Solo Exhibit - Vibrant Night: Subseries Selections - 3-2020 at Jung Center Gallery, Houston

NOTE: The following are copies of documents that were available at my physical solo exhibit at the Jung Center Gallery, Houston: 3-03 to 3-28-2020 during the Fotofest 2020 Biennial ( fotofest.org/participating-spaces#museum-district-midtown ) or ( houmuse.org/explore/events/ron-s-levy/ ). Soon after my opening, the building was closed due to Coronavirus precautions.  Hence, I am creating a virtual exhibit here.  Inquiries may still be addressed to The Jung Center’s Director of Retail Sales & Customer Service, Elissa Davis,  bookstore@junghouston.org or 713.524.8253, ext. 18. The Jung Center, 5200 Montrose Blvd. | Houston, TX 77006 | 713.524.8253 | fax 713.524.8096, junghouston.org/art-exhibits/ . --------- ARTIST STATEMENT RON S. LEVY VIBRANT NIGHT: SELECTIONS FROM SUBSERIES The night is my “canvas.” Since 2013 I've explored nature areas and nearby places at night -- mainly in Texas – via a technique known as light painting photography. Using long exposures during which I selectively stroke the landscape with light beams, I show the uncommon potential of common scenes: The world as otherworldly. And whether illusory or not, I sense a spirit and vitality -- a "vibrancy" -- in all things. Using lights of different color temperatures and extensive post-processing, I expressionistically stylize my photos to depict what was in my mind’s eye. And to me, this transformation offers a visual metaphor to a psychological concept: Things can seem different if seen in a different light (so to speak) -- concept of "cognitive reframing." I call this encompassing body of work Vibrant Night, both for its surreal styling of nature's night -- and also for the other meaning of "vibrant" which is alive with vigor and energy. It is composed of various subseries based on terrain or concept. This exhibit features selections from some of these subseries. Abstract Beings: Pareidolia in Nature Pareidolia is the illusion of things appearing as something else (eg., faces in clouds.) It's one way the brain deals with ambiguous patterns and has long been a part of art, including creation and decoding of some types of abstract art. Also, psychology has used it to explore personality facets projectively, as in the famous inkblot test. This subseries offers the best visual metaphor for my vibrancy theme of everything seeming alive and active in nature -- a view common to some Eastern religions and historic Native American beliefs. To me, it also suggests that we should respect nature as if all things were alive and capable of influencing Earth's ecosystems (akin to the Gaia theory). The best way to enjoy this show is for you to see if you can discover anything yourself before looking at the titles, if at all (which only appear on the Exhibition List.) “Gravel Pit” Mounds and Such The current presentation focuses on what I loosely refer to as "gravel pits," as a shorthand for any sort of human-made mounds/piles including those of recycling materials such as crushed glass. Since such structures can be unattractive, this subseries especially captures the transformative aspect of “cognitive reframing.” The Mountains of East Texas (There Are No Mountains in East Texas) The last several images at the end of my “gravel pit” work are related to it and preview my latest subseries. They may challenge the viewer to interrogate the reality and meaning of limited representations. The initial images here may sustain the illusion (despite hints to the contrary), but the latter ones (by hinting at scale) subvert it. (And you may want to avoid the last image if you prefer to maintain the mystery.) I’ll just say, they were taken where gravel is surface mined. Overall, as in Edward Burtynsky’s work, the irony between beauty and the risks-vs-benefits of what is depicted can provoke discussion. The ‘Nature’ of Bridges I see bridges as metaphorical gateways to other realms and often use them as as a lead-in to other parts of "Vibrant Night" -- a hypnotic portal into surreality. Also they symbolize to me the spirit of humankind amid nature. Substantially more images of these subseries and others are on my portfolio site, LensCulture.com/ron-levy (which appears at the top of Google if you just enter Ron S Levy.) ------------- EXHIBITION IMAGE LIST Ron S. Levy RonLevy@alumni.amherst.edu portfolio site: www.LensCulture.com/ron-levy The Jung Center 713.524.8253 junghouston.org/art-exhibits/ Vibrant Night: Subseries Selections All images are 16x20 (nominal), presented unmatted, archival pigment photographs on high quality luster paper. Available as 16x20 verso-signed open editions for $499 unframed only. Texas residents add 8.25% sales tax. U.S.A. shipping and handling included for these unframed, archival pigment photographs, rolled in a tube for protection. Vibrant Night Subseries: Abstract Beings: Pareidolia in Nature (Note: Pareidolia is an illusion like seeing shapes in clouds. It’s more fun to try to see what you yourself see before looking at the title.) A1. Abstract La Llorona (The Weeping Woman)? Hill Country, Fall 2015; printed 2020 A2. Mixed Identity Formation Being? West Texas, Fall 2017; print 2020 A3. Abstract Lady In Awe Of Cosmos? S.E. Texas, Spring 2017; print 2020 A4. Headshot: Sleeping Saurus Wakes? Hill Country Texas, Fall 2017; print 2020 A5. Abstract Cobra in Yucca? S.W. Texas, Fall 2017; print 2020 A6. Abstract Squid #3? Hill Country Texas, Fall 2017; print 2020 A7. Abstract Old Couple Walk the Night Hill Country Texas, Fall 2017; print 2020 A8. Abstract Mermaid? Hill Country Texas, Fall 2017; print 2020 A9. Abstract Tick? North Texas, Fall 2016; print 2020 A10. Abstract Man Uses Boulder? West Texas, Fall 2017; print 2020 A11. Abstract Seabird Wades? Coastal Texas, Summer 2018; print 2020 Vibrant Night Subseries: “Gravel Pit” Mounds and Such (Note: Includes preview of a related, new subseries at end) B1. Gravel Pit #6 North Texas, Fall 2016; printed 2020 B2. Gravel Pit #2 North Texas, Fall 2016; printed 2020 B3. Gravel Pit #5 North Texas, Fall 2016; printed 2020 B4. Abstract Bird Climbs Gravel Hill West Texas, 2017; printed 2020 B5. Herd of Gravel Hills Awaits Dawn West Texas, 2017; printed 2020 B6. Glass Gravel Pit Gems Point the Way West Texas, 2017; printed 2020 B7. Glass Gravel Hill: Abstract Planet of Blue West Texas, 2017; printed 2020 B8. Tattooed Teton West Texas, 2017; printed 2020 Preview of New, Related Vibrant Night Subseries: The Mountains of East Texas (There Are No Mountains in East Texas) C1. The Mountains of East Texas (There are no Mountains in East Texas) #1 North East Texas 2018, print 2020 C2. The Mountains of East Texas (There are no Mountains in East Texas) #3 North East Texas 2018, print 2020 C3. The Mountains of East Texas (There are no Mountains in East Texas) #9 North East Texas 2018, print 2020 C4. Light of Day Revelation: The “Mountains” of East Texas North East Texas 2018, print 2020 (Note: Seeing this one may spoil the illusion I created. Hint: They are actually where gravel is mined.) Sample of Other Vibrant Night Subseries: The Nature of Bridges D1. Underbelly of Bridge Tunnels into Dusk Hill Country Texas 2015, print 2016, 2020 D2. Bridge of Dreams 1A (“sun-painted”) North Texas, 2018; print 2019 Additional info and images of each subseries are on my portfolio site www.LensCulture.com/ron-levy (which comes up at the top of Google if you simply search Ron S Levy ) Info: The Jung Center, 5200 Montrose Blvd. Houston TX 77006 713.524.8253 --------- ARTIST BIO RON S. LEVY Ron S. Levy is a fine art landscape photographer, residing in Houston, Texas, who currently specializes in night photography using "light painting” (a form of photography where beams of light selectively “paint” the landscape during very long exposures.) A graduate of Amherst College with a B.A. and University of Rochester with a Ph.D., Ron has studied photography and art in general on his own to this day. Yet his background in psychology, cognitive neuroscience, and their disorders (neuropsychology) informs his art work: (e.g., his interest in pareidolic illusions [ie., like seeing shapes in clouds]) and his concept that light painting offers a visual metaphor for the psychological notion of "cognitive reframing" [basically, the benefit of seeing things in a different light]). His main light painting body-of-work since 2013, "Vibrant Night (Light Painting Landscapes}" typically explores Texas nature areas and their nearby places at night and its “border zones.” (Much of this can be viewed on his current portfolio site at LensCulture.com/ron-levy [best reached by googling Ron S Levy]). He likes to reveal the uncommon potential of common scenes: the world as otherworldly. In 2016, 2017, and 2019 some of Ron's photos were part of three juried group exhibits at Houston Center for Photography. (Jurors included staff from Museum of Modern Art, Houston; Contemporary Art Museum, Houston; and faculty of Sam Houston State University.) In 2017 he offered a mixed media photo for Lawndale Art Center's "Dia de Los Muertos" auction. In 2018, one entry was included by the editors of LensCulture in their highly curated, online Competition Gallery for their 2018 Emerging Talents Awards. And in 2019, he exhibited work in a juried group exhibit at the Pennsylvania Center for Photography. In March 2020, he had having his first solo exhibit at the Jung Center Gallery in Houston. In 2018, three subseries of his main body of work submitted to the international 2018 ND Awards in Photography received Honorable Mention in their categories -- and three other entries in the 2019 ND Awards received such. Moreover, another submission from a subseries to the 2018 ND Awards took 2nd place (Silver Star Award) in its subcategory. Ron S. Levy RonLevy@alumni.amherst.edu nospam123@aol.com