“Contemporary ‘Photo-Surrealism’ is a natural progression of the painterly school of Surrealism that began in the 1920s, post Dada, and was greatly influenced by the psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud,” said exhibit curator E. Jan Kounitz. “In making my selections of images for this exhibition, I was looking for consistent work that included photography as a starting point, such as collages, mixed media, straight and manipulated images.  My main criteria was respect for the image, which included composition and technique.”

For many people, the most familiar surrealist images have been created by artists like Salvador Dali, René Magritte and Giorgio de Chirico, and photographers such as Man Ray and André Breton. Pre-digital photographer, master darkroom technician and photomontage image maker Jerry Uelsmann took photo-surrealism to an impressive and fantastic new level in the 1960s.

“Photo-Surrealism” will feature works by Amy Becker, who shows how juxtapositions of reality, size and perspective make for good visual fun; Ron Brown, who explores how architecture can transport one from one dimension to another; Carole S. Lane, whose work makes you question if she was in the right place at the right time or created a master manipulation; and Arthur Paxton, with an extreme point-of-view and color manipulation that creates a questionable reality.  Other featured artists include: Eva Bouzard-Hui, Irene Costello Brandle, Jennifer Breitenstein, John Brown, Pauline Chernichaw, Joan E. Hain, Laura Kiesewetter, Michele LoManto, Yvette Lucas, Miriam Stern, Irv Suss, and Tony Zaza.

Exhibit curator E. Jan Kounitz is a photographer, printmaker, and teacher who focuses his current work on the faces and places of the Jersey City Heights neighborhood where he lives.

The works of “Photo-Surrealism” allow viewers to be surprised by what they are looking at, almost unconsciously thinking: what’s wrong with this picture? Is there a plausible visual surprise here? What am I really looking at, that may not even “really” be visible? Whether created via manipulation, Mother Nature, an unusual point-of-view or a juxtaposition of reality, these images are sure to engage, enthrall and excite on many different levels.

About Studio Montclair

Studio Montclair Inc. is a nonprofit organization of exhibiting professional artists and others interested in the visual arts. Its mission is to promote culture and education in the visual arts and encourage emerging artists. Founded in 1997, the organization includes over 300 members, including artists from around the United States. www.studiomontclair.org

Listing Information About the Exhibit:

Exhibition Dates: September 20 – December 20, 2013
Opening Reception: Friday, September 20, 2013, 7-9pm
Gallery Hours: Monday – Friday, 7am-7pm
Address: 33 Plymouth Street, Montclair, NJ 07042
Telephone: 973-744-1818
Email: studiomontclair@aol.com
Website: www.studiomontclair.org
SMI’s mailing address: 108 Orange Road, Montclair, NJ 07042