Life and Times: Opening Reception!

Life and Times: Photographic Works and Assemblages
Artist Brett Kaufman

Curated by Mary Ellen Durka & Leila Seppa

Opening Reception Thursday November 17, 6-9pm

On Exhibit November 17 through January 11, 2011

Please join us to interact with the works of San Francisco based Artist, Brett Kaufman. His works seek to extrapolate the lines between public persona, political figurehead, and social... [read more]

Life and Times: Photographic Works and Assemblages
Artist Brett Kaufman

Curated by Mary Ellen Durka & Leila Seppa

Opening Reception Thursday November 17, 6-9pm

On Exhibit November 17 through January 11, 2011

Please join us to interact with the works of San Francisco based Artist, Brett Kaufman. His works seek to extrapolate the lines between public persona, political figurehead, and social image by his creative - often witty, assemblages. Through photographic documentation Brett explores the impermanence of the used materials as well as the image built by the persona itself.

Photographic works, selected assemblages, and limited edition portfolios will be on display.

Let them eat cake....

From the Artist:

What fascinates me most, are the stories of those who have made an impact on us, and our human history that we share. In short, people who have made a difference. Some of those lives I've chosen to portray, include: A San Franciscan gay rights activist and city supervisor, who led the charge for equality, and was brutally assassinated at City Hall. A Hawaiian recipient of five Olympic medals for swimming, who went on to introduce the ancient sport of surfing to the western world, and ended up a national hero and official Ambassador of Aloha. A female Russian immigrant, who moved to a kibbutz in Palestine and helped founded the State of Israel, becoming its fourth Prime Minister. An Argentinian doctor who led the Cuban revolution and ended up becoming an icon representing the counterculture.

My portraits always start with the book they're based on. 'Harvey Milk: The Mayor of Castro Street' by Randy Shilts, 'My Life' by Golda Meir, 'The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas' by Gertrude Stein, are just a few of my inspirations. My wish, is to take the essence of a particular reading, and transform that person's story, into a visual dialogue with the viewer.

The first step in my process, is imagining what I want the final image to look like; and sometimes, that can end up being the most difficult task at hand. Once I know that, then I need to figure out how to create that image. I often think of my work as a puzzle that is put together piece by piece, similar to a mosaic. Each image has a separate story to tell; and likewise, a separate technique involved.

The execution, always involves one or more variations of the photographic process: straight photography, collage, and assemblage. My hope, is that my artwork manages to: Inspire the viewer and create curiosity. Honor the subject. And fulfill a need in me to get close to someone I've never met, yet who has touched me in a significant way.

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