Just the other day photo-eye artist Zoë Zimmerman stopped by the gallery with box containing a new body of work. This body of work was originally set in motion when Zimmerman began exploring the theme of 'the dress' for an exhibit sponsored by The New Mexico Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Zimmerman explained, “I attempted to use the theme as a jumping off place to create small stories in which 'the dress' played a role but was not the main character.” Looking to make a few images, she ended up with a series of 10 including some nudes. In attempt to share part of my impromptu conversation with Zimmerman, I requested that she tell us a little bit about the small stories that inspired a few of these new images. -- Anne Kelly

The Prenup -- Zoë Zimmerman

The Prenup -- Lest we forget, a wedding is more than a simple celebration of the love between two people. It is also the occasion of the signing of legally binding documents. The Prenup is my illustration of the non-sentimental side of the marriage event. Ah, the dress, the flowers, the words of love… the daunting contract.

In preparation for the making of this image I transcribed the entirety of my own pre-nuptual agreement on the dress and realized, to my dismay, that I had never truly read or understood the document. It was a sobering experience. This photograph is an cautionary tale. It is hard to read the fine print when one is so distracted by the opulence of the dress.

Cruciferous Couture -- Zoë Zimmerman

Cruciferous Couture -- Cabbage holds a place of significance in my life in all it’s visual frippery. It has become part of my personal iconography. I try to include cabbage in any body of work I create, but, really this picture is just about showing off my prowess with the hot glue gun. All that money spent on art school has to pay off somehow.

The Empress’ New Clothes -- Zoë Zimmerman

The Empress’ New Clothes -- When given the theme 'The Dress' to work with, it was inevitable that I, being rebellious by nature, would create a picture in which no dress appears. The fairytale The Emperor’s New Clothes has long been a metaphor in my family for anything that reeks of inauthenticity or pulling the wool over the eyes of one’s audience. In the case of this image, no dress at all is the most beautiful dress of all.

Untwined -- Zoë Zimmerman

Untwined -- My model arrived at my studio in tears having just ended her marriage of eight years. In the original concept for this image there was no twine or sheers but considering the circumstances and in an attempt to go with the mood of my model, I included props which could simply illustrate the moment. She is literally cutting the ties that bind. The determination on her face shows her resolve to be free. -- Zoë Zimmerman

See Zoë Zimmerman's work at photo-eye Gallery

If you have any questions about Zimmerman's work you may contact the gallery at gallery@photoeye.com or 505-988-5159 x202

Currently on Display is our on-going weekly feature investigating the individual works that are included in the show currently on display at photo-eye Gallery. These artist features include the images selected for this exhibition as well as the artists' thoughts and inspirations behind the individual image or images.

The featured images this week are: Origin, Bound and Biologique by Zöe Zimmerman, Crushed Bottles, Sayulita, Mexico by James Pitts and Observations on Lenticular, 1996 and Road and Crop Lines, 2001 by Kevin O’Connell.

Zöe Zimmerman

Origin by Zöe Zimmerman

"Simply, I think we all came from Africa originally. So, this young woman represents the first woman. An African Eve. The origin. The nest is also a symbol of our origins or birthplace, but really it is included in the image because it mirrors the spiral of her hair and I'm a sucker for symmetry."
-Zöe Zimmerman

Bound by Zöe Zimmerman

"Following loosely in the tradition of symbolic meaning in the elements of still life, I invent my own aesthetic vocabulary. In this image, the tulip represents beauty and the twine and box and pins are a depiction of the desire to own that beauty or contain it or capture it. This picture is a metaphor for what I feel is my task as a photographer. It is a discussion about the attempt to capture beauty." -Zöe Zimmerman

 Biologique by Zöe Zimmerman

"OK. Bluntly. This image is about sex. Really. Look at it. You need more of a map? The seed in the box is a spermatozoa in its own dark universe and up above it is a plethora of... vessels. Or choices. Or potentials. Or accidents. Or fantasies. Or hopes. Really." -Zöe Zimmerman








 See more images from Zöe Zimmerman here.



 James Pitts

Crushed Bottles, Sayulita, Mexico by James Pitts

 "What interests me is documenting and juxtaposing marks casually left by man. These semi-identical, multitudinous images are everywhere, but draw minimal attention. The grid panel of Sixteen Crushed Plastic Bottles Sayulita, Mexico, is one example of my attempt to expose veritable urban artifacts."
 -James Pitts
 
See more images from James Pitts here.


Kevin O’Connell

Road and Crop Lines (2001) by Kevin O'Connell

 "These pictures were made near the beginning of a journey that was to become (unbeknownst to me at the time) a lifelong obsession with vastness and the experience of being on the Great Plains. Then, my pictures were filled with mark making and were heavily influenced by artists such as Rothko and Newman. While somewhat abstract, these pictures rendered in the delicacy of platinum on paper, were intended to speak to some of the primal responses that could arise when navigating that wonderful sea of grass - awe, serenity, isolation, and fear. Today, my images continue with many of these themes in the context of the contemporary Western landscape." -Kevin O'Connell

Observations on Lenticular (1996) by Kevin O'Connell

See more images from Kevin O'Connell here.


Please contact me if you would like additional information or would like to receive email updates about Zöe Zimmerman, James Pitts or Kevin O'Connell.

Anne Kelly, Associate Director photo-eye Gallery


*Next week's featured artists will be Nick Brandt and Raymond Meeks.

Read the first three posts:
PART ONE - Jo Whaley and David Trautrimas
PART TWO - Tom Chambers and Laurie Tümer
PART THREE - Hiroshi Watanabe, Michael Levin and Julie Blackmon