When You’re Out There is a series of photographs that explores nature with a sense of humor and a sense of longing. It’s not so much a longing for nature itself, but rather a longing for nature to have a more profound meaning in our everyday lives. There’s nothing “red of tooth and claw” there for us anymore, just pleasant decoration that we are so used to we no longer see it. In the series, Politzer’s photographs this simulacrum of nature rising in intensity, moving from background to center stage. When You’re Out There investigates how animals have had to learn to adapt and live in our landscape as the human-built environment encroaches upon and shrinks wildlife habitat.

David Politzer’s photographs look at nature with a sense of humor but with a sense of longing too. It’s not a longing for nature itself as much as it’s a longing for nature to have a more profound meaning to us. There’s nothing “red of tooth and claw” here for us anymore, just pleasant decoration that we are so used to that we don’t see it any longer. David does see it, though. In his photographs, this simulacrum of nature is rising in intensity, moving from the background to the center stage. It’s as if the elevator Muzak has been turned up to 90 decibels so slowly that no one but David has noticed.

                                                                        -Christopher Rauschenberg, 2012 Fellowship Juror

Politzer’s HCP exhibition is half of a larger project entitled When You’re Out There featuring videos along with photographs. The other half is on view now at the Lawndale Arts Center and consists of videos and photographs that explore what it means for us to go out into the natural world (maintaining our consciousness), whereas Politzer’s HCP exhibition explores what it means for nature to manifest in our world (maintaining its consciousness). Politzer lives in Houston, TX.

The 2012 Carol Crow Memorial Fellowship Award and Exhibition are generously supported by the friends and family of Carol Crow.

EXHIBITIONS ON VIEW AND RELATED PROGRAMMING

Nancy LeVine - Senior Dogs Across America - HCP’s Main Gallery, May 4 – June 23, 2012

Isa Leshko's Elderly Animals, 2012 HCP Fellowship Recipient, selected by Christopher Rauschenberg - HCP’s Gallery X, May 4 – June 23, 2012

David Politzer's When You're Out There, 2012 Carol Crow Memorial Fellowship Exhibition,selected by Christopher Rauschenberg - HCP’s Gallery Y, May 4 – June 23, 2012

Collaborations IX: Aging - HCP’s Learning Center Gallery, May 4 – June 23, 2012

Opening Reception for all four exhibitions at HCP, Friday, May 4, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Juror Christopher Rauschenberg in conversation with 2012 Fellowship Recipients Isa Leshko and David Politzer at HCP, Friday, May 4, 5:30 p.m.

Artist Talk with Nancy LeVine at HCP, Friday, May 4, 6:00 p.m.

Artist Talk with participating artists of Collaborations IX: Aging at HCP, Saturday, May 5, 2:00 p.m.