Mundos Cafe: Opening Reception hours extended + Dinner with the Artists
“Spirits of India” opens on July 6 at Mundos Cafe in Monterey. Due to popular demand, we have extended the opening reception from 4 to 6PM and have added the opportunity to have dinner with the artists, starting at 6PM. There is limited seating. Please reserve at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spirits-of-india-artists-reception-dinner-with-artists-tickets-35870999124
- How did the show come together?
The show, “Spirits of India”, came together as a result of Chester and Mary joining the travel photography workshops (www.incredibletravelphotos.com) organized by Oliver to discover “hidden gems” of India. Traveling for a few weeks at a time, we discovered how the rich history of India is still vividly present in their culture and daily life.
The focus of our photographic endeavor was influenced by the book “A Passage to India” by E.M. Forster, who makes frequent references to animals in India. These animals gave impetus for growth, served as a conduit of love and unity and symbolized Indian culture. Through the variety of animals portrayed in this novel, we begin to comprehend the complexity and spirit of India itself.
“Spirits of India” is a compilation of images of Elephants and Marwari Horses, depicted in various artistic styles. Chester’s journalistic views of the cultural interaction between man and beast draw the viewer in; Mary’s equine photography expertise (www.maryaiu.com) give the viewer the feel of the power of the animals and their unique inward-turning ear tips; and Oliver’s fine art representation (www.oliverklinkphotography.com) ties the historical India with the joyful bound of humans and animals. Collectively, we were inspired by past and present stories of these two animals and concerned about what the future holds for them.
- How did the venue come to be chosen?
When we first discussed the concept of the show, we were very interested in displaying our images at a venue, where it was accessible to everybody, a place where people come regularly, where they eat, where they mingle with friends, where they share their stories, where they create a “local” culture. The idea was to find a local venue that is an extension of our theme.
Chester came with the idea of Mundos Café. The location, owns by Fernando Mundos, caters to regular customers who enjoy the food, the atmosphere, and camaraderie. The exhibition space is conducive to discussion and return visits as the place is open daily from 10AM – 7PM (5PM on weekends).
The more time you see “Spirits of India” the more subtleties you will notice in the work, the interconnections between the three artists, their though process. The show transports you to a subconscious level, where you can feel the spirits of the animals.
All three artists have been extensively exhibited, with shows at the Center for Photographic Art (Carmel), Pacific Grove Art Center (Pacific Grove), Carmel Foundation Gallery (Carmel), various galleries in San Francisco, Hayward, Palo Alto and San Jose, and even as far as Sacramento, New York, Buenos Aires, Paris, Switzerland.
We are very proud of premiering the “Spirits of India” at Mundos Café.
- Why these two animal subjects?
Elephants are the preeminent symbols of strength, wisdom, intelligence and royalty. In the 4,000 years since domestication, elephants significantly shaped human history in areas ranging from warfare, religion and culture to the economy. They have been worshiped in the Hindu religion and throughout the folktales of Ganesh, the elephant-headed God of wisdom and intellect.
As in the Ganesh folktale, the survival of elephants is in great danger due to the pressures from hunting, habitat loss and other human–elephant conflicts. From an historical context, their cultural stature today seems diminished as well. Are these animals, once adorned in regality, now simply reduced to a commercial role in tourism?
The Marwari horses are still revered in the India culture. Native to the Marwari region (Rajasthan, India), the Marwari horse is a rare breed known for its hardiness. A descendant of native Indian ponies crossed with Arabian horses, the Marwari are uniquely recognized by their inward-turning ear tips.
Historically the horses were used to combat elephants and were also instrumental in shaping Indian history. Their breeding followed such a strict selective process that they were referred to as divine beings, known on the battlefield for their bravery and loyalty. After near extinction following the arrival of the British in India in the early 1600’s, the Marwari horses are now making a comeback. What does their future hold for them?
We share the beauty of these animals and the connection that still exists between these magnificent beasts and mankind. Our hope is their existence will continue to thrive as we share this planet as one.
More information can be found at: https://blog.oliverklinkphotography.com/Exhibits/Mundos
Spirits of India featured in the Monterey County Weekly
By Walter Ryce (June 29, 2017)
Spirits of India • Mundos Cafe
Mary Aiu of Carmel photographs horses around the world as the basis for photomontages. Oliver Klink of Los Gatos uses physics to capture light, our ecosystems and the modern world. Chester Ng of Monterey focuses on dance, motion, abstract and cultural themes. The three of them convened on a tour of India and brought back something of the spirit and history of the place by photographing elephants and Marwari horses. This is that show, in a venue that was formerly an art gallery and is still conducive to art. 4-5pm Thu, July 6, artists reception; 170 Webster St., Monterey, 920-1400.
Quote from a customer: “I am overwhelmed by emotion”
As a fine art photographer, I try to evoke feelings, to make images that are much bigger than us. For the image Javeena and Ganesha, the impact of strong bond between animals and humans, the meaning of the future of young girls in developing countries, the pure love and respect for each other, and so much more was deeply felt.
But nothing could fulfill the acceptance of the image as much as the following quote from Sameen: “I wish I could have told you yesterday how much your photos of Javeena and Ganesha touched me. I couldn’t, because everytime I tried to talk about it, I was overwhelmed by emotion and was going to cry. I am not sure what it is about your work that touched me so strongly. I have never experienced that before when looking at anyone’s art. But there is something you have managed to capture that had a profound impact on me.
Mark your Calendar: Opening reception at Mundos Cafe (Monterey, CA) on July 6 (4PM)
Spirits of India (July 2 – August 11; Opening Reception on July 6 (4PM)
Exhibit by Mary Aiu, Oliver Klink, Chester Ng
Location: Mundos Cafe, 170 Webster St, Monterey, CA 93940 July 2 – August 11, 2017
Open daily from 10AM – 7PM (5PM on weekends)
Exhibit at Dickerman Prints Gallery up for another month!
I am proud and honored to be part of the “Wanderlust Show” at the Dickerman Prints Gallery. This group show is truly inspiring! When you see the show in person, you will also enjoy the quality of the printing. Seth Dickerman truly did an amazing job printing such a wide range of images.
My image is titled “Panda Express”. I photographed it in 2016 in the remote province of Sichuan, China. The people belong to the poorest minority, called the Yi. Their life is mesmerizing and true to the earth.
The show is up for another month …. Don’t miss it.
Information: Dickerman Prints, 1141 Howard Street, San Francisco. More info
Feedback from the Asian Art Society of Monterey Bay Presentation: “One of the Best Programs!”
I was invited to present my project “Consequences” at the Asian Art Society of Monterey Bay. The room was packed.
At the end of the presentation, I received some of the most touching comments, which put tears in my eyes: “Your images are about humanity. And we truly need this in today’s environment”. “Your connection with the kids and minority cultures are priceless!”
Other comments I received from the presentation:
“Tonight was one of the best programs!! Thank you for arranging it for us. I was blown away with his technique. Oliver is a phenominal artist……………..I want to see his book and more of his pictures” – Betty C.
“Thank you so much for your beautiful presentation last night. Everyone loved it, and wants you to return with photos of India, when they are ready. We can hardly wait! The beauty, composition and detail in the images were truly amazing! And your dedication to your craft…backpacking for 3 days to reach a remote village, waiting for 7 or 9 hours (from your presentation at our Rotary Club) to get the photo of the two goats fighting, and so many other examples, prove you are the top in the photography world.” – Jean H.
Invitation to present at the OpenShow/StreetFoto Festival – June 8, 2017
I am very excited to announced that I have been selected to present at the Open Show/StreetFoto Festival on June 8th.
OpenShow is a worldwide organization, which mission is to create a powerful feedback loop between the public, partner organizations and creators (photographers, filmmakers and multimedia producers).
They value “Great work”, “Engaging storytelling”, “Conversation to create community” and “Appreciation leads to support”
You can find more about OpenShow here.
I will present my work on “Consequences”, which got me selected as Top 50 fine art photographers by Critical Mass-PhotoLucida in 2016. The project addresses the current threats to natural and cultural diversity, sites where modernity, tradition, and wild lands collide. It is an elegy for what is vanishing and a celebration of those cultures on the fringe of modern society resilient enough to maintain their vibrance. As we drift toward a blandly amorphous, generic world, as cultures disappear and life becomes more uniform, we as a people and a species, and Earth itself, are deeply impoverished. The images take the viewer on a roller coaster ride of aesthetic of disappearance, with hope that the fading traditions are not permanent and irreversible.
Join me June 8 at 6PM at the Harvey Milk PhotoCenter, San Francisco.
Exhibit: Dickerman Prints Gallery, San Francisco (June 14 – July 15, 2017)
Wanderlust
Wanderlust (n): a strong desire to travel
For some, wanderlust manifests itself as an unquenchable thirst to explore life beyond your comfort zone. For others, it’s as simple as reading a book, taking a walk at lunch or going left instead of a right on the way to work.
Wherever your wanderlust takes you – by foot, pedal, engine or “other” – we want to see it!
Group show featuring Al Brydon, Annie Wilson, Marcus Desieno, Erin Walker Anderson, Oliver Klink, Pete Rosos, Rebecca Martinez among others.
More information: https://www.dickermanprints.com/wanderlust/
Artist Reception: The ImageFlow Gallery – Reflect and Engage (June 3, 7-9PM)
Reflect & Engage Digital Photography Exhibition
June 3 – August 25, 2017
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 3, 7–9PM
The Image Flow proudly presents Reflect & Engage, a group exhibition featuring 36 artists examining themes of identity and engagement through digital photography.
The images in this exhibition are activated through the multidisciplinary pursuits and values of the artists who created them. These artists are not just photographers. They are sociologists and humanitarians, non-profit directors and journalists, environmental activists and defenders of peace. They are world travelers exploring the connection between ourselves, our immediate communities, and our larger global society.
Reflect & Engage is curated from nearly 250 submitted works from San Francisco Bay Area photographers, though many of them are of international origin. Hailing from Beijing, China, to northern England, Iceland, Germany, Italy, the U.S., and Communist Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) they embed their unique experiences and culturally diverse perspectives into their photography.
The exhibition features works by: Sue Amar, Lori Barra, Daniel Beck, Mary Butler, Bailey Chang, David Charnack, James Clift, John De Groot, Suzanne Engelberg, David Gardner, Ingeborg Gerdes, Stuart Goldstein, Charlotta María Hauksdóttir, Cary James, Tracy Johnston, Oliver Klink, Sam Levy, Stephanie Mackey, Deborah Martin, Michael Martin, Marissa McPeak, Michael Osborne, David Pace, Suzanne Paras Beard, Tim Porter, Mark Roudebush, Nicolò Sertorio, Iris Brito Stevens, Marti Stites, Jerry Takigawa, Brandon Tauszik, Barry Toranto, Michal Venera, Charles Versaggi, Nick Winkworth, and Xiao Xu.
Come celebrate this fantastic collection of work and meet the artists at our opening reception on Saturday, June 3 from 7–9PM.
Exhibit at The ImageFlow Gallery- Mill Valley, CA (June 2 – August 25, 2017)
Reflect and Engage (Juried Show)
The Image Flow proudly presents Reflect & Engage, a group exhibition featuring 36 artists examining themes of identity and engagement through digital photography.
The images in this exhibition are activated through the multidisciplinary pursuits and values of the artists who created them. These artists are not just photographers. They are sociologists and humanitarians, non-profit directors and journalists, environmental activists and defenders of peace. They are world travelers exploring the connection between ourselves, our immediate communities, and our larger global society.
Reflect & Engage is curated from nearly 250 submitted works from San Francisco Bay Area photographers, though many of them are of international origin. Hailing from Beijing, China, to northern England, Iceland, Germany, Italy, the U.S., and Communist Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) they embed their unique experiences and culturally diverse perspectives into their photography.
The exhibition features works by: Sue Amar, Lori Barra, Daniel Beck, Mary Butler, Bailey Chang, David Charnack, James Clift, John De Groot, Suzanne Engelberg, David Gardner, Ingeborg Gerdes, Stuart Goldstein, Charlotta María Hauksdóttir, Cary James, Tracy Johnston, Oliver Klink, Sam Levy, Stephanie Mackey, Deborah Martin, Michael Martin, Marissa McPeak, Michael Osborne, David Pace, Suzanne Paras Beard, Tim Porter, Mark Roudebush, Nicolò Sertorio, Iris Brito Stevens, Marti Stites, Jerry Takigawa, Brandon Tauszik, Barry Toranto, Michal Venera, Charles Versaggi, Nick Winkworth, and Xiao Xu.
Show is up until August 25, 2017
Additional info: http://www.theimageflow.com/gallery