Art exhibit displays unique “hypergraphic” photos
The Lettrist photography exhibit, “Georgics: Avant garde Art and Agriculture,” will be on display through Sept. 17 at Georgia College & State University’s Museum and Archives of Georgia Education.
David W. Seaman, known for recreating paintings, sculptures, and photographs, is the creator of the exhibit and a member of the Lettrist movement. The Lettrist movement is a French avant-garde group that incorporates letters and signs into works of art to add meaning and interest. Seaman, who is also a French professor at Georgia Southern University, has been a member of the Lettrist movement for over 20 years, during which he has exhibited around the world.
“Georgics: Avant-garde Art and Agriculture,” focuses on the agriculture of Georgia.
“I have always been interested in the agriculture and crops of Georgia,” Seaman said. “They have all sorts of cultural, economic and historical overtones.”
The term “Georgics” is taken from the Latin poet Virgil. Virgil’s poem, “Georgics,” deals with agriculture in ancient Rome.
“[It] was an effort to encourage people to return to working the land,” Seaman said. “The connection between that title and the state of Georgia made me say, ‘Aha!’”
This theme has stimulated a series of artist books by Seaman. According to a press release, the first two books in his “Georgics” series were published in 2002 by the Lettrist press, PSI Publications, in Paris, France. While one book focuses on cotton and the other on tobacco, both books contain portfolios of original layered photographs, or “hypergraphic” photographs. In these books, Seaman has overlaid agricultural photographs with his own texts as well as the works of Virgil.
In the exhibit, Seaman’s photographs are exhibited on the wall , while his books will be shown in display cases. Included in the exhibition are original photographs from his upcoming “Georgics” books dedicated to highways and lighthouses.
The Museum and Archives of Georgia Education is located at 131 S. Clarke St., across from the Old Governor’s Mansion. Museum hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Fridays. For additional information, call (478) 445-4391.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Sep 10 2004. Filed under Other.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
