Welcome to the newest gallery in JAC’s Gallery of the Month series, where we showcase a wide range of art and writing under unique monthly themes. Check back on the first of each month for a new collection of works by the talented artists in the JAC network. To view past galleries of the month, see our Gallery Archive.
January is a time for reflection, and as we reflect, details and subtleties take on new meaning. There are certain things that we can only appreciate by slowing down and taking time to notice.
Those of you who are Gallery of the Month regulars are used to a conglomerate of pieces by different artists in our network. This month, we want to slow things down by savoring the details of a singular piece of artwork: Danny Ashton’s “75 Pontiac Lemans.” Danny’s style is so lively and cinematic that each of his pieces unfolds itself like a story with multiple subplots. I could spend hours reading into every character he constructs, eyes bouncing from scene to scene as I invent backstories for each one. I’m positive I can see them moving.
Deciding which one of his pieces to focus on was difficult, but we ultimately chose this one because of how vibrant and festive it is. It is a scene of celebration, capturing the energy that we wish to cling to during the cold months. “It’s set in 1975,” Danny wrote to us. “Some pranksters have placed a car on the dance floor of a disco and the people just decided to have fun with it anyway, dancing on top and getting inside of it. In the foreground, a girl is trying to grab a beer from her boyfriend, a couple is thumb wrestling and a guy is lighting a cigarette with a candle. This one was very experimental for me, using different lighting and reflective techniques.”
This month, we invite you to slow down with us, and spend some time appreciating the tiny details – of life, and of “75 Pontiac Lemans.”
We hope you enjoy this month’s gallery: A Close Look
In this one, it’s set in 1975. Some pranksters have placed a car on the dance floor of a disco and the people just decided to have fun with it anyway, dancing on top and getting inside of it. In the foreground, a girl is trying to grab a beer from her boyfriend, a couple is thumb wrestling and a guy is lighting a cigarette with a candle. This one was very experimental for me, using different lighting and reflective techniques.
