"Vestiges" by JOSH SMITH / VANESSA WOODS

 Located at Minnesota Street Project, San Francisco CA

    This show was a collection of pieces from two artists, who both work in photography as their medium. The photography looked like it was taken in film, and it was all presented in black and white. I found out later that this body of work was by two artists, that pleasantly surprised me. The theme upon just looking at them seemed sensual in nature and focused around touch, they show the closeness of body parts, creases and folds, textures and figures heavily cropped with sharp shadows. Most photos it was impossible to tell what or where the photo was of there was this really beautiful discovery and mystery of the folds and symmetry and line of the human form.

    I really love life drawing and the study of form, upon reading the description the artist describes as an exploration of a woman's body and how it changes and interacts, and is during pregnancy. Learning that made the art work less sensual and more about celebrating living in our skin, breathing and little moments. I think the black and white presents that nostalgia and preciousness of creating new life and the beauty of what a woman is capable of. It became intimate, not sensual. I really enjoyed the large piece featured in the middle of the gallery, is was like a large collage assembly of little moments, there is such contrast with light creating line across the human body and the exclusion of context or background, the heavy cropping makes the photos feel close and personal, I think the work was effective in drawing me in and sharing little moments, collections of passing time.

"Each One of Us Was Fastened to the Other" Vanessa Woods

http://minnesotastreetproject.com/exhibitions/1275-minnesota-st/vestiges