FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Press Contact: Maureen McFadden  

momcfadden@aol.com

WHO: EAST/WEST GALLERY

WHAT: THE HUMAN LANDSCAPE

A survey of nudes in photography including works by Imogen Cunningham, Ruth Bernhard, Edward Weston, Horace Bristol, Rondal Partridge, Mona Kuhn, Judy Dater, Barbara Morgan, Herb Ritts, Horst, local photographers Sky Bergman and Barbara Parmet, and guest curator Greg Gorman.

Santa Barbara's East/West Gallery presents a look at the human form as represented in photography by some of 20th century's finest artists.

WHEN: July 5^th – August 1^st, 2008

        Press Preview Week begins June 30^th

        Opening Reception: Saturday July 5^th    4pm – 8pm

WHERE: East/West Gallery 714 Bond Ave. Santa Barbara 93103

As part of E/W’s “Art for Activism” series, 10% of all sales will be donated to the Pacific Pride Foundation, providing support services to the HIV/AIDS and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender communities of Santa Barbara County.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS:

East West Gallery presents The Human Landscape, a photographic examination of beauty and form at the most fundamental level.  Nudes have always represented a classical and expressive means of transforming the human body from mundane to exquisite and idealized representation of youth and human potential.  The enduring idea of David conquering Goliath or the distant gaze of an Odalisque that has brought art from simple representation to iconic presentations of humankind's essence, provocative and alluring, taking the viewer to distant places beyond the commonplace and everyday experience .  The Human Landscape represents this idea of body, form, and the transformative ability of art to take us to the faraway nearby, whether reminiscing youthful innocence or seducing the minds eye, nudes have always piqued the interest of artists and art lovers alike.  This show represents the finest in 20th century photography in examining the nude, from artists like Imogen Cunningham and Horst who took photography from its pictorialist beginnings to a new era of representation to Mona Kuhn and Herb Ritts who have made the old new again in commercially appealing and successful ways.  

The Human Lansdscape represents East/West Gallery's return to thematic group exhibitions featuring world renowned artists in Santa Barbara's intimate surroundings.