Real Art Ways Presents An Installation Looking at Security and Surveillance

opening reception: Thursday, July 16, 6-8 PM
artist talk: Thursday, September 3, 6 PM
exhibition through Sunday, September 13

Hartford, Connecticut – Real Art Ways opens an installation by Chris Kaczmarek. The artist juxtaposes the separate worlds of war and everyday life in America using images from security cameras installed throughout Real Art Ways. The exhibition’s opening reception is on Thursday, July 16, 6-8 PM, during Creative Cocktail Hour.  Admission to the opening is $10/$5 for Real Art Ways’ members.  After July 16, admission to the gallery is free for members and cinema patrons, and is otherwise a $3 suggested donation. Real Art Ways is located at 56 Arbor Street in Hartford’s Parkville neighborhood. For more information contact Real Art Ways: 860.232.1006 or realartways.org
 
Kaczmarek’s installation will juxtapose live images of people and spaces in Real Art Ways with images from cameras taping military figurines placed discreetly throughout the space. The installation explores themes of surveillance and media representation while encouraging a heightened awareness of the viewer’s environment, both immediate and globally.  Ten television sets perched above the Real Art Ways cinema entrance will display the camera feeds.  
 
Chris Kaczmarek explains his intent:
“We are experiencing a mediated war right now (we see our soldiers on TV)  that is not being fought in our country…by placing the icon of the soldier in the mediated view of the viewer, I am juxtaposing the separate worlds, and then by also introducing the solider figure itself into the space itself so that they’re not easily noticed, I am paralleling the reality that exists for most of those without family members in the military.”
 
About the Artist
Chris Kaczmarek’s work incorporates both traditional and experimental practices using a broad variety of media. He creates interactive, site-specific installations that are designed to guide the viewer towards a deeper contemplation about the environment they inhabit. Other works include performance, sound scores for the stage, multi-channel video and handmade electronic instruments.

Support
This exhibition is made possible with the generous support of Real Art Ways’ Members, the National Endowment for the Arts , the Alexander A. Goldfarb Memorial Trust, Sandy and Howard Fromson, and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts.


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