Laura Wulf: Scratching the Surface
May 26 - July 1
Press Release
Foley Gallery is pleased to announce Scratching the Surface, an exhibition examining the junction between photography and drawing by Boston based photographer Laura Wulf. In her New York debut, Wulf presents fundamental evidence of light applied to color photographic paper by creating a unique photogram without the use of a negative. She then essentially draws on the paper with a sharp tool to permanently incise the paper below the surface of the emulsion. Some of the cuts are precise and follow the geometric guidelines for three dimensional shapes. Other cuts are more random and involve scraping and sanding of the surface.
Photography’s invention freed painters from the responsibility of representation and paved the way for the modern exploration of painting materials and of the painting process. Photography finds itself in a historically parallel moment with the advent of digital technology. Photographers can now create their own fictional documentary while others like Wulf can expand the possibilities of how photographic materials can be used. Color photographic paper is very limited in terms of texture and surface, but with Wulf’s mark making and brilliant color relationships, she is able to achieve a balance between emotive color and impersonal forms. Shapes made from color combinations in the emulsion link to the surface markings, transforming the flat surface into a complex constellation of design. She is both architect and builder of a bold new construction.
Laura Wulf received her degree from The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 1996. She received a Professional Development Grant from the Massachusetts Cultural Council and was a finalist for the Maud Morgan Prize from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. She has exhibited her work at the DeCordova Museum and the Sommerville Museum, both in Massachusetts.
Foley Gallery is open Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 6pm. For more information or for images, please contact the gallery by phone or e-mail. A complete selection of images from the exhibition will be available on the website at www.foleygallery.com on May 26th.
Gallery Hours:Tuesday - Saturday 11 - 6pm