Bio

Walter Plotnick is a photo-based artist who lives and works in the Philadelphia area. He received his MFA from University of the Arts and BFA from Tyler School of Art. Mr. Plotnick is an instructor in the Fine Arts Department at Penn State Abington, as well as Montgomery County Community College.

Artist Statement: My mother was an artist; she painted mannequin faces in the 1940s. My father was an amateur photographer, as a young boy he taught me to develop film and print photographs in the basement of our home. I have been making images ever since.

My current work is a hybrid of wet photography and digital process. I am influenced by the work of Bauhaus, Constructivist and Surrealist Photographers from the 1920s - 1930s.

I make photographs and photograms by constructing temporary still lifes, using vintage found objects and images on top of photographic paper in the darkroom. By manipulating a variety of light sources then digitally combining, repeating or adding images, I am able to visually explore an abstract environment with objects and light creating movement, form and tension.

The tension I am interested in is inspired by two specific historical themes. The 1939 New York Worlds Fair with its futuristic design and structures that represented hope for the world of tomorrow.  As well vintage 1930s circus performers, whose skill of feat and daring are tension filled and thrilling. The circus images were scanned and output onto velum or clear acetate them incorporated into photograms in the darkroom. Blending darkroom practices with digital technology adds a layer of complexity to the photographic process of making images.

The second body of work with which I have been concerned incorporates found objects most of which are vintage 1930s electric fan grills. My studio practice is to digitally mix colors and print the selected pallet onto translucent sheets of velum. Shapes are cut from the velum that correspond to sections of the grill grid. The velum is painted using as stencils the same small found objects I used in the photograms. My interest in doubling and symmetry is consistent in this body of work.

There is the bi-lateral symmetry or rorschach of some of the two dimensional pieces along with the symmetry of the grill design and doubling of the reflection of the grill. The painted velum in the mirror creates a trick of the eye of layered geometric patterns. I enjoy the fact that the wire grills are round and sensual yet hard and made of steel. There is inevitably a glimpse of self-reflection as the viewer sees himself and the artwork reflected from the opposite wall of the gallery in the mirror behind the grill.  It is this direct relationship and interactive experience that makes the pieces change when viewed from slightly different perspectives. This assemblage and process, defines my creative excitement.

Unless otherwise noted all images are printed in limited editions of on archival photo-rag paper with pigment inks.Work may be viewed by appointment.