HOUSTON, TX -Houston Center for Photography is proud to present Created and Found Maps - Exploration of Self and World, an exhibition of works by nine contemporary photographers curated by HCP Exhibitions Committee Chairperson Frazier King, on view from September 10, 2010 to November 7, 2010 with an Opening Reception held on Friday, September 10 beginning at 6:00pm. Mr. King will offer remarks on the show and the Artists will comment on their individual work at 5:30 pm on the evening of the opening: September 10.. The exhibition examines the ways in which artists are using mapping as a means of exploring our interior, private world as well as the external, political world.  
 
Exhibiting Artists include Robert Beam (Eugene, OR), Elaine Duigenan (London, England), German Herrera (San Rafael, CA),  Nate Larson and Marni Shindelman (Baltimore, MD and Rochester, NY), John Mann (Tallahassee, FL), Jean Miele (Brooklyn, NY), Tatiana Parcero (Buenos Aires, Argentina), and Eva Timothy (Newbury, MA)
 
 
Maps stand out in today’s photography as a way to explore more than just geographic portions of the world. Both traditional forms of cartography and digital mapping tools from the Internet are used in this exploration. One group of artists either uses found maps or constructs map-like images to explore an interior world… A second group of artists use maps that explore external, political issues.
Frazier King, Curator
 
 
About the Artists:
 
Robert Beam uses satellite images found on the Internet of the same geographic locations of World War II maps and photographs left by his grandfather to show us the difference between war and peace.
 
Elaine Duigenan’s maps, which are created by the etchings of snails eating algae placed into a round format used in old-world cartography, conjure worlds that that
trigger feelings that are meaningful to our own circumstances.
 
"Germán Herrerahas a penchant for mystical and arcane images which, using Photoshop, he seamlessly collages together" as Fernando Castro describes in his related article in the upcoming edition of spot.
 

Elaine Duigenan, Aqua Amazonas 2010
Courtesy of the artist and KlompChing Gallery (New York, NY)
 
Nate Larson and Marni Shindelman are collaborators who use GPS navigational access found on the Internet to create a map that makes a political statement. In an one project, the words from Tweets found by the pair on the Internet are matched with photographs of the exact location of the Tweet so that the geographic location lends meaning to the words.

 
John Mann shows us what policies lie under the map of Russia and the relative political magnitude of a proposed on-ramp project.
 
Jean Mieleuses maps or indicia of maps in constructions to create feelings of wonder and mystery as well as anxiety and risk.
 
Tatiana Parcero’s maps, superimposed on her own body or that of her child, create feelings arising from questions of one’s origins, destinations and the journey in between.
 
Eva Timothy uses both maps as well as navigational instruments found in the archives of Columbus to remind us of the political and logistical challenges encountered by the first world travelers in the modern era
 
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Portfolio Review Night- Monday Aug 16, 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM
-SPIN 6-Spin on Summer - Friday, August 27, 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM