The Newport Beach City Arts Commission presents “American Alchemy” a photographic art exhibition by Joe Lewis at the Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Avenue from November 7 through December 4, 2015. An artist’s reception will be held on Saturday, November 21 in the Central Library Friends Room from 1-3 p.m.
Joe Lewis, artist, arts administrator, and professor of Art at the University of California, Irvine, will present a collection of photographic works titled “American Alchemy.” In his exhibit, Lewis uses cultural iconography and historical symbols such as the eagle, the flag, oil rigs, and other documents as springboards for the audience to reinvestigate their personal relationships with the American historical experience. His creative multi-step process, invented by Ivan Dalla Tana, combines chemical manipulation of black and white/silver-based photo darkroom processes with painting techniques to produce one-of-a-kind photographic works that shimmer with unexpected tones, textures, and iridescent colors.
The art exhibit is free and open to the public during library hours.