FLORENCE-Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts will be showing an exhibition of Curtis Shannon’s photographic assemblage prints from September 16th through October 14th. The opening reception will take place on Thursday, September 16th from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in the Kennedy-Douglass Annex galleries. ‘In a Landscape’, John Cage’s minimalist composition for solo piano or harp inspired Shannon’s artwork and he has collaborated with Huntsville harpist Kathryn Hoppe-McQueen to perform the piece at the opening reception.
Shannon was born in Los Angeles, CA and currently lives and works in Auburn, AL, and the Washington DC area. He completed his undergraduate education at California State University, Fullerton, and earned a doctorate at the University of Texas in Austin. When not creating art, he may be found playing the double bass in the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra.
“Growing up in Los Angeles and its suburbs, the mass of tract homes, strip malls, and freeways overwhelmed the authentic beauty of the Southland and limited my experience of nature. Yet, the predominantly man-made landscapes of Southern California were surprisingly beautiful and became significant imprints for me.”
Shannon’s individual works of art were created in his studio using assemblage, layering and collage techniques. After these constructs were photographed using a digital camera, they were completely disassembled. The printed images are comprised of photographs taken near his home in East Alabama during 2020 and 2021.
“The places depicted in these photographs do not exist on any map. In this work, the tension between nature and the built environment, the search for inherent beauty in an imperfect world, and the uncertainty and fragmentation arising from memory and the passing of time all inform how I perceive the landscape”
The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts is free and open to the public Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and on Sundays from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The art center is located at 217 E. Tuscaloosa St. Florence, AL and can be reached at 256-760-6379 for more information on exhibits, programs, and membership. The Kennedy-Douglass Center for the Arts website can be viewed at: www.florencealmuseums.com
Media Release/Nadene Mairesse
Program Coordinator
Kennedy-Douglass Center For the Arts
