Michael Pointer

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Michael Pointer follow American, born 1955

Lives in Wichita, Kansas, United States

Projects/Portfolios

Photoexpressionist

Introduction

I approach this body of work from the perspective of painting to explore the relationship of photography to painting. I work to anchor the reality of each piece with photographic elements then to extend the metaphor as in a painting. I want to come between the technology and the image rather than hover outside in the mechanical/technical aspects of photography.

This is all analog and each piece is unique. I do not normally use any acquired images, all of the parts are from photographs I have made.

Initially this was a response to the fussy photographic technician work I was seeing- immaculate, pristine works devoid of life and generally derivative. It was difficult for me to see the hand of the artist at work. I decided to respond by breaking rules and slopping chemistry around, fully engaging with my materials as I would when painting or drawing.

Frequently I will write my way to a new piece with poetry. The poem then becomes an emotional template for me to reference as I work. The final image is not an illustration of the writing, but it frequently has the same emotional affect.

Silhouettes of Other Dreams

Introduction

This is an ongoing series which explores the relationship of painting to photography. I seek ambiguous metaphors that allow the viewer to find many subtle references. This will eventually be a group of twenty images on 84 x 48 inch wooden painting supports using a liquid photo emulsion.

The Difficult Occlusion of Night and Daturas

Introduction

Daturas- Loco Weed, Jimson Weed, Moonflowers

They only bloom at night with large trumpet shaped blooms white in the moonlight. I am fascinated by them and began to make more photographs of them than were possible to ever use. As the night ends they fold over like a woman's white evening gloves, quiet then gone.

These are large, single panel gelatin silver monotype prints with acrylic. They are variously sized between 77 and 55 inches by 42 inches.

Galleries

Point Gallery, Denver, CO, United States

Publications

Stchting Simulacrum, Sanne Sinnige, Foundation Simulacrum, Amsterdam, 2012
Technician Makes a Difference in War-Torn Afghanistan, Kim Molinaro, Lab management Today, Newtown, 2009
Mikrokosmos, Michael Pointer, Wichita State University, Wichita, 2003

Statements

Artist Statement
I produce photo based images that are anchored in the reality of photography with the extended metaphor of painting. I want the viewer to be aware of the surface of the photographic paper, the same as paint on canvas. I am interested in the photograph as an art object so my work attempts to expand the creative territory within analog photography. I want to be between the image and the technology rather than manipulating the image from the outside.

Process Statement
My work consists of gelatin silver monotype prints. I make them by hanging large pieces of photo paper on a wall and exposing them with whatever negatives I have selected. I then proceed to selectively develop various parts of the paper, even throwing chemistry. I also use dye imbued paper templates which soak into the emulsion. I frequently write my way to images with poetry which then serves as an emotional template for the completion of the work. I don't use appropriated images.

Biography

I received my first camera at the age of nine and have been making photographs ever since then. I am a fourth generation artist, my father is a painter, so I grew up drawing and painting as well as making photographs. When I was tall enough to focus an enlarger my father put me in the darkroom and began to teach me to print. I have always had an intense interest in literature and creative writing. I have a BA in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing. Poetry is the vehicle I use to begin the formation of visual ideas. I use the poetry I write to establish an emotional template to refer to while I work on a series of images.
My work was first included in a formal exhibit when I was 14 through the National Scholastic Arts Awards. I exhibited sporadically for several years winning awards for my photography and for my drawings. I had a solo exhibit at Trish Higgins Fine Art in Wichita, KS in 2000 and was invited by the Wichita State University School of Art and Design to be a Lecturer in Photography. I taught there for three years.
Most recently I lived in Kabul, Afghanistan providing dental laboratory support for a free clinic and taking dental treatment into imprisoned Afghan women and their children. While there I lectured at the Center for Contemporary Arts Afghanistan and am currently on the CCAA Advisory Board.
Selected Exhibits
2000-”Streetwise” solo exhibit at Trish Higgins Fine Art, Wichita, Kansas
2000-”Wide Open Lens” Trish Higgins Fine Art
2000-Small Works National Invitational, Period Gallery, Omaha, Nebraska
2001-13th Faculty Biennial, Wichita State University School of Art and Design
2001-”Drama of the Ordinary” John A. Cade Center for Fine Arts Gallery, Arnold, Maryland
2002-”A Few Good Pointers” with my father, Ed Pointer, City Arts, Wichita, Kansas
2002-”Three” Three person exhibit, Tangent Lab, Wichita, Kansas
2002-”City Arts Juried Art Exhibit” City Arts, Wichita, Kansas
2002- Bachelor of Arts English Cum Laude Wichita State University emphasis in Creative Writing, Minor in Psychology
2003-”City Arts Directors Show” Charles H. Sanderson Award, City Arts, Wichita, Kansas
2004- Lecturer in Photography, Newman University, Wichita, Kansas
2004- “A Few Good Pointers Too” With my father, City Arts, Wichita, Kansas
2005-Select exhibits at City Arts, Wichita, Kansas
2006-”Photoexpressionist” Redline Gallery, Wichita, Kansas
2006- “Other Side of the Peak” (paintings) Business of Art Center, Manitou Springs, Colorado
2007- Las Otras Americas” Group exhibit of photography City Arts, Wichita, Kansas
2007-Plantera Group Exhibit, Colorado Springs, Colorado
2009-Lectured at Centre for Contemporary Arts Afghanistan, Kabul, Afghanistan
2010-”Afghanistan” solo photography exhibit, City Arts, Wichita, Kansas
2010-”RE: Generations Three” with my father and my niece, Sarah Roberts, City Arts
2010-Wichita Arts Council Juried Exhibit, Honorable Mention
2011-”Foto: Pushing Boundaries” Juried exhibit Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2011-”The Big Picture” Illiterate Media, Month of Photography Denver, Colorado.
2011-”He” Group visual arts exhibit Steckline Gallery, Wichita, Kansas
2011- “Future Events Appear Real” Three person visual arts exhibit Tangent Lab, Wichita,KS
2012-”Modern Olympia” published in Simulacrum, an Art History journal in the Netherlands.
2012-”The Art of Photography” San Diego Art Institute
2012-”Fallen” published in Exposures, a book of selected images from Artists Wanted, NY,NY
2012- “Within the Drought” Erman B. White Gallery El Dorado, KS Solo exhibit
2012-Taiwan Photo 2012 with Expo-Arts International
2013-Canteen Magazine Photo Contest- Naked Judging Runner-up
2013-Trace Gallery Month of Photography Denver “Permanence/Decay” group exhibit
2013- The Big Picture Month of Photography Denver Outdoor large scale group exhibit on buildings in downtown Denver
2014-Finalist 6th Annual Pollux Awards
2014-"The Tattoo in Contemporary Art", 910 Arts Denver, CO
2014-"Grayscale" Black Box Gallery, Portland, OR
2014-RAW Artists Kansas City, MO
2014-"Phenomena: The Material Image" Kansas City Jewish Museum of Contemporary Art Epsten Gallery Overland Park, KS
2014- "A Few Good Pointers: The Return" City Arts Wichita, KS
2015- Month of Photography Denver "The Big Picture"
2015- CTL-ALT-DLT Point Gallery group exhibit
2016- "Silhouettes of Other Dreams" Solo exhibit Point Gallery, Denver, CO
2016- "Forward" Center for Fine Art Photography Annual Exhibit Ft Collins, CO
2017- "Photography Unsettled" Artworks Loveland Loveland, CO
2017- "The Big Picture" MoP Denver Biennial Denver, CO
2017- "Instagramica" Solo exhibit The Fiber Studio Wichita, KS
2017- "Mudras" Leedy-Voulkos Center Kansas City, MO

Website

mepfa.me

Contact

For print inquiries, please contact any of the fine galleries below.

Point Gallery, Denver, CO, United States

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