Après Atget: New Kallitypes of Old Paris

APRÉS ATGET: NEW KALLITYPES of OLD PARIS
Nancy Holowka, Photographer Flower City Arts Center
September 3 – 29, 2021


Please join us for an opening reception for Après Atget: New Kallitypes of Old Paris featuring work from photographer Nancy Holowka. Opening reception will run from noon until 4pm on Saturday, September 4, 2021. Please sign up for a viewing time before arriving as we will be limiting capacity for social distancing. Masks are required before entering the building.

SIGN UP HERE TO ATTEND THE OPENING RECEPTION

GENESIS of the SHOW & ARTIST’S STATEMENT:
Eugene Atget’s atmospheric photographs of the streets of Paris taken in the early 1900’s have captivated my imagination for years. After visiting Paris and seeing the layering of the old and new as I explored the city, I vowed to follow in his footsteps on my next journeys. Armed with street maps and thumbnails of his photographs, I revisited Atget’s locations, seeking a recognizable building, a familiar alleyway or a distinctive architectural detail.

This challenging search was immensely gratifying and each successful discovery easily outweighed any disappointments of a lost view. I felt a kinship with Atget as I stood in the same spots he did, clutching my comparatively tiny digital camera and framing the shots.

Upon returning home I made inkjet prints with clarity and richness of detail that illustrate the beauty of contemporary Paris. When I discovered that Flower City Arts Center was offering a Kallitype Class, I eagerly undertook the challenge, seeking to mirror the characteristics of Atget’s vintage prints. I find that the Kallitype prints (toned with Selenium, Gold or Palladium) capture the warmth and depth of tone that echo the timeless lyrical beauty of Atget’s Paris.

The series of photographs that I plan to exhibit includes some scenes that have remained virtually unchanged from Eugene Atget’s original photographs as well as scenes that show structures that have withstood decades of change while retaining their intrinsic character. I will also add scenes of my own discovery, as inspired by the works of Atget, that depict the enduring charm still to be found on the streets of Paris.