Re/member/construct

juried by Lisa Volpe

Filter Photo is pleased to present Re/member/construct, a group exhibition juried by Lisa Volpe, Associate Curator, Photography, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.

Juror's Statement

When I taught History of Photography, to both undergraduates or to graduate students, I always began the first session in the same way. I would write the word “photograph” across the board in large letters and then turn to the class to ask them what it meant. We often take that specific string of letters for granted and forget the complexity it represents. Despite the singularity of the word, the polysemous nature of it would quickly become apparent to the class. After all, “photograph” is a noun, often used interchangeably to describe both the tangible and intangible: an object that is held in the hand, and also an image held in the mind. It is a verb: the action of capturing an image, of preserving a singular moment. It is a linguistic sign: a word used as a metaphor for direct representation, truth, or accuracy. In semiotics, it is also the signified: both an icon and an index, a photograph refers to something beyond the sign. The complexity and diversity of photography is bound up in its very name. Similarly, the composite title for this exhibition— Re/member/construct—mirrors the variable nature of the photograph.

The work submitted for Re/member/construct reveals the breadth of photography today. Artists from across the country and across the globe submitted work reflective of the current state of the medium. The photographs chosen for exhibition were both technically and aesthetically strong, skillfully crafted and cohesive in statement. They tackle issues of identity, loss, presence, pain, and knowledge, their messages strengthened through their means and style. Photography is an incredibly complex field, but that character makes it the perfect vehicle for investigating complex issues. The artists represented here have not shied away from that challenge. In our current complicated culture, the “photograph” is more important than ever.

Featured Artists

Keliy Anderson-Staley

Federica Armstrong

Eric Bladholm

Stephanie Brunia

Yu-Chen Chiu

Francis Crisafio

Matt Eich

Bill Finger

Meg Griffiths

Robert Chase Heishman

Sarah Hoskins

Elise Kirk

Dominic Lippillo

Sarah Malakoff

Andy Mattern

Jeanette May

Jan McCullough

Diane Meyer

Marc Ohrem-Leclef

Toni Pepe

Jennifer Ray

Laurie Rubin

Kris Sanford

Matt Storm

Zachariah Szabo

Samantha VanDeman

José Velazco

Claire A. Warden

Daren You

Exhibition Dates: September 21 – October 27, 2018

Location: Filter Space | 1821 W Hubbard St, Suite 207