“Common Place,” a photo gallery by fine arts teacher Kenneth Kauffman, opened in the Grace and Joseph Gorevin Fine Arts Gallery on the second floor of Holy Spirit Library at Cabrini College on Thursday, Oct. 21.
Through the use of digital and film photography, Kauffman exhibits his work, filled with inspiration for everyday involvement in life and the candid nature of different scenery.
“We are all photographers,” Kauffman said. “Taking the time to be an active photographer, practicing, studying its history and perfecting its craft may enhance one’s life in a very special way.”
The gallery is arranged in black and white as well as in color photography. Also, general shots are showcased on one side and pictures of his children on another.
“Beauty, humor, irony, human emotion and character can all be found in my work ‘common place,’” Kauffman said.
“I wasn’t expecting to see this much breadth of work,” Jeanne Komp, associate professor of graphic design, said. “Although there are a lot of pictures on display it feels comfortable. There is a graphic quality and simplicity to the pictures and it showcases stolen moments in time.”
“I met Ken about two years ago,” Nicholas Jacques, assistant professor of fine arts, said. “When I saw some of his work on his website I really liked it and wanted to give him the opportunity to exhibit his work.”
All prints displayed at the exhibit are archived impigment inkjet prints or Giclée archive prints. The Process of Giclée has to do with the type of ink used. The Giclée printer has eight to 12 color pigment cartridge which allows for a richer color compared to a standard printer which has only three to four colors and it’s a dye based process making it unstable and difficult for archival pieces. The pigments are much more permanent and stable in a Giclée printer making it good media for art.
Cameras used to take the photographs include a Digital single-lens reflex camera, Nikon camera and a Diana camera, a toy plastic camera.
According to Kauffman, an entire genre of photography has risen from the Diana camera.
The gallery is filled with uncropped original photography which ensures high resolution. Several pictures are displayed with borders and others without. Black border is created by projection of light in the 35-mm film.
Kauffman, a commercial photographer, focuses on people and their work environment.
“Henri Cartier-Bresson, father of modern photojournalism, is a huge influence for me in photography,” Kauffman said. “Bresson is one of the greatest influences of human flux because he watched what’s going on in the world.”
“All the pictures showcased are timeless,” Taylor Bonanni, sophomore psychology major, said. “I am in his class and we were shown a couple of the pictures. Ken is very artistic when it comes to taking pictures and there is a mysterious quality to his work.”
“Common Place” will be on display in the Grace and Joseph Gorevin Fine Arts Gallery until Sunday, Nov. 21.
