2024 FotoFocus Biennial: backstories
Tracy Longley-Cook's Path's of the Ecliptic and Gary Beeber's Michael Malone: Portrait of an American Organic Farmer are part of the 2024 FotoFocus Biennial: backstories. Now in its seventh iteration, the Biennial activates over 100 projects at museums, galleries, universities, and public spaces throughout Greater Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus, and Northern Kentucky in October 2024.
Opening Reception
September 6th, 7pm
Who the Hell is Michael Malone, with Gary Beeber
Gallery Talk
September 15th, 1pm
Paths of the Ecliptic with Tracy Longley-Cook
Gallery Talk
October 20th, 1pm
Tracy Longley-Cook
Paths of the Ecliptic
The photographs in this exhibition explore invented poetic spaces examining astronomical phenomenon and the communicative nature of the heavens. Using a scanner as the primary image-capture device, digital collages are constructed to suggest a fabricated reality exploring mysticism and creation through imagery related to the celestial, the landscape, the body and the mind. Taking inspiration from the classical zodiac and tales of the constellations (which some believe provide insight into a person’s history and future) an imaginary pictorial map is drawn. Analogous to how myths provided explanations to natural and perceived experiences, this work seeks to draw the viewer into a sphere of lore and invention to contemplate fictitious realities and histories. The common belief that photography is a truth-telling medium is averted by combining imagery that doesn’t typically have any relationship until the act of assemblage provides a newly formed narrative.
Tracy Longley-Cook's interests as a visual artist, educator and curator are strongly influenced by themes relating to transformation, memory, and perception. Through the use of experimental and traditional techniques, Tracy incorporates a variety of working methods into her photography, prints and books. She has exhibited her work internationally, and some recent publications include "The Book of Alternative Processes" by Christopher James, and "The Elements of Photography" by Angela Faris-Belt. Curatorial projects include "Emmet Gowin and his Contemporaries" at the Dayton Art Institute, and "The Fixed Shadow: Cameraless Images" at the Wright State University Robert and Elaine Stein Galleries.
Gary Beeber
Michael Malone: Portrait of An American Organic Farmer
Will we ever know who Michael Malone really is?
I started out buying vegetables at Hungry Toad Farm and after a while, little by little got to know Michael Malone, the proprietor and soul of the farm, and his partner, Nancy Kelly.The more I talked with Michael the more I realized what an interesting and complicated character he is, and kept taking photographs of him. As a character study he’s contradictory which is a trait I value in my subjects. On one hand he looks like a crusty old redneck, but in reality, he’s highly educated (he was an English major in college). He thinks of himself as an artist and his canvas is on his three acres on which he plants his organic produce. His farm is right in the middle of an up-and-coming neighborhood, yet it reminds me of what it must have been like 100 years ago. Although the farm looks unkept, the tastiest and healthiest vegetables are grown there in abundance.
Gary Beeber is an award-winning American photographer and filmmaker who has exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the world. He has had numerous solo photography exhibitions and his documentary films have been screened at over 150 film festivals. Pfizer Pharmaceutical, Goldman Sachs and Chase Bank are Fortune 500 companies who collect his work.