In “Identify,” Mike Weber explores concepts of commemoration and heritage, including his own lineage, as he symbolically reinvents the life stories of his unknown or forgotten subjects. He selectively edits and reframes vintage photographs, which derive from both his family’s collection and estate sales, into newly composed digital prints on canvas. This process of converting an analog photograph into a digital copy unearths previously overlooked details that shed light on the biography of the sitter and his/her relationship with the faceless photographer.
Weber augments these details with layers of paint, unorthodox collage materials, and high-gloss resin, intensifying the mood of the original photograph. His signature, multicolored strip of paint chips reiterates the concept of genealogy: the offspring of each hue is named and codified according to how they relate to one another.
The inclusion of scant, stenciled text invites the viewer to speculate the historical importance of the depicted sitter.
Ultimately, his artistic praxis ascribes a new narrative to his source materials and re-presents them as glossy, modern images.
The opening reception for “Identify” will take place on Thursday, April 22nd at 1234 9th St NW from 6:30-9:30pm.
José Andrés Catering with Ridgewells will provide complimentary food and beverages and the jazz quartet Laissez Foure is scheduled to perform. Please RSVP to info@longviewgallery.com by Monday, April 19th. “Identify” will be on display through May 20th.
Gallery hours are Wednesdays to Saturdays, 11am-6pm and on Sundays, 12-5pm.
Date: April 22 – May 20
Time: Reception on April 22: 6:30-9:30pm
Location: 1234 9th St NW
Ticket/Pricing Information:
Both the exhibition and the opening reception are free and open to the public.
