Solo Exhibition - Catherine Asanov

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"Lightness Through Dark"

October 22 - November 3, 2018

As a fashion photographer, it if often dismissed that there is a constant story to tell. I was captivated by the Badgley Mischka Fall/Winter Collection not only as beauty and elegance in fashion but as also seeing all the elements of art in fashion. The campaign not only begins to tell a story of the renowned designers Mark & James but also fashion as an art form. After seeing such an embellished and sophisticated collection, my vision for the campaign was inspired by Caravaggio.

Seeing his work around Europe and other Baroque period artists, I was able to bring painterly elements into the perfect setting of the Historic Chelsea Mansion in Long Island. Blending together a place of history that had a strong sense of mood, elegance and charm with European and Asian influences pulled me to see the collection come alive in “Lightness through Dark”- a celebration of Caravaggio-inspired glamour.

The plays on light and shadow as well as creating mysterious moments really began our story. Caravaggio himself used live models as a painter and found the profound nature of the human state, both physical and emotional. Juxtaposing and incorporating his rather harsh approach in his personal work to a very glamorous and luxurious setting makes this fashion story not just about the attire but rather about the mood and mystery.

Solo Exhibition - Ray Carofano

"Close at Hand"

October 8 - October 20, 2018

"Close at Hand" is a body of photographs, which again highlights man’s participation

in his environment, depicting how a specific region is observed. As Ray Carofano

defines his process to others as, “knowing it has little to do with the things you see

and everything to do with the way you see them." This time, he examines the port

towns in Southern California: San Pedro and Harbor City. People helped transform

this area of Los Angeles into a recognizable place, but Carofano emphasizes

mundane spots that are often overlooked. His images have a quiet, painterly

attention to light and space, which translates beautifully into the tones of the scene.

Carofano employs graphic elements, playing with the strange visuals created by the

photograph’s geometry, colors, and reflections. Both stunning and historic at the

same time, this artist has discovered the brilliant and modern in the empty and

everyday.

Ray Carofano’s career in photography spans over fifty years, with his photographs

have been shown extensively throughout the United States, with several exhibitions

abroad as well. He has published three books of his photographs, and his work has

been reproduced in various publications. His pieces can be found in the permanent

collections of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas, Santa Barbara Museum of

Art, Santa Barbara, CA., Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, CA., Fototeca de

Cuba, National Archives, Havana, Cuba, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas

and other private and corporate collections. Carofano lives and works in San Pedro,

CA.

Suda House and Santa Monica College

A dnj Gallery educational event, on Wednesday, October 3, 2018:

A class of photography students from Santa Monica College came to the gallery for an educational visit with dnj artist Suda House. Suda spoke with the students about her recent work, which they saw on display in "Whats New", and her solo show, "Women Bleed". She addressed the themes of her work including the difficulties women face in today's political climate, poignant current events, and depictions of suffering on the front pages of newspapers. Suda also explained the process behind her work, giving students a demonstration of how she transfers her photographs onto the sanitary napkins used in this series, and allowing them to try it for themselves.