exhibitions

Photographs of Afghanistan by JASON FLORIO
The World Trade Center Memorial Project by JULIA NITSBERG
Selected Photographs by ROBERT STIVERS

Exhibition Date: June 12 July 25, 2002
Reception: Wednesday, June 19, 6 8pm

Messineo Wyman Projects is pleased to present Jason Florio, Julia Nitsberg and Robert Stivers shown salon style at 525 West 22nd Street, Suite 5D. Summer hours are Wednesdays and Thursdays, 12 5pm., additional hours are by appointment.

Jason Florio The visual diary of his two trips to Afghanistan captures the harshest realities of life. Like the photographers of the 1930?s, such as Brassai, Henri Cartier Bresson and Robert Capa, he takes a more comprehensive look at his surroundings and begins to focus in on the details of daily life. Through an uncorruptable eye Mr. Florio?s primary interests are the people, their individual fates, and a glimmer of hope in the face of devastation. This is clearly evident in the photograph entitled Secret Home School For Girls, 2000, where 10-12 girls gather everyday in one room intently studying science, writing and mathematics. Here a handful of adults who run the school do so at the risk of death, under Taliban rule. Mr. Florio has pushed the confines of journalistic live photography by abandoning the sensational effect that would usually dominate a photograph for a news report or human-interest story. Florio?s photographs are simply poetic black and white images that condense the ordinary into the eternal. All of these photographs were taken prior to the events of 9/11.

Julia Nitsberg Born in Russia, Julia Nitsberg expresses in her work her beliefs on social and political issues culminating in her World Trade Center Memorial Project. This installation focuses on the aftermath of 9/11; it?s impact on New York City, the United States, and the world. The design of the model reflects Ms. Nitsberg?s ?commitment to the inclusiveness of a broad spectrum of individuals from all parts of the globe, recognizing the need for a well defined structure as well as the need for open public space and the documentation of 9/11 as a historical event.Along with nine preparatory drawings, the architectural model consists of two towers centered in an inverted pyramid. As you view it from the street level you can look down the many steps to a plaza, leading to an underground space. Also from the street level there are four corners, the four compass points, a symbol of unity which lead to the same subterranean level. The configuration of the structure forms intricate passageways, like a labyrinth. On the lower level there is an empty space, an observatory where one could reflect on the event and remember the victims, where perhaps their names will be inscribed into the structure.

Robert Stivers Death and loss, loss of self, rebirth, serve as re-occurring themes in the photographic work of Robert Stivers. The five selected works from series 5 convey isolated images of the human form. Mr. Stivers explores the darkest recesses of the human soul. Each of these richly toned photographs reveal a brooding introspection, sorrow, pain, and erotic longing, as he maximizes emotional impact, as in Face With Hand, #2. Bodies that emerge from dark shadows, headless figures, twisted extremities, contorted faces, create an alternate reality. Through this search for empathy the artist touches a universal cord.

Nude Female Torso with Clasped Hands
Robert Stivers
1999
Toned Silver Gelatin Print
20 x 24 inches
Edition of 15


Past Exhibitions
Aerialscapes

Gregory Forstner: Study for an American Archetype

The Long Fight for Kawtoolie: Portraits from the Jungles of Burma

America: The Third Century

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