibiting their work in group shows at ArtSpring for many years," says David Borrowman, spokesman for the photographers. "When we decided that this Spring's show would be centred on a theme, it suddenly opened the possibility of putting visual art next to writing, to see the similarities and differences of the two media."

ArtSpring Executive Director George Sipos agrees: "Writing and photography seem at first to be such different activities, and yet language itself is a lens through which we see our lives. Like the camera, it both clarifies and distorts the world. This joint exhibition will be a unique opportunity to see the two art forms side by side."

The photographers have been working since last summer to compile images that are related in one way or another to the theme from Corinthians. For the writing, a call for submissions went out to writers on Salt Spring in January. The thirty-seven entries were adjudicated by Carla Funk, the poet laureate of Victoria and creative writing professor at UVic. She chose fifteen pieces of writing from twelve authors for the show.

Through a Glass Darkly opened on Sunday, March 16 and several of the writers read their work during the reception. The show will be open every day 10 - 5 and Easter weekend 11 - 5 and Saturday evening, March 22.

The Photographers

Seth Berkowitz
Alan Bibby
David Borrowman
Ken Ketchum
Kim Kornbacher
Eric Onasick
Gillean Proctor
Chris Stackhouse
Kevin Steinke

The Writers

Joanne Bealy
Hetty Clews
Lorraine Gane
Cherie Geauvreau
Diana Hayes
Wendy Hilliard
Kathy Page
Maureen Phelan
Ahava Shira
George Sipos
Chris Smart
Evelyn C. White

Written Word

Artists' Statements

ArtSpring

100 Jackson Avenue
Salt Spring Island, BC Canada
www.artspring.ca

 

©2008