Studio Address

14010 N. El Mirage Rd
El Mirage, AZ 85335

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

In the News

Surprise resident unveils new dimensions in ‘Mysterious Light’ exhibition

STAFF REPORT

Valley  photographer  and  Sur-prise  resident  Thomas  Schultz will unveil his latest body of work, “Mysterious  Light,”  at  a  special artist  reception  from  6  to  8  p.m. Friday  at  the  West  Valley  Arts Council’s gallery,13243 N. Founders Park Blvd. in Surprise. The  reception  is  free  to  the public  and  will  feature wine, hors d’oeuvres and music. Schultz  has  been  following  the decay  of  the  landscape  for  over three  decades.  Using  his  camera, he  documents  the  interaction  of he  human  resolve  and  a  harsh, unforgiving  environment  in  the Southwest  along  deserted  highways  and  forgotten  towns.  Drawn to the decayed and abandoned, his images evoke feelings of loneliness and  despair  immersed  in  sublime beauty.  His  newest  exhibition  is  no  exception.  Comprising  earlier  work as well as his most recent project, 20  large-scale,  color  photographs depict vast landscapes juxtaposed with once glorious metal relics.  “The  photographs  on  display capture  and  record  a  condensed moment  in  time,”  says  Schultz.  Each image contains multiple moments in time layered upon itself.”  Last  spring,  Schultz  attended  a night photography and light painting workshop  at  the  now-defunct Pearsonville  Junkyard  in  the  Mojave  Desert,  assisted  by  an  artist grant  from  the  West  Valley  Arts Council.  The  junkyard,  full  of hundreds of rare cars, trucks and buses from the 1950s-1970s, provided  Schultz  with  a  unique  environment.  Coupled  with  full  moon exposures and light painting techniques, Schultz created a series of haunting images documenting the abandoned  and  rusty  American automobiles  and  another  piece  of Americana  on  the  verge  of  extinction  —  the  junkyard.  Earlier  this year,  the  yard  was  liquidated  and almost every vehicle is now gone. “Mysterious Light” is open from 9  a.m.  to  5  p.m.  Monday-Thurs-day  and  9  a.m.  to  noon  Fridays through May 20. For information, call the West Valley Arts Council at 623-935-6384  or  visit  www.westvalleyarts.org.