"Peter Feldstein: Recent Work" at Peeler Art Center March 17 through April 18

March 9, 2004

March 9, 2004, Greencastle, Ind. - The work of Iowa-based artist Peter Feldstein will be on view at DePauw University's Richard E. Peeler Art Center from March 17 through April 18. Feldstein's métier is photography, although he utilizes a range of media in his exploration of the use of symbols. The artist refers to these symbols as markers that distinguish and unite humanity and human culture across all boundaries: “I attempt to develop working strategies for the invention and elaboration of marks, symbols, and icons in an attempt to understand my place, or my physical and psychological position within my extended cultural environment.”

In his explorations, Feldstein incorporates the process known as cliché verre. The process is closely related to the early development of photography and is a type of photographic etching. As an artistic medium cliché verre was widely explored by 19th century French artists, among them Eugène Delacroix and Jean-Baptìste-Camille Corot. Feldstein has built upon the historical use of the medium by developing methods to better achieve line, texture, and depth in his work. The resulting images are then scanned into a computer and digitally manipulated. The finished works are mesmerizing in their visual density and surprising clarity and sharpness.

Peter Feldstein has exhibited in both group and solo shows extensively since the 1970s at Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Rhode Island School of Design, Providence; Minnesota Museum of Art, St. Paul; University of Oregon Museum of Art, Eugene; Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire; and the Olson-Larsen Galleries, Des Moines, Iowa. The artist's work is represented in numerous collections including the New York Public Library, the Fogg Museum at Harvard University, the Hood Museum of Art at Dartmouth, the Israeli Museum, Jerusalem, and the Coca Cola Collection, Atlanta, Georgia.

In 1988, Peter Feldstein received a National Endowment for the Arts Individual Artist's Grant. Feldstein has taught photography at the University of Iowa, Iowa City since 1973. He received his B.A. in sociology from the University of Iowa in 1965. He also completed both his M.A. and M.F.A. in art at the University of Iowa, in 1968 and 1975 respectively.

On Wednesday, March 17, the artist will present a slide talk at 4 p.m. in the Peeler auditorium followed by an opening reception for the exhibition. Please contact the Richard E. Peeler Art Center for more information at (765) 658-4336. The galleries of the Richard E. Peeler Art Center are open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.; and Sunday 1-5 p.m. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Back