By Elin Spring
As part of the cautious re-opening of Massachusetts businesses during coronavirus, some art galleries are becoming accessible by appointment. Gallery Kayafas in Boston’s South End arts district is exhibiting three notable solo photography shows that the pandemic shuttered too soon after opening in March. Happily, the installation has been extended through the summer. For July and August, regular hours will be Wednesday – Saturday from 11:00 am to 5:30 pm by appointment (contact arlette@gallerykayafas.com). To ensure safe social distancing, three masked visitors will be admitted at a time. Does this seem intimidating? It’s actually great fun to go back into a space with remarkable photography on the walls, hosted by a gallerist happy to share some lively conversation.
At a time when shooting with film and printing in a wet darkroom have practically become “alternative methods”, Gallery Kayafas brings us the sumptuous silver gelatin prints of three contemporary photographers: The Way West by Peter Kayafas, You and I by Peter Chan, and Late Nights by Logan Nutter. Each employs the venerable B&W photographic tradition to see slices of the world anew, presenting a rich tonal range of revelations.
“Cripple Creek, Colorado, 2011” by Peter Kayafas (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
“Kalispell, Montana, 2014” by Peter Kayafas (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
On summer road trips spanning the past decade, Peter Kayafas has meandered through the time-honored rodeos, 4-H fairs and carnivals of the American West to observe a modern blend of relationships. Cowboy hats and cell phones signal an intermingling of tradition and technology that offers a fresh assessment of a storied trope. Against an enduring, dusty backdrop, Kayafas identifies the urgency and ennui of youth among the wise and weary vestiges of their elders. His empathetic lens finds exclamations of triumph, joy and pride along with quiet moments of reflection and tenderness in the midst of a gritty existence. Kayafas’ compositions possess an intimacy that seem to cut across time, with a fusion of old and new that vow eternity.
“Rock Springs, Wyoming, 2014” by Peter Kayafas (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
“Twin Bridges, Montana, 2014” by Peter Kayafas (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
“Encounter 1, 2014” by Peter Chan (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
Peter Chan’s wonky, distorted photographs transform the portrayal of everyday encounters into searching interior dramas. Using a 4”x 5” camera and an inventive approach to conventional capture, he employs extended exposures, lens flare, distortion and superimpositions in photographs of outdoor public venues to craft dystopian impressions of warped figures. Chan’s ethereal human forms alternately pass through scenes or have objects pass through them. His fluid compositions and high-contrast, impressionistic prints in assorted sizes and shapes are evocative of vaguely recalled dream segments and invite fabulous extrapolations on reality.
“Pillars, 1975” by Peter Chan (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
“Transition 2, 2012” by Peter Chan (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
“Cantab Lounge, Cambridge” by Logan Nutter (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
Logan Nutter’s grainy, late night photographs of patrons inside clubs or emptying onto the street in the early morning hours have the spirit of poetry. A tribute to our common – and now heightened – desire to connect, he finds a couple’s cross-armed stand-off or tender, assuaging touch with equal compassion. Nutter’s alchemy of recognition and mystery hits an emotional bullseye, whether capturing a solitary reverie or a roomful of communal excitement.
“Ryles, Cambridge” by Logan Nutter (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
Peter Kayafas’ new look at the old west, Peter Chan’s introspective impressions, and Logan Nutter’s ode to the human spirit all find their heart and soul in the inimitable beauty of traditional black and white photography.
For more information about this exhibit, go to: http://www.gallerykayafas.com/
To fully appreciate the lovely gelatin silver prints in this exhibit, please contact Gallery Kayafas for a socially-distanced viewing: arlette@galleryKayafas.com
OR call (617)-482-0411
“The Way West” photographs by Peter Kayafas (Purple Martin Press, 2020) is available for purchase at Gallery Kayafas.
Feature Image: “Ogallala, Nebraska, 2011” by Peter Kayafas (courtesy of the artist and Gallery Kayafas, Boston).
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