Best In Show
First Friday Opening May 1st, 2009 from 6 - 8pm
On view through May 30, 2009
Click HERE for First Friday May 1st 2009 information
Artist Statement
As a child growing up in Chester County, PA, I was always
surrounded by animals and art of them. Houses I visited had grand, opulent
paintings that paid homage to their ancestors and furry companions. I didn’t
think much of it at the time but many years later, I see that it has had a
profound influence on my work today.
About a year and a half ago, I set out to create a
completely new body of work I could truly call my own. This ongoing project
not only draws on my technical knowledge, but also on my childhood
influences. Painters such as George Stubbs and John James Audubon impacted
my work in a big way. These historic influences are offset by my modern day
means of fabrication. I want to challenge beliefs of what we think of as
historical or authentic, whether it was made yesterday or hundreds of years
ago. To blur the lines of time and to engage the viewer in how we interpret
history itself.
An unexpected benefit of this work is the joy that it
brings to others. Creating these portraits is deeply fulfilling, but what
makes them truly worth making, is how they touch other people’s lives.
People see their pets or themselves portrayed as larger than life
characters. Mixed breeds become heroes and everyday people become noble.
Curatorial Statement
Philadelphia artist Andrew Pinkham has taken inspiration
from 18th century painters, such as British artist George Stubbs,
whose paintings of animals often took on a portrait-like quality.
Framed against bucolic landscapes, bathed in glowing light, these
images of domestic and wild creatures appealed to an audience who saw
control of the natural world as symbolic of personal wealth and achievement.
Pinkham has updated this model to reflect a contemporary valuation of our
animal companions – not as symbols of power, but more as beloved members of
the family. As such, his
portraits of dogs, cats, and even a rooster convey the dignity and grace of
these creatures while also highlighting their unique personalities.
Pinkham photographs his subjects in park-like settings (often, in
fact, in Fairmount Park itself) in the hours around twilight.
He then works digitally to enhance the photographs and to eliminate
distractions such as collars and leashes.
The results are grand images, often printed on canvas and framed in
ornate, gilt frames to highlight the connection to an artistic style of past
centuries.
See additional images from the show HERE
If you are interested in having Andrew Photograph your pet partner more details are available here
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