Charles Purvis, Strange associations

Portland Art Museum Photography Council’s
Brown Bag Lunch Talk Series

Wednesday, September 19th, 2018

Portland Art Museum
The Miller Room, Mark Building
1219 SW Park Avenue, Portland, OR 97205
www.portlandartmuseum.org
503 226 2811
Cost: Free to the public.

This talk is a presentation of work created in the studio. It falls in the category of still life yet is not primarily concerned with the natural depiction of objects or of objects as symbols. The intention is to strip away conventional meaning in favor of form by foregrounding strange associations and by replacing common orientational assumptions with structural innovations determined by the particular characteristics of the 4×5 camera, film, and light. The studio is seen as a liminal space of absolute potentiality. What is to be, must be created. Entering the studio becomes analogous to the experience of going within oneself to explore imagination, creativity and the feeling state.

For many years Charles Purvis worked as a photographer in New York City creating groundbreaking imagery for a wide variety of internationally known clients. In addition to commercial assignments, Charles has created a large body of innovative work inspired by a relentless curiosity and desire to uncover the creative potential of camera, light and film.