Summer 2012: Michael Conti's 'Solstice' at SU Gallery

Show Dates:
June 21-July 12

Opening Reception:
Thursday, June 21, 5-7 p.m.
UAA Student Union Gallery

Gallery Hours (Summer)
Monday-Thursday: 11 a.m-5 p.m.
Friday: 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
 

The Student Union Gallery presents 'Solstice.' This exhibition runs from Thursday, June 21 to Thursday, July 12 and will consist of an installation in video and live images by Michael Conti. Conti was awarded a solo show at the SU Gallery because he placed Best in Show at the annual No Big Heads exhibit in October, 2011 at the SU Gallery. Conti teaches photography and works in the photo lab at UAA.

'Solstice' will celebrate and lament both the longest and shortest days of the year. Conti plans to turn the SU Gallery into a camera obscura (see image at right) -- a room-sized box camera that will display an image of the trees and sun outside the gallery onto a screen within the gallery. In this short podcast, listen to Conti describe his motivation and process.

The image at left is on his exhibit invite. It was taken by Conti off Point Woronzof near the winter solstice of 2011. He said it was a cold, cold day. The ice was sublimating and creating a fog or mist that obscured the sun, focusing it into the flame you see in the image. Conti said he increased the image contrast, but nothing else. 

For more information on this exhibition, visit http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/sll/activities/gallery.cfm and click on Solstice or contact the Gallery at (907) 786-1052 or (907) 786-1219 or email gallery@uaa.alaska.edu