Hot off the Press
Richard Wright
New Landscapes
August 1 – September 27, 2003

Richard Wright is currently a Philadelphia resident but grew up in upstate New York. Originally a painter, with an MFA from Columbia, Wright has moved to working with photographic images which examine the impact of urban development on rural landscapes.

Wright has chosen the classical “golden mean” proportion to emphasize the uncomfortable modernity of much of the architecture and construction found in urban sprawl. While the images are clearly photographic; Wright has chosen a totally stark neutral black and white palette to digitally develop landscapes that initially appear natural but on closer inspection evidence a painterly touch with digital tools.

Repetition of the absolutely perfect, cloudless, extra-tall sky, with the suburban development dwarfed below serve to strengthen the message that urban sprawl is a serious threat to unspoiled countryside. The repetition also engages the viewer more strongly with the message that while these landscapes look peaceful the effects of overdevelopment will be disastrous.

Wright tempers his message with gentle humor. In New Landscapes #4 a lone birdhouse pokes up at the bottom of the print to emphasize the uniformity of the human habitation.

Wright has chosen IRIS ink jet prints for his work and has printed on Somerset watercolor paper. Each image is part of an edition of ten.

Silicon Gallery Fine Art Prints is a digital printmaking studio founded upon the collaborative printmaking model established by a handful of fine arts workshops and presses in the United States. While the tools at Silicon are digital, the philosophy is deeply rooted in the belief that it is the chemistry between the artist and the printmaker that results in the finest work. With five IRIS and one Epson printer the studio can provide printmaking services on a wide variety of materials and up to 44” by unlimited length.

Silicon Gallery was one of the first galleries dedicated to showing work created on or influenced by the computer. The current “Hot off the Press” series of shows focus on artists who have recently produced a body of work printed at Silicon Gallery Fine Art Prints.

Contact:
Michal Smith 215 238-6062
michal@fineartprint.com