poetry and 19th century alternative process photographs by John Metoyer
April 23 – June 5, 2009
Image Credit: John Metoyer, Africa, 2000. Ambrotype (contemporary materials). Image courtesey of the artist.
Press ReleaseThe President’s Gallery at Harold Washington College presents Blood Migration: poetry and 19th century alternative process photographs, April 23 – June 5, 2009, with an opening reception on Thursday April 23, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Blood Migration is a recently published volume of John Metoyer’s writings and photographs. Although not initially intended as a single body of work, Blood Migration is a transport through facets of the human condition and its subsequent struggle between the spiritual and the material. Addressing relationships, identity, and death, the poetry draws upon family history, found diaries, and letters, telling of physical and mental toils and the comfort and loneliness of solitude.
John Metoyer’s photographs can be described as surreal, questioning the necessity of the physical and the burdens that materials imply; yet a significant source of inspiration is the history of photography itself. Early camera techniques that gave rise to spirit photography and visual hoaxes, quickly shattered the validity of the photograph as a document of truth. Metoyer uses the techniques to and end that are more appropriately considered visual poetry, exposing truths as personalized internal ventures.
John Metoyer teaches English and Photography, and serves as Dean of Instruction at Harold Washington College.
Blood Migration was published in a limited edition by Leo and Wolfe Photography.
Review
http://art.newcity.com/2009/04/27/review-john-metoyerharold-washington-college/