Gallery 151 & Wallplay Present
Natalie White: Transmissions From Space
Curated by John Reuter and Wallplay
Opening May 10th 6-9pm
Monday-Saturday 11am-6pm
Gallery 151, 245 West 14th St, NY, NY 10011
GALLERY 151 is pleased to present Natalie White: Transmissions From Space, an exhibition curated by John Reuter & Wallplay. The exhibition features White’s newest 20×24” Polaroids and image transfers. Transmissions From Space is a focused showcase of both endangered large-format Polaroids and Polaroid transfers to watercolor paper, a new experiment for White in her creative practice.
The 20×24” Polaroid camera entered the market almost 40 years ago, with only three remaining in use today. The continuation of this process is in dire straits. Polaroid no longer produces rolls of photo paper or chemicals for the format, making the remaining inventory scarce and creeping each day towards obsolescence. The results of this process, utilizing decade-old chemicals and supports, is all the more marvelous when observing their richness in tone and pigment.
White is known for creating often politically charged photographs, prints, fabrics, performances, and videos in the name of equal rights for women using her own image. In Transmissions From Space, White has chosen to primarily feature her face and hands, bathed in polychrome lighting, while often superimposed and double exposed with celestial imagery. The image transfer process often leaves behind horizontal bands, reminiscent of television signals. As these bands intermingle with astral forms, they appear as if White herself in the stillness is transmitted from space; beyond Earthly notions of temporality or even the confines of gallery walls.
About Natalie White
White is a provocative and progressive feminist artist best known for her self-portraiture work in with large format Polaroid. Growing up in a small town in West Virginia, Natalie first gained attention internationally as a young model, featured on the covers of numerous European magazines. Never one to shy away from the risque, she was also notably the first American ever featured in French Playboy. Her creative drive and unapologetic spirit quickly led her towards more collaborative ventures with artists such as Peter Beard, George Condo, Olivier Zahm, Michael Dweck, Will Cotton, Spencer Tunick, and Sean Lennon. White has been working in large format Polaroid for years and has had her photographs included in more than seven exhibitions throughout the United States and abroad.
About John Reuter
Reuter has been a photographer since the early ‘70s, He received a BFA from SUNY Geneseo and an MFA/MA from the University of Iowa. Reuter specialized in Polaroid materials, most notably SX-70 constructions, combining photography with painting and collage. Reuter joined Polaroid Corp in 1978 as senior photographer and later Director of the legendary 20×24 Studio. His own work evolved through large scale Polacolor image transfers to digital imaging in the mid ‘90s. Reuter has recently moved into video and filmmaking and is currently working on a feature length documentary titled Camera Ready: The Polaroid 20×24 Project. For over ten years, Reuter has lent his 20×24 Polaroid camera to White.
About Wallplay
Wallplay is an experiential arts and innovation platform that programs empty storefronts, founded in 2013 by Laura O’Reilly & Alessandra DeBenedetti. Wallplay facilitates mixed reality collaborations where artists can connect with new technologies to scale their practice and work into spaces with brands as patrons of culture. Wallplay is a member of the the New Museum’s creative technology incubator NEW INC., which is dedicated to supporting innovative entrepreneurship across art, design, and technology. Over the past five years Wallplay’s out-of-home experiential projects have reached over 100 million people.
www.wallplay.com
Gallery 151 is made possible by the generous support of Alfa Development & Michael Namer.
