WILSON, N.C. — “Symphony of Portraits,” featuring photographs by Jerome De Perlinghi, will open for exhibition in the Barton Art Galleries at Barton College on Sunday, Nov. 10. A reception for the public will be held on Sunday afternoon, Nov. 10, from 4 – 6 p.m. in Case Art Building on the College campus. A private lecture and reception, by reservation only for the Barton College Friends of Visual Arts, will begin at 6 p.m. in Barton Art Galleries, with dinner following at 7 p.m. in the Lauren Kennedy and Alan Campbell Theatre. The “Symphony of Portraits” exhibition will run through Friday, Dec. 13.
To receive information regarding membership in the Friends of Visual Arts, please contact Frances Belcher at 252-399-6357 or fbelcher@barton.edu. For additional information on the exhibition or the opening reception for the public, please contact Bonnie LoSchiavo in the Barton Art Galleries at 252-399-6477 or email: artgalleries@barton.edu.
De Perlinghi, an internationally published Belgium photographer, captures unrepeatable moments in time with his portraits. Previously exhibited only in Europe, “Symphony of Portraits” showcases over 100 black and white images of actors, directors, musicians, and singers, including images of Jose Carreras, Vahina Giocante, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and Otis Rush. Also on exhibit will be “Installation of a Photographer,” a selection of historic film cameras from De Perlinghi’s private collection.
Widely recognized for his work, De Perlinghi’s photographs have been published in American and European newspapers and magazines, including “Liberation,” “Le Monde,” “The Washington Post,” “The Philadelphia Inquirer,” and “Telerama.” He has published six books, and his works are included in the permanent collections of The Library of Congress, La Bibliotheque Nationale de Paris, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and le Musee de la Photographie of Charleoi in Belgium.
Sharing his view of De Perlinghi’s work, Laurent Abadjian, editor in chief of “Telerama” in Paris, said, “A portrait is not a picture of a woman or a man. It is something else. Something more. The ‘more’ here, is the photographer. He is the master of this strange ceremony: the unusual ceremony of the portrait. A portrait indeed is a meeting between the one who shoots the photo and the one who will pose. In the end, it is not the image of the woman or man who will be recorded on film. But the image of their relationship that has developed: it is this universe of the photographer interacting with the shadows and the light surrounding the portrayed. The choice of frame, moment, light devices, or technical choices of films are determined by the photographer.
“Directing actors, it is he, the photographer, who is in charge,” continued Abadjian. “Jerome De Perlinghi over the festivals of Deauville, Montreal and elsewhere, behind the scenes of the Belgian Film Archives and his encounters with artists all over, was able to win, with great kindness and infinite determination, the trust of those who agreed to spend a few minutes with him. More exactly in front of him, between his canvas, his soft light box and his 6X6 Yashica Mat. He knew how to seduce by using frankness and tenacity but never trying to flatter nor to deceive. Everyone knew where he – or she was going with it and agreed to play this game of balance of power, leaving him in charge to build another image of themselves: unique, different and free.”
The Barton Art Galleries program is sponsored by the Barton College Friends of Visual Arts. For additional information on the exhibition or opening reception, please contact the Barton Art Galleries at 252-399-6477 or email: artgalleries@barton.edu.
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