Patrick Nagatani: Themes and Variations
Koshare/Tewa Ritual Clowns, Missile Park, White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, (Nuclear Enchantment)
Patrick Ryoichi Nagatani is bursting with ideas and stories to tell. For more than 30 years, he has been sharing his narratives through the pictures he makes. What’s going on here, you ask? Splashes of color irradiate parts of people, pets and wild creatures, kachinas soar with missiles, and archaeological digs expose 20th century automobiles in incongruous places and eras. Nagatani’s images take you on fascinating journeys that explore history, personal philosophy, culture, spirituality, fantasy and reality. Images from seven major bodies of work that Nagatani has completed are presented here as well as a literary and photographic novel, “The Race,” that he is currently creating with other artists.
Themes and Variations was partially drawn from Desire for Magic – Patrick Nagatani 1978-2008, the exhibition and monograph, curated by Michele M. Penhall, Curator of Prints and Photographs at the University of New Mexico Art Museum, Albuquerque. That exhibition traveled to the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles and was exhibited at the Clay Center for the Arts and Sciences of West Virginia.
The Griffin Museum of Photography is pleased to offer a distinctive and expanded version of the initial exhibition. Barbara P. Hitchcock, Independent Curator and former Curator of the Polaroid Collection, organized and curated Patrick Nagatani: Themes and Variations.
October 8, 2015–November 29, 2015
Reception Oct 8th 7 – 8:30
Gallery tour/talk Oct 8 at 5 PM
Free for Members
$10 Nonmembers
