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Everyday People
Two Exhibits at International Visions Accent Beauty
of Ordinary Life
by Natalie Koss
The International Visions Gallery
is a neighborhood staple known for showcasing the
works of local artists. Currently, International Visions
is offering two exhibits: a brilliant collection of
paintings from Washington, D.C., native and long-time
local artist Bill Dorsey titled “Sightings”
and a group exhibition of internationally inspired
photographs by the new Photographer’s Cooperative.
Dorsey’s “Sightings”
includes a series of oil paintings representing his
reflections on nature and the environment. His intensely
personal renderings represent Dorsey’s attempt
to visually capture the splendor nature creates on
a regular basis, such as a sunset or a rainstorm.
Born in Baltimore but a Washingtonian
most of his life, Dorsey fell into painting when he
ended up on the steps of the Howard University School
of Fine Arts. Inspired by such artists as Lois Mailou
Jones and James Porter, Dorsey has been working for
more than 50 years as a commercial art designer, graphic
designer and painter.
Dorsey’s paintings demonstrate
the quixotic magnificence of nature, and he wants
viewers to stop to enjoy it. “As an early morning
runner,” said Dorsey, “my intense fascination
for the ever-changing picture in the sky continues
to pique and stimulate my creative urgings.”
With a mix of vivid colors and abstract
imagery, Dorsey’s paintings persuade the viewer
to appreciate the natural changes in the environment
that are so often taken for granted. “With each
and every minute bringing new hues and variations
on the theme,” he said, “I find myself catapulted
into a perpetual state of expectation and intrigue.”
In addition to “Sightings,”
the Photographer’s Cooperative, a group of Washington-area
image-makers, has its first exhibit at International
Visions this month. The Photographer’s Cooperative
comprises local, national and international photographers
displaying ordinary life scenes from around the world.
“I wanted to spotlight photographers
who were well-traveled to display international works
to the D.C. community,” said Tim Davis, gallery
director and owner.
Although many of these internationally
inspired photos show the more mundane scenes of everyday
life, they illustrate a certain revelry found within
ordinary tasks that may otherwise seem tedious or
irrelevant. For instance, Shannon Savage’s “Central
Market, Hong Kong” depicts a customer casually
walking by a street market, while Shawn Davis offers
a photo of a pensive woman and her baby sitting in
an African hut.
Although the photos are simple, the
images tell a story that despite cultural differences,
all people experience and share a similar human condition—whether
caring for a child, attending a funeral, or going
to the beach.
The collection also encourages each
viewer to explore each photograph from their own perspective.
Sonnie Mason, another featured photographer in the
exhibit, displays two untitled photos of ice forms.
At first glance, the forms could be anything—lava,
water, algae or smoke. “I wanted to let people
look at it and get their own meaning from it,”
Mason said. “If you can suspend recognition patterns
it becomes many things to different people.”
The Photographer’s Cooperative
has, in some ways, set out to allow viewers to make
their own conclusions about the meaning of the art
and its subject matter. The group will begin regularly
featuring exhibits, lecturers and workshops of both
black-and-white and color photography.
Bill Dorsey’s “Sightings”
and the Photographer’s Cooperative exhibits run
through March 15 at International Visions—The
Gallery, 2629 Connecticut Ave., NW. For more information,
please call (202) 234-5112 or visit www.inter-visions.com.
Natalie Koss is a freelance writer in Washington,
D.C.
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