Jerry Birchfield: Asleep in the Dust

The multimedia work of Jerry Birchfield thoughtfully investigates photographic processes and concepts. Obscuring his camera-based images with layers of darkroom processes, Birchfield calls attention to the gap between his photographs’ original subjects and the abstracted printed image that you see. The resulting gelatin silver prints are complemented by wall relief sculptures that assert the physical nature of printed photographs. By encasing photographs in plaster, Birchfield masks the images and warps the paper upon which they exist. The centerpiece of this exhibition is a site-specific installation that stages an assembly of sculptures in the gallery. Jerry Birchfield: Asleep in the Dust reflects the basic nature of Birchfield’s subjects and materials, which are often cast-off detritus of his studio activity. The exhibition highlights the transformational role of the artist in producing objects of meaning from such materials through an iterative process of framing, reproduction and display. Jerry Birchfield: Asleep in the Dust is organized by the Akron Art Museum with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Ohio Arts Council and the Char and Chuck Fowler Family Foundation.    Related Links [ Anderson Turner, "Art Review: Jerry Birchfield exhibit shows artist's love of process," Akron Beacon Journal ]