On view: October 4 - November 3, 2024
Opening Reception Sunday, October 6th, 1-4 pm RSVP
Ian Merritt grew up in Vermont amongst cows, mountains, and the hockey rinks of New England. After stints in upstate New York, Boston, MA., and Raleigh, NC., Ian has spent the last 20 years in Chicago (now Evanston) with his wife raising two boys. Ian pivoted from his 25-year career as a visual creative (photographer, director, editor, producer) to move on to more fulfilling pastures, teaching photography and filmmaking. Ian enjoys building bass guitars and making a ruckus in his basement with them. Ian speaks in hyperbole and he is often found listening to music.
RURAL v. URBAN, Perception.
Rural - adjective - in, relating to, or characteristic of the countryside rather than the town
Urban - adjective - in, relating to, or characteristic of a town or city
Perception - noun - a way of regarding, understanding, or interpreting something;
a mental impression
RURAL v. URBAN, Perception is a collection of pieces by Merritt that create otherworldly landscapes and patterns born from natural and unnatural spaces. The images are intricate in their geometry while simple in their mirrored repetition. These images and videos were filmed and edited from a single image or a single piece of video to create a landscape that neither begins nor ends. Inspired by the natural occurrence of patterns such as fractals and the mind-bending visual cues of too many science fiction films, RURAL v. URBAN, Perception grew out of the simplicity of repeating a single image to create an impossible landscape.
No images have been digitally altered since capture, just mirrored, rotated, flipped, masked, and repeated. None of the video footage has been digitally altered either and all camera moves are practical, not digital.
Music for the videos was kindly provided by the band Helms, from Boston, MA., ©2024 all rights reserved.
GALLERY HOURS & VISITOR INFORMATION
This exhibition will be held in the Second Floor Galleries of the Evanston Art Center (EAC). Masks are optional but strongly recommended for students, visitors and staff.
Gallery Hours
Monday–Thursday: 9am–6pm
Friday: 9am–5pm
Saturday–Sunday: 9am–4pm
HOW TO PURCHASE ARTWORK
Artwork sale proceeds benefit both the artist and the Evanston Art Center. If you are interested in purchasing artwork on display, please contact Emma Rose Gudewicz, Director of Development and Exhibition Manager, at [email protected] or (847) 475-5300 x 102.
This program is partially supported by a grant from the Illinois Arts Council through federal funds provided by the National Endowment for the Arts.
Image Credit: Ian Merritt, Urban Chicago 1.