A new exhibition from ArtHaus Gallerists in San Francisco features New York artist Chris Schiavo‘s “The Backyard,” photography of stylized environments “manipulated and enhanced through painted light and shadows, bright colors, exaggerated flora and fauna, carefully positioned props and live presences.” The work of landscape designer Deanna Glory is also featured. ArtHaus Gallerists says the series is still vital 25 years after the photos were first shot. ”The Backyard takes a humorous look at the compact worlds and eccentricities created by the human presence within these tiny plots of Nature.”
Schiavo’s color photographs was created over 12 years in various backyards across Queens, New York. ArtHaus writes: “These mysterious tableaus of fractured narratives transform common backyards into personalized and emotionally charged hyper-realities built of childhood memories and adult longings. At once eerie and familiar, these photographs offer a timeless glimpse of an American scene.”
Schiavo is a well-known multimedia artist who works with photography, film, installation art, drawing and sound pieces. Deanna Glory is an award-winning landscape designer who created an installation for the project. Select photographs from the series are in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. The Backyard first premiered at Yale University.
The Backyard at ArtHaus in San Francisco opens July 1 and runs through September 25, 2010. Get directions to the gallery, and see more of Schiavo’s photos.
Image credits: (1) Chris Schiavo. Fido. 15”x15” Chromeogenic print. Courtesy of ArtHau (2) Chris Schiavo. Lawn Friends. 15”x15” Chromeogenic print. Courtesy of ArtHaus
Hi there,
I’m the landscape designer that installed the garden art installation to compliment the work of the photographer of The Backyard series. At the time the press release was issued, my installation had not yet been created. I specialize in creating garden designs while on site which was a few days before the opening of the show.
I would love to send you a few photos of my installation at the gallery among the photographs. Please let me know how to do that.
Best,
Deanna Glory, APLD
STICKS AND STONES, A Vertical Garden, by award-winning garden designer Deanna Glory, APLD, compliments ‘The Backyard’ by Chris Schiavo.
http://glorydesign.com/arthaus.php