Lobby photo above, courtesy Rubinic Photography
I’m thrilled to announce the permanent installation of eight of my Crystal photographs in the lobby of 444 N Michigan Ave in Chicago.
The eight 40X60 Crystal pieces are facemounted to plexiglass, giving them a liquid gloss, an incredible vibrancy and depth – and lots of weight! Each piece is 45lbs!
The building is located on the Magnificent Mile at the Chicago River, one of the city’s premier locations. The modern 444 N Michigan is nestled between two of the city’s landmark buildings: the Wrigley Bldg (L) and the Tribune Tower (R)
The lobby is open to the public so drop by if you’re in the area.
— Shows Opening —
Residence of the Ambassador of Spain, Washington DC, Nov 1- Nov 24
The Ambassador’s mansion will be exhibiting three of my 44×55-inch Alleys & Ruins pieces as part of the group show, “VAIVÉN. Six visual journeys back and forth between Spain and the US.” The show is part of the annual FotoDC photography festival.
I’ll be at the opening reception Nov 1, from 6:30-9pm. The mansion is located at 2801 16th St NW, Washington, DC. If you are in the area, please drop by!
Southern Illinois University Museum, Carbondale, IL, Oct 11-Dec 13
The SIU Museum is exhibiting “Chicago Prints: 150 years of the City in Art from the John and Lucia Hollister Collection”
John and Lucia Hollister purchased Alleys & Ruins #87 last year, adding to their vast collection of Chicago based art. The Hollisters are passionate art collectors – along with their collection of over 500 prints of Chicago, they also own a large collection of Latin American and Outsider/Folk art.
Alley & Ruins #87
— Shows Closing —
Art After Dark: Artists and Artificial Lighting, at the Asheville Art Museum, closes October 27, 2013. My three Alleys & Ruins pieces are part of a group show featuring six artists who create images in the dark hours of the night utilizing artificial light or who use the night as inspiration for creating dream-like images.
Fragile Relations: Art, Nature and Environment, at the Illinois State Museum’s Lockport Gallery, closes October 25, 2013. I’m exhibiting three 32X40 Alleys & Ruins and three 32X40 Glam Bug pieces. This is a travelling exhibit that started in the State Museum’s Chicago Gallery last year. After Lockport, it moves on to the Southern Illinois Art Gallery in 2014 and the Springfield Museum after that.
— Press —
My solo show at the gallery in Elmhurst College closed Oct 17. The college newspaper, The Leader, wrote an excellent piece about my work – in fact it was better than many of the professional write ups I’ve seen.
Xavier Nuez discusses ‘Alleys and Ruins’ BY HAILEY WILLIAMS
Internationally recognized photographer Xavier Nuez recently added some welcome drama to the Frick Center when his collection “Alleys and Ruins” went on display. His work, which brings beauty to otherwise dark city streets, will be on display for students to enjoy until Oct. 17.
The work is dark, and though the lighting is colorful, it is also dramatic. Some risk was involved in the making of these photographs. Late nights in dangerous parts of town can yield unexpected results. These urban environments are ones you wouldn’t want to explore alone at night, but the photographs make them appear magical.
An artist reception took place on Sept. 17 where Nuez was available to discuss his unique creative process behind this collection, which is one of three that he has been consistently working on for the past 20 years.
“When I show up at some really ugly location it’s kind of a puzzle, I have to figure out how to transform it into this fairytale vision,” explains Nuez.
To the surprise of many, the whimsical colors in these photos are not digitally added in later, but rather, are created during the 10-30 minute long exposure times by shining colored lights on different parts of the scene.
The bright colors help accent the various textures of the bricks and rubble and add another layer of dimension to his work. The colorful highlights and shadows give the scenes an eerie yet intriguing feel.
Nuez works with a piece of history. The 50 year old Hasselblad film camera he shoots with is the same kind that the astronauts used during the moon landing. During the lecture, he disassembled the camera to help explain and demonstrate how the different components work.
Before the reception, Nuez sat down for an interview with The Leader, where he stressed the importance of not only getting proper training in your medium, but also in how to effectively market yourself and sell your work.
“There’s a real lack of education in terms of what you do once you leave college. Students are well trained on how to create vision, how to perfect their art, but when you get out you have to build a career.”
His advice to young artists who want to make a living off of their gift is to first and foremost stick with their vision. Do not alter your art just so you can make a buck. Keep your head high and stick to your aesthetic. I like to encourage students to pursue their passions, their dreams. It’s a business where you’re selling your vision, it’s very exciting.”
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