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Kathy McCarty
343-4813
2660 Oak
keBeeabring couponemaii
Exhibit worth a
second glance
Willie Osterman
Aperture Gallery
Erto Memorial Union
University professor Willie Oster
man's photos are initially a puz
zling group of images that seem to
lack coherence and consistency.
Though as a collection they are
not surprising, they do merit more
than casual examination
The subjects of these photo
graphs are familiar, perhaps too
much so As individual pieces,
however, they seem to have more
value, for within this show are the
beginnings of many interesting
paths One picture, for instance,
shows a flock of black plywood
sheep which mysteriously ap
peared on campus last spring But
Osterman doesn't pursue the
sumeal aspects of everyday life in
the rest of the show It is an as
sortment. There are merry-go
rounds, decorated automobiles,
"humorous” signs and window
displays. All of these images ap
pear to be disconnected, as if
Osterman were challenging the
viewer to find meaning in a pur
posely careless assemblage And
as with most art, it is entirely a
matter of intent
This display appears to be an
attempt to break away from the
abstract perspective of Oster
man s earlier work As with most
transitions, there is a temporality
about these pieces that suggests
a lack of content or substance
Admittedly they are meant to be
light in nature, more whimsical
than serious However, the ironies
are a little thin The subject mat
ter, as in the picture of dress
maker's dummies unclothed and
accompanied by the word
"elegance," is almost cliche. But
it is not the presence of cliche that
makes one question Osterman's
intent It is the impression that this
collection is forced in its compo
sition, and that some of the ban
ality we see was wholly uninten
tional
It is fitting that these photos are
displayed on walls between the
cafeteria lines and the central
lobby of the EMU, for this collec
tion is very suitable for viewing on
the run. Indeed, these photos
were captured somewhat on the
run Using a pocket-sized cam
era, Osterman attempted to get
elaborately air-brushed van,
human feet next to the legs of a
tripod and the ghostly image of a
figure dwarfed by leafless trees
are photographs which, in one
sense, are disconnected But as
instinctual compositions reflect
ing the crazy order, or distinct
lack of order in the universe, they
are rather charmingly related
Looking at them from that point
of view suggests an intimacy, a
personal connection with the ar
tist that is not present in the work
of more technically oriented pho
tographers In these images we
are aware of the creator's exis
The photos are at once
light and serious. The
content is there, but one
has to explore each image
to discover it.
down on light-sensitive paper a
feeling for the transitory nature of
seeing and remembering He ex
plains in his preface to the show
that “photography is a way of
recording forever the things one
eye may see only for a moment “
A glimpse of an ornate art deco
box office, floral curtains inside an
tence We can sense his laughter,
or at least his appreciation of the
oddity of the plywood sheep and
the naivete of the photo studio
window filled with its portrait
wares proudly claiming to perform
“photgraphy with a touch of
feeling.”
Closer analysis of the show
reveals that there is a great deal
that does not immmediately
‘ meet the eye." The content is
there, but one has to explore each
image thoughttully to discover it
In a way, this is the central flaw in
Osterman's show His photos are
at once light and serious This
ambiguity has undoubtedly con
fused some viewers, and caused
others to pass this exhibit by
That, however, is a risk that all
visual artists take This is no re
flection on Willie Osterman's
technical or artistic ability, and
this same duality implies excel
lence by some standards, in that
the show operates on two levels it
can be seen quickly and app
preciated as a lyrical look at the
world, and it can just as well be
viewed more carefully, if one has
the time to slowly investigate the
subtle commentary that Osterman
makes about life in America
From a glance to a "heavy
look." these photos are perplex
ing, and to the questioning mind
they are an inspiration toward
further inquiry into human per
ception That, apart from aesthe
tics and craftsmanship, is perhaps
the most reliable thread to follow
in evaluating art Even though
there is less clarity of purpose in
this show than might be desired,
Osterman seems to have lived up
to the promise of the store win
dow, giving us a "touch of
feeling" that prompts the magic of
the second glance
by tony budd
EMERALD CITY ENTERTAINMENT
An Intimate
Evening of
COMEDY
Starring
JOHNNY
DARK
★Has appeared on over 21 National TV
Shows including "The Tonight Show" &
"Merv Griffin"
★Has toured with Suzanne Somers.
Teddy Pendergrass. Andy Williams &
many others
★Appears regularly in Las Vegas at
Caesars Palace. The MGM Grand & The
Aladdin.
Co-Starring
ftg HARDER
★Has written comedy for comedians
jay Leno. David Letterman. Glenn Super
& many others.
★Has toured nationally with Gabe
Kaplan
★Regularly appears at The Comedy
Store. The Laff Stop & The
Improvisation.
WITH KPNW's RADIO RAY PIKTZ
FRIDAY, APRIL 30th
8 & 10:30 P.M.
SATURDAY, MAY 1st
7,9:30 P.M. & MIDNIGHT
HACIENDA STEAK HOUSE
At Thr RiukI* Inn — Fonnrrli The lalrnulEtiul
Adt«mf Ticket
Stubs Entitle'
Be»«rr l« SO*, (Jff
fa •>! fifmiir
Tickets At: Hacienda Steak House. Lone
Star Cafe & Bar, Jo Federigo’s. Cardan
Camera-Spfld. Mall, Gerlach's—On
Campus.
Call 485-M96 For More Ticket
Information
Listen to KPNW 1120 For Details
Advance
Tickets
$J50
Open 10-6 Mon thru Sat
446 E 13th St
Next to Bijou Theater
342-8339
REMEMBER MAMA
MAY 9th
with great
CARDS GIFTS BOOKS
from LOGOS BOOKSTORE
Thank you
for not
running away
from home
during my
adolescent
years
april 28, 1982