Judith Joy Ross ‘Protest The War’

Photos At Pace/MacGill Gallery

 

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PACE/MACGILL GALLERY JUDITH JOY ROSS; 1 cut

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NEW YORK CITY — Pace/MacGill Gallery will present “Judith Joy Ross: Protest the War,” an exhibition of 20, 8-by-10-inch gold-toned gelatin silver prints, from Ross’s most recent series. An opening reception and book signing with the artist will take place at the gallery Wednesday, September 10, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm. Ross’s book Protest the War was published by Steidl in 2007; copies will be available at the gallery.

Throughout 2006 and 2007 Ross photographed men and women of varying ages and backgrounds who were protesting the US war in Iraq at rallies and demonstrations throughout the state of Pennsylvania and in Tempe, Ariz. Her images are deeply personal, yet remain objective reflections of ordinary citizens taking a stand for their political beliefs.

In an era when the images of war the public sees are often manipulated, censored or prohibited altogether, Ross’s images are an outspoken and cumulative portrait of grass roots activism. It is the protestors’ conviction and steadfast commitment to end the war in Iraq that Ross hopes will inspire viewers and affect change.

In an essay accompanying Protest the War, Andrew Szegedy-Maszak observes: “Even though most of the people are shown in bright sunshine, Ross’s pictures strongly suggest that they would be just as steadfast during a downpour. To paraphrase the old song, they shall not be moved.”

Working in the tradition of August Sander and Diane Arbus, Ross uses an 8-by-10-inch view camera to photograph her subjects. The cumbersome nature of large format photography requires Ross’s subjects to remain still for an extended period of time and, by extension, develop a rapport — however fleeting — with her.

Ross was born in 1946 and is the recipient of numerous honors, including a Guggenheim Fellowship, 1985, a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship, 1986, a Charles Pratt Memorial Award, 1992, and an Andrea Frank Foundation Award, 1998.

Her work has been exhibited in museums such as the Addison Gallery of American Art, Andover, Mass.; the Josef Albers Museum, Bottrop, Germany; the Allentown (Penn.) Art Museum; the Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, Ariz.; the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and numerous other museums worldwide.

Pace/MacGill Gallery is at 32 East 57 Street. For information, www.pacemacgill.com or 212-759-7999.