"Rachel"
by Arthur Fink
"Dream Dancer"
by Arthur Fink
"Feet"
by Arthur Fink
Arthur Fink:
"Dance and Dancers"
March 24 - May 2, 2010
Artist's Reception: Saturday, April 10; 3-5pm
Arthur Fink has been working with dancers for two decades. And it shows.
The detail of a costume. The arc of a movement. A glimpse of a pair of hands to show us that no part of a dancer's body is exempt from the expression of their art. These are some of the images that make up Fink's most recent exhibition at the Firehouse Center for the Arts Gallery.
Most of this work is from his book entitled Dance! which Fink shot during his five summers as resident photographer at the Bates Dance Festival at the Omni International Dance Collective in 2008, and in dancers' studios in Boston and New York. Copies of the book will be available at the reception.
In the preface to the book Fink writes: "I document the work and energy that goes into dance -- not just the final performance. They grow out of a deep relationship with the dance community."
Be sure you don't miss this very special exhibition that looks at dance from the inside out with images that are stirring and evocative.
Artist's Statement: When asked to provide an "artist's statement", I typically refuse. "There is none!", I write. "Look at these pictures, and see what you get. My pictures should speak for themselves. However, I did write this statement about my experience of doing this dance work. It continues to guide me.
Being in the studio as dances are created, or even as dancers prepare themselves, feels like being in a delivery room as children are being born. Amidst pain or anguish, tempered with rhythm and support, and bolstered with faith, new life emerges. It's physical, sometimes sensual, often spiritual. Too often this process is ignored, as image makers look only at the final result -- the dance.
My first serious photography teacher was Kate Carter, who showed me how photography can be about self-discovery and self-expression. I've learned
much in other master classes at the Maine Photographic Workshops with Arnold Newman, Joyce Tenneson, Sally Mann, Lilo Raymond, Eugene
Richards, and Paul Caponigro. I’ve been running workshops on such topics as “Art and Spirituality,”
“Photography as a Spiritual Practice,”“Photographing From Within,” and “Seeing Dance Like a Photographer." (I teach the classes that I want to take.)
My work is in the permanent collection of the Portland Museum of Art, and has appeared in Dance Magazine and The New York Times, Recently I had a
joint show with Lois Greenfield (one of the best know dance photographers alive today). In addition to this “art” photography, I do photograph such events as weddings and births, and various commercial projects as well.
The Firehouse Center for the Arts Art Gallery
The Firehouse Center for the Arts features twelve gallery shows a year. Each show is selected from submissions each Spring for the following year’s shows. Gallery exhibits have included local, national and international artists and have given our community the opportunity to view a variety of artwork including photography, paintings, monotype and sculpture.
Call for Artists
The Call for Artists' Submissions for the current season is now closed. Please check here for future calls. You may also sign up for the Firehouse newsletter where all Calls for Submissions, Auditions, etc. are posted as they are received. Please be sure to put "Newsletter" in the subject line.
