Piedra y Sombra (Rock and Shadow)
Melanie Gonzalez, Photographer
Exhibition Statement
Piedra y Sombra (Rock and Shadow) represents a series of analog photographs consisting of techniques involving the process of multiple exposures; a catalyst for a distinct assemblage of multi-media projects that emphasize the impact of cultural diversity and nature surroundings.
In 2017 ‘Rock and Shadow’ emerged during and assignment in Nevada, but thrived upon an excursion to Rio de Janeiro, which coincided with research taken at home documenting botanical gardens, urban foliage, and decayed landscapes.
Later upon unveiling a roll of black and white film, panoramas captured from my humble abode apparently interacted with overlapping textiles (!) revealing a previously non-existent chronology. That in itself activated the archaeological expedition of ‘Rock and Shadow’ where the organic foliage, fauna and folk that comprises ‘Rock’ convene with the ‘Shadow’ of modern civilization; the inherent memory of nature.
Subsequently color interpretation utilizing the same process transcended ‘Piedra y Sombra’ into works of video, vertical landscapes, wearable art and three-dimensional photographic objects; a sublime achieved stem of gradients and vivid textures.
Thus, the unambiguous determination of my archival anthology is to consecrate the significance of nature as an impetus for artistic sustenance and enjoyment.
Artist Biography
Melanie Gonzalez is a multi-disciplinary art photographer and filmmaker born in The Bronx, NY. Since her youth, Melanie has been immersed in theater, music, nature, and art. She is also keenly aware of her Caribbean roots as pertains to her identify and culture. Gonzalez studied studio art at The City College of New York and theater at Talent Unlimited High School. Her lens-based art practice has taken her to sites all over the world to interview, document and illustrate both the culture and ideas of the commonalities of places and people that make us one. Her work (installations, photographic prints and video) has been exhibited at Longwood Art Gallery, The Andrew Freedman Home, The American Museum of Natural History, The Clemente Gallery, New Roots Community Farm, ChaShaMa Space to Present, and more. Her works have been published in Nueva Luz Publication (2019) and ALMOST Magazine (2018). She is a 2020 Artist-in-Residence at ChaShaMa's Space to Connect and a 2019 En Foco Photography Fellow.
To learn more, please visit: http://www.mga-studio.com/
