DIRK McDONNELL

AS LIGHT FELL


NOVEMBER 15 - JANUARY 8, 2008

RECEPTION: THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 6 PM - 8 PM

THROCKMORTON FINE ART is pleased to announce a solo exhibition of photographs by the self-taught artist Dirk McDonnell.  A 144-page catalogue consisting of 123 tritone images taken over the past 15 years in China, Europe, Mexico, Maine and McDonnell’s native New York City will be available.  Spencer Throckmorton first saw McDonnell’s early sculptural works in the 1980’s.  Intrigued, Mr. Throckmorton bought a piece, which lead to subsequent meetings over the next several years.  Their continued correspondence brought to light Dirk’s ability and talent as a fine art photographer, which has culminated in this fine exhibition

McDonnell’s photographs are at once lyrical and elliptical.  Most were taken with a large format, 4 x 5 field camera, allowing the artist to explore the idiosyncratic effects that a wracking of the front standard of the view camera can have on photographic space.  The work has clarity, emotional depth and edge; it has an intensity that pushes the images toward the boundaries of the medium. 

The artist’s career began in the late 1960’s when he began fabricating sculpture out of steel.  In 1970, he began designing silver jewelry and his work was featured in Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar in 1972.  McDonnell first took up photography during trips to Mexico in the mid-1980’s.  Upon moving to Maine in 1990, he began to work exclusively in black and white, and began to develop his skills as a printer.  His work is now included in the following museum collections: The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, The Portland Museum of Art, The Manuel Bravo Photographic Center in Oaxaca, The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, The Norma Marin Collection at Smith/Wellesley/Mt. Holyoke, & The Bruce Brown Collection at PMA. 

Book Available