Andrea Hoelscher work on display at Thyen-Clark Cultural Center
Jasper Community Arts will feature the work of Ferdinand photographer Andrea Hoelscher for the months of November and December at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center.
The large photographs that fill the gallery by Hoelscher are inspired by books.
“The invention of the printed book stands out as one of the great turning points in human history,” Hoelscher said. “Books have had the capacity to spread ideas like never before. They have launched revolutions and opened minds, edified and scandalized, provided practical advice and imaginary escapes on lazy afternoons.”
“The love of books has inspired my latest series of photographs. My subject matter ranges from precious tomes dating from the dawn of the age of print to cheap paperbacks destined for the recycling bin,” she added.
Compared to the glow of the screen, with its moving images and ever-shifting messages, the book can seem like a spent force, a staid relic of the past. But the power of this once revolutionary technology endures. Books convey knowledge, invite us into alternate worlds, and preserve the concerns and passions of past generations.
“My hope is that these photographs inspire in viewers a renewed curiosity and reverence for the printed word and the book,” Hoelscher said.
In some images Hoelscher said she approaches the books as sculptural objects, using light and camera angle to emphasize their forms or isolate details such as worm holes, broken bindings, and pulpy paper fibers.
“In others, I manipulate the pages to accentuate certain words,” she said. “For example, in Between the Lines, I intersperse text from two different paragraphs in a 1950s guide to dating, layering phrases that generate fresh associations and novel readings.”
Hoelscher holds a Master of Fine Arts in Photography from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Drawing from the University of Northern Iowa, and aBachelor of Arts in German from the University of Northern Iowa.
Andrea Hoelscher’s solo exhibition will be on display from November 4 through December 28, 2021. First Thursday Reception will take place on Thursday, November 4 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m.
A gallery talk by Hoelscher will begin at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Local food catered by The Millhouse.
The galleries at the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center, located at 100 3rd Avenue, Suite A, Jasper, IN 47546, are open to the public Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Saturday from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm, and Sunday from noon to 3:00 pm. School groups, clubs and students are welcome. Admission is free. Donations appreciated.
