Close Encounters | Video Art Show at Kingston Station
A portion of the exhibition will be mounted in the Historic Kingston Train Station, Amtrak Waiting Room, beginning January 16. Partners for the complementary “town and gown” program are the Friends of the Kingston Station and Amtrak. Available at both sites, a Program Guide accompanies the exhibitions. Complementing the video exhibition, the Corridor Gallery showcases staged photographs by a leading photographer from the Slovak Republic, Pavel Pecha (see below).
The special exhibition is guest curated by Independent Curator Viera Levitt, a native Slovakian now living in Rhode Island. From 1997-2005 Levitt was director/curator of the contemporary art showcase, Jan Koniarek Gallery, located in the historic town of Trnava. She was the youngest director ever in a public art museum in the Slovak Republic.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
Central European Video Art
from the Czech and Slovak Republics,
Poland, and Hungary
Main GALLERY
Fine Arts Center Galleries, University of Rhode Island
January 24—February 10, 2008
Guest-curated by VIERA LEVITT
Kingston Train Station
Shown in a continuous loop within a bay window in the Kingston Train Station, the meditative character of Pavel Mrkus’ Seagull, 2005 (with music composed and played by Aziza Sadikova) will intrigue and calm travelers. Mrkus is an international digital media and glass artist represented by a gallery in Dresden. He has also taught at RISD as a Visiting Professor. This video combines a romanticized historical interior with a 3D animation of a flying golden seagull. The ambience of the video setting, its mirrors and shining chandelier, strangely echoes the décor of the Kingston Waiting Room.
Public Closing Reception & Remarks by Curator
On Sunday afternoon, February 10, 2-4 pm, a Reception will be held in the Main Gallery, Fine Arts Center Galleries. The Guest Curator will speak about the exhibition at that time.
Main Gallery hours are T – F, 12 noon – 4 pm & Sat. – Sun. 1 – 4 pm.
All Galleries are handicapped accessible.
Classes and other groups are encouraged to visit after hours;
please call 401.874.2775 to make arrangements.
The Fine Arts Center Galleries are open to the public without charge.
Contributions are gratefully accepted.
