Dazzle Crackle Cheer
Peter Gordon
The Featured Artist's work can be seen online and in the gallery from September 2-27.
Opening reception: Friday, September 4, 5 -7 pm
Artist talk: Wednesday September 16 at 12pm.
Contact the gallery for inquiries.
About the Artist
Peter Gordon grew up in Kentville and currently resides in Hantsport, NS.
He received his BFA from NSCAD in 2009 with a major in painting. Peter
works in multiple mediums ranging from painting to photography and woodworking.
He enjoys painting in different styles, creating representations of his time in nature paddling his kayak around many of the lakes in the area. At the same time he uses a similar approach to creating his abstract works with depth achieved through choices in color and value.
Artist Statement
Dazzle Crackle Cheer
I’ve enjoyed the challenge of photographing fireworks for over a decade now and these paintings are a representation of some of my favorite images. The ephemeral nature of fireworks is definitely part of their appeal: we hear a noise, look up and collectively "ooh and aah" at the bursts of light and color. Everyone is different, yet in that moment our bodies experience the same chemical messages,
all of which is happening out of our control. These primal feelings are strong, and briefly we all unite during a time of celebration. Then I go home and get to relive it all as I scroll through my camera to see if I got the shot!
Different camera settings and choice of location prior to the start of the show is crucial to me since our firework shows generally only last a couple minutes. When possible I will always position myself with a body of water in the foreground to get the the reflections of those extra pops of color. With longer exposures you can get more eruptions in a single image and longer light trails. When the settings match the intensity of the fireworks, a powerful image can be created.
In painting these images instead of printing them, I’ve added a new layer of challenges to making works that convey the fireworks intensity. It is in this creative space that I can enhance some of the aspects which may have been lost in the exposure.