‘Mad Hatters to Pixel Pushers’ exhibit explores photography

The Projective Eye Gallery of the College of Arts + Architecture presents “Mad Hatters to Pixel Pushers: Exploring the Continuum of Photography Through Process and the Constructed Image.”

A free, public opening reception for the display will be 6 to 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, at the gallery, located in UNC Charlotte Center City; it will feature conversations with the artists and a performance by the UNC Charlotte Faculty Jazz Quintet.

“Mad Hatters to Pixel Pushers” focuses on contemporary photographers from the Southeast and beyond who use alternative processes, gelatin silver photography, digital imaging and photo sculpture with the “constructed image.”

According to Meg Whalen, communications director for the College of Arts + Architecture, there has always been a peeling back to process in fine art photography. “This love of process can be linked to a loose continuation of atmosphere in photographic pictorialism, to contrast with the commercialized imagery of mass culture. Even in today’s standard practice of photography as a digital output image, tampering with the photograph has continued and often references these non-silver practices, or actually employs them in combination with pixel-based imagery.”

The exhibition was designed to complement the Southeast Society of Photographic Education (SPE) Conference hosted by the UNC Charlotte College of Arts + Architecture and the Light Factory Photographic Arts Center. With respect for the ideals of the SPE, the range of artists presented includes student and emerging artists along with mid-career and highly established artists.

The display runs through Thursday, Nov. 14.