Whitney Lewis-Smith: From Here at the Threshold

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Whitney Lewis-Smith, "Chimera Fukinagashi Bonsai," 2021

photograph

Whitney Lewis-Smith: From Here at the Threshold

Two openings to meet the artist in person and hear her stories for each image:

Thursday evening, June 10th 5-8pm

Saturday afternoon, June 12th 2-5pm

Kostuik Gallery is pleased to present our first solo exhibition of 10 new photographs; by emerging Canadian artist Whitney Lewis-Smith entitled “From Here at the Threshold.”

The sets for this artist’s photographs were built using materials found, purchased, or borrowed within Mexico City during the SARS-CoV-2 lock downs. This process requires a high level of technical skill and time-consuming construction by placing one leaf at time. The details are not to be missed in these large format prints, some as large as 6 feet in length.

“Chimera Fukinagashi Bonsai” (above image) and “Lavanda” (beautiful butterfly specimens placed in gently swaying plants) are the largest framed prints in the series measuring 5 x 6.5 feet. The images, “Lily of the Nile” and “Figs” are featured at the 1 x 1 foot size, suiting the delicacies and intimacy of each creation.

Lewis-Smith is preoccupied with our modern relationship to the natural world and uses antiquated darkroom techniques to reanimate collected specimens. Lewis-Smith draws heavily from symbolism in art history to construct and document her elaborate and imagined sets. Mysterious in their details, the images of nearly extinct animals and fragile ecosystems resemble icons of our current time slipping into history.

Biography:

Born in Ottawa, Canada, Mexico City-based artist Whitney Lewis-Smith works primarily with 8x10 glass plate negatives to document her elaborate set constructions. Having previously spent time in scientific fieldwork, her staged scenes are created with a wealth of history and cultural chronicles amassed while in the field with research teams, from local healers, and storytellers to sources from the Museum of Natural History in Mexico. Currently, Lewis-Smith is undertaking a 6-month artist residency to produce a sight specific installation at Nimmo Bay Resort. The resort is a family owned and operated lodge in the Great Bear Rainforest of British Columbia, Canada that supports the purposeful evolution of tourism.