It is infrequently that I have the opportunity to exhibit the silk embroideries and loom-weavings that I have been doing in China since the early 1980's because they are fragile and take much transportation and display care. Quite frankly, many curators also have not given them serious consideration yet, or even understand what I am doing, so they are often "excluded" from my photography exhibits. Therefore, I AM VERY EXCITED that my long-time friends and gallery representatives, Peter and Judy Wach, will be displaying several of my newest and most amazing pieces at The AIPAD Photography Show New York in the Park Avenue Armory from March 17-20, 2011. The Wach Gallery is booth #408.
AIPAD is the Association of International Photography Art Dealers, and this event will host more than 70 of the leading fine art galleries from around the world. This is a great opportunity to enjoy New York in the spring and to see an astounding variety of photographic imagery. Judge for yourself where the work I have been doing fits into all of this.
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| 'Eagle's View of Winter Mountains' © 2011 Robert Glenn Ketchum For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form. |
This 24'x 30', hand stitched, 2-sided, silk embroidery features some very subtle dye work done to the silk threads and a technique we use to represent diminishing distance, wherein the threads detailing the furthest point in the landscape are not full silk threads, but rather, have been sewn with 1/24 strands of unwound silk. The piece took 2-1/2 years to complete. The effect of the stitching in this image gives the appearance of Chinese brush-painting, so put on your glasses and step closer, because it is not!
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| 'YK Delta From 1,500' ' © 2011 Robert Glenn Ketchum For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form. |
The tour-de-force of my AIPAD display is "YK Delta From 1,500", a 4-panel, double-sided, standing screen based on two aerial photographic images made flying over the Yukon-Kuskokwim river delta in Alaska. This loom-weaving was created on a loom with 3,000 lines of weft, the most complex in the world, and one the Chinese built JUST to render this image. The weaving employs select areas of hand-painting and hand-dye, as well as small clusters of gold thread (to represent the sun highlights off of the water), and the incorporation of peacock feathers to bring texture into an area of dry brush. All panels were woven simultaneously and they took 4-1/2 years to complete.
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| 'Turn, Turn, Turn' Photograph © 2011 Robert Glenn Ketchum For Display Use Only, No Permission to Reproduce in Any Form. |
The Wachs will also be displaying on of my new digital pieces, "Turn, Turn, Turn", a 6-foot tall, 32-inch wide panel conceived as an embroidery design, yet also an extraordinarily beautiful photographic print. The edition of this photographic print is only 10 and there are just a few left, so enjoy this before it is gone. And yes, the Chinese are doing it as an embroidery of the same size. Called "Graceful Branch Movement" it will be the tallest freestanding piece they have ever created and perhaps we will have it in next year's AIPAD show. Come see these images while you have the chance.
The Wach Gallery; Booth #408
Park Avenue Armory at 67th Street
643 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10065
Thursday, March 17, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Friday, March 18, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday, March 19, 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sunday, March 20, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
