A Unique Photo Exhibitby Michele Cheplic | More from this Blogger 08 Apr 2008 07:11 AM When you think of New Jersey what comes to mind? If you answered traffic, Bruce Springsteen, steak and smokestacks then you'll feel right at home at a new photo exhibit that opens this weekend at South Orange's Pierro Gallery, in a community center near Newark. The exhibit features more than a thousand images of the Garden State... but there's a catch. Many of the photographs displayed in the exhibit have been created by online "photographers" who have never stepped foot in the state. Rather, these "digital artists" have used other people's snapshots (though, some of the photos displayed have been taken by New Jersey residents) and Internet images to create a massive photo montage of what New Jersey means to them. For example, one photo features a retouched highway sign that reads: "Welcome to New Jersey - Taxes, Tolls, Traffic." Other snapshots show "typical" big-haired Jersey girls snapping on chewing gum while others document the food that has made the state famous, including Italian sausage sandwiches, tomatoes, and blueberries. There's even a photo that features a steak carved in the shape of New Jersey. And what would a photo exhibit about New Jersey be without a few pictures of the state's pride and joy? Bruce Springsteen is prominently featured in dozens of the photo entries. In one shot paying homage to the famous rocker a Chicago art student twisted the speaker wires from his CD player into the shape of the state. In a caption on his photo submission he noted the speakers were playing "Born to Run" as he worked on the project. According to the gallery's curator, the Garden State's outline was a common theme, because most of the 189 artists in the show have seen New Jersey on a map more than they have in person. Of those nearly 200 artists who documented their work on film some live as far away as Argentina, Lithuania and Turkey. The exhibit includes a variety of prints, from a three-foot standing image to photos that have been made into slides, which will displayed on screens around the gallery. The show runs from April 13 to May 25. Related Articles: More Lessons from My Photo Evaluation Telling A Story With Your Shots Snapping Frameworthy Shots Of Your Kids More Common Sense Tips To Capturing A Frame-Worthy Picture Common Sense Tips To Capturing Frame-Worthy Pictures Cameras: Knowing When To Upgrade Digital Photography 101: Getting To Know Your Camera Getting Digital Pictures To Friends And Family FAST! Learn more about Michele Cheplic  Michele Cheplic was born and raised in Hilo, Hawaii, but now lives in Wisconsin. Michele graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism. Relevantphotography tags User Comments No comments on this article yet. Be the first to comment! Community Tags new jersey, photo exhibit, photographs, pictures Discuss this article
|
Photography categories |
