A new University of Charleston exhibit, “Face Value: New Work by Artist Mark Wolfe,” includes more than 40 photographs of local people. High- contrast, black-and-white digital images capture close-ups of Mayor Danny Jones, artist Charly Hamilton, musician Michael Lipton and others. It opens with a reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and runs through Oct. 19 at UC’s Frankenberger Art Gallery. Gazz tossed some questions via e-mail to Wolfe and here are excerpts from his answers.
gazz: The “Face Value” photos feature no backgrounds, few clothing details. Why compose portraits that way?
Wolfe: I’ve always loved stark imagery. The importance of not “dating” an image is important to me. I wanted the face to be the focal point with no distractions. That way, the essence of each individual is captured without any “details” you usually see in portraits. I wanted the viewer to be drawn into each picture by the purity of the image, undiluted by color, style of clothing, background, etc. Recently, I saw a Richard Avedon exhibit in Columbus. He shot portraits of people against a white backdrop and also influenced my decision to go this way.
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Q: What was the criteria for whom you chose?
A: I wanted the viewers of each photo to know each person in some way. The people I was drawn to were chosen because they had some definite quality, a specific memorable look. A lot of the subjects are friends or co-workers, some are less known to me. But they have in common a quality I wanted to expose from their personalities. Almost everyone I asked was willing to participate in getting photographed — some with trepidation! I’m very fortunate to have such good spirited friends, and they’re all very unique.
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Q: Did you ask your subjects to adopt an expression or just shoot away?
A: There was one basic rule they had to abide by: do not pose! My art direction: just relax and look into the lens like they knew me. Since most people photographed do know me, that was easy. I shot them all in very intense available light outdoors, so they were uncomfortable. They also had a hard time with all the light so that contributed to a more energetic session. It shows in all the faces, I think.
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Q: You’re better known for showcasing the dead, not the living, as in your cemetery photos and scratch-pad works. Why the new interest in breathing subjects?
A: Originally, I was very stumped as to how I wanted to exhibit an entire one-person show. The last one I did consisted of cemetery and death imagery — one of my favorite subjects. This time I needed another voice. I was struck by how many people we have living and working here who are so interesting to look at, and often they have some unique look or facial expression that identifies them. My friend Robin Hammer said to me, “Shoot what you know.” I knew what I had to do: deal with the living!
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Q: Everybody shoots photos and posts them on the Web these days. What’s the difference between the 10,001st Flickr album online and a quality photograph you’d qualify as art.
A: Well, I love the stuff I see online at sites like flickr.com! The most interesting images are often done by people who use different cameras, especially cheap ones. Those shots are so devoid of any pretense and show some pretty interesting subject matter (including graveyards). Of course, art is subjective and that’s why people get to decide themselves what is art and what is a simple family snapshot. The photography I gravitate towards is a more gritty, stark image. The pictures you see online often step outside the norm of imagery one is used to seeing. So to me, that's art, too.
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Q: What photographers, living or dead, inspire you and your work?
A: I mentioned Avedon, he's a huge influence on me. I also like the works of Michael Williams , Michael Dumalo, Fin Costello, Ebet Roberts and Charles Peterson. The one who got me into photography was Alfred Stieglitz.
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Q:. What other artistic mediums do you lean towards?
A: Music is actually my first artistic love. I love listening to music and playing the guitar. But that is a more personal pursuit. In the visual arts, I have always had a preference for photography. But I also love to create art through using pastels and doing scratch boards. These mediums will be in the exhibit, too.
I usually don't enter competitions, but I did enter a national competition for the WAA (www.westarts.org) Each year, they choose three photographers who have shot touring bands. I was one of three nationally chosen in New York for work I did with a couple of bands last year. Just being chosen was such an honor. I would love to do more work with bands. I have a strong affinity to music and they are fun to work with. In fact, Robert Smith of the Cure invited me to do some work with them one year. What could be better?
MORE: markwolfedesign.com