JOHN GRANT at Second Street Gallery

John Grant

Fairy Tales & Reveries

October 2-31, 2009

Remember when Michael Phelps won 6 gold medals and 2 bronze medals in the 2004 Olympic Games? The world was in awe.  Then in 2008, he wins 8 gold medals! Phelps took an absolutely incredible 2004 performance and made it even better.

This is a little how I feel about the photography of John Grant.

I have been a fan of John's work for a number of years. In that time, John has made a big splash in the world of alternative photography with his hyper-detailed scanned images of flowers, fruit and vegetation. But, instead of simply continuing on that very high level, John has pushed his work forward... and the results are even better.

A couple of weeks ago, John gave Laura and me a special tour of his new studio and a preview of his upcoming exhibition at Second Street Gallery – opening October 2. Like I said, I was very familiar with his previous photographs and was ready for more of the same. But, when I saw his new pieces and technique, I was floored. John has taken his work to a new level. He is now creating depths and distances in his rich, layered imagery. Also new is that he is mounting the photos on board and coating them in resin (no layer of glass stands between you and the work – a breakthrough in presentation). The final product is alive and brilliant. Oh... And due to John's perfectionism (some might call it an obsession), the pieces are flawless.

For your own little preview, take a look at the video below. Billy Hunt did a nice job of shooting this one. Also, for more insight, read John’s artist statement under the video block.

If you do anything this Friday evening, I would recommend attending the opening of "Fairy Tales & Reveries" at Second Street Gallery. I’ll be there.

John Grant: Fairy Tales and Reveriesfrom Billy Hunton Vimeo.

Artist's Statement:

In my photographic work I seek to distill and dramatize natural elements, transforming them into symbolic metaphor. I embrace the often clichéd or sentimental botanical portrayal, presenting objects in ways that infuse them with an enigmatic quality that expands expectations and tweaks the imagination.

Most recently, I have added layers of landscape content—sourced from my photographs or found tintypes - as vintage atmospheric backdrops. This interplay between foreground and background introduces a context to the still life images, offering new opportunities for narrative engagement.

[Image above: Rouge et Noir by John Grant]

Comments

[Stacey Evans]

Sexy!

[Maureen E. Doallas]

Thank you for posting the video. Grant's work is wonderful!