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Life & Arts

Exhibit features campus photogs

Group Dynamic comprised of 15 emerging artists

by JASON POLAND
The Daily Cougar

In conjunction with FotoFest, a group of UH photography students has coalesced into Group Dynamic, an exhibition featuring the works of 15 photography and digital media bachelor's in fine arts candidates for 2006.

Adam Baker, Sebastian Baraldi, Jonathan Bruder, Carissa De La Cerda, Jonathan DiBlasi, Cara Duval, Hope Eugene, Billie Jean Hignight, Mei-Mei Liem, Connilee Lusk, Paige Majko, Marcus Medellin, Brandy Stoesz, Jake Toler, and Fabiola Valencia will have their work displayed until Sunday at the Houston Foundry, 1712 Burnett St.

The emerging artists share their views and critical commentary on family, consumerism, religion and current events through digital, multimedia and chemical photographic processes. Through these perspectives, the artists aim to reach an audience and provoke discussion.

Toler, a photography senior at UH, said he and the rest of the students were fortunate to find such a nice gallery during FotoFest.

"Jean Caslin, who used to work at the Houston Center for Photography, found that the space was available, and through her connections, (she) was able to make the place available to display our work," Toler said. "It's a really great opportunity for students like ourselves."

To reserve a venue like the Foundry, Toler said, would've required two years notice, when many of the students haven't entered into the photo block program or even completed the works that would be in the show.

Free booze is usually a big enough pull for art patrons (or people who like to drink in front of art) to overcome even the most dilapidated art houses in Houston, but when coupled with a quality exhibition, the outcome can be overwhelmingly gregarious.

"It's a biannual international event, with people coming from all over," Toler said. "Although (the Foundry) is a little off the beaten path, we still went through 36 bottles of wine from all of the people showing up, not to mention the keg."

Adam Baker's multimedia was definitely the highlight of Group Dynamic. Two of his short videos, Anagenesis, and Loss of Information Through Repetition made use of captured video clips and time and motion effects. The TV loop they were featured on gathered an apt following.

Anagenesis features film reels of air, sea and ground combat during World War II, but reversed. The initial imagery is horrific, but the backwards effect restores calm when the smoke and fire are sucked back into the wreckage, everything is reassembled and fallen soldiers are reanimated and trot safely away. If left merely as a reversed video feed of stock footage, the piece would fall short, but Baker enlists a well-crafted voice-over that narrates the film, giving it the quality of a historical account. 

The voice is not Baker's, but it sounds like that of a war veteran, speaking with authenticity and authority about the events on-screen. 

His description turns the film into a documentary about fantastic machines that the United States and German forces used to restore peace by sucking the bullets and shrapnel from bodies, the giant magnets that planes employed to return their bombs neatly into their holding racks and the devices used to package harmful explosions back into their metal casing. 

All that remains of the previous devastation are a few wounded soldiers and some damaged vehicles.

Loss of Information through Repetition, splices together sales pitches from televangelists praising the name of God in the name of your checkbook. The scenes flicker through several prophets of profit, who all claim God wishes great wealth for you and your family. 

It's impossible to not feel like God is a product being sold in the infomercial format of these presentations. Testimonials praise his name, one woman is even rubbing an ointment on her face, looking very blessed, and emphatic speakers (including the likes of flat-topped Mr. T) are energized just saying his name. 

At this point, and at the speed of the video, just hearing the word "God" again and again becomes hilarious. Eventually, the word self-destructs in an information overload and the screen cuts to static.

Even if you missed the overwhelming turnout on opening night in mid-March, there's still time this weekend to admire the works of your fellow students. 

The gallery is open from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For directions and more information, visit www.groupdynamic2006.com.

Send comments to dcshobiz@mail.uh.edu