the single-lens reflex

We experience the world through our five senses—taste, touch, smell, hearing and sight.

This sculpture asks us to examine what happens when we limit our perception to only one sensory lens—the visual. This is essentially what cameras do when they record patterns of light with a mechanical or digital ‘eye.’

When we interpret and accept the camera’s images as reality, do we sometimes trust these superficial surrogates more than direct experience?

As we find ourselves mindlessly caught up in converting our days into a stream of mediated images, do we lose track of the main event: to be fully alive?

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“the single-lens reflex” installed August 26, 2016 at Pima Community College East, part of the Sculpture on Campus juried exhibition (“ultimate reality show” on far left)   copyright 2016 Joan Waters, all rights reserved.

The public is invited to the opening reception on October 20, 2-4 pm. As we walk around the campus we will visit each sculpture, and each artist will give a brief introduction to their work. PCC East is located at 8181 E. Irvington Rd, Tucson, AZ 85709-4000.

Special thanks to Mike Stack, Department Chair, Arts & Humanities, for the energy and vision behind the Sculpture on Campus exhibition which began in 2005. Thanks to Mike, the campus community is actively engaged in selecting, viewing, writing about and appreciating the wide range of sculptures that are installed on concrete pads located around the campus. Many classes use the sculptures as departure points for their learning and discussions. It’s a great example of building a community that appreciates and is enriched by art. I know I’ve had the idea for my latest piece for several years, and this opportunity gave me the impetus to finally build the work.

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Mike Stack, Department Chair, in a photographic duel with the sculpture.  “The Mothers: Las Madres” Project by Valarie James with Antonia Gallegos, Deborah McCullough & Cesar Lopez in the background

ultimate reality show—Shemer Art Center

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ultimate reality show installed at Shemer Art Center, Phoenix, Arizona

Special thanks to Hector Ortega, who has several works exhibited on the Shemer grounds, for his time and efforts pouring the slab and applying his hammer-drilling expertise, and Shonna James, Interim Executive Director, for coordinating the final installation. The sculpture is part of the recently installed Arizona Sculpture Showcase, juried by Mary Bates Neubauer, and will be on-site for two years.

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Hector Ortega watches as the Craters and Freighters crew unloads the sculpture

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Enjoy a stroll around the grounds, and the many new works recently added to the outdoor sculpture exhibition.

Dog Days of Summer~ Open Studio July 27 and 28

© 2012 Joan Waters

Friday, July 27, 11 am–6pm and
Saturday, July 28,  9am–4pm

2141 E. Cedar St, #1, Tempe, Az 85281

Preview new work, including outdoor hummingbird flight sculptures, clay tile tables, garden totems and more in this working welding studio—with air conditioning.

Refreshments • free and open to the public • wheelchair accessible • dogs welcome!

Open Studio April 28th

Rufous, Anna's, Costa's—three sculptures inspired by hummingbird flight, © 2012 Joan Waters

Saturday, April 28, 2012, 9am–5pm
2141 E. Cedar St, #1, Tempe, Az 85281

New works in the studio, featuring powdercoated red sculptures and hybrid paintings, handmade tile tables, unique gifts and art for garden spaces.

Plus, meet guest artist Jodi Pinkert, exhibiting her mixed media series “Clay Tapestries.”

Refreshments • free and open to the public • wheelchair accessible • dogs welcome!

Fine Art in the Garden

Saturday, March 17th, 9 am-4 pm, Shemer Art Center

This is the 47th year of the Fine Art in the Garden exhibition and sale, hosted by this group of 20 artists. As members leave, new artists are invited to join the group. The first year they exhibit as a guest, and are then invited to become a permanent part of the group. This is my first year exhibiting at this show.

5005 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85018. Free and open to the public.

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Undivided Attention

Installation views of new sculptures and paintings at Chandler Center for the Arts. Twelve of the pieces are new “hybrids” which combine an acrylic painting with a welded, patinaed metal panel. The exhibition opens with a reception this Friday, October 7th, from 7-9 pm, and continues through November 19th. Hours are Monday-Friday 10 am-5 pm, and Saturday noon-4 pm.

Cool Open Studio

Thanks!Thanks to everyone who made Saturday’s Open Studio a success. It was a hot day in Phoenix, so I had the a/c set low (and even had a couple of complaints that it was too chilly.) I appreciated the good energy, feedback and influx of new ideas that everyone brought to the studio. It was great to see people making new friends and sharing comments, too. Barney had his fill (almost) of attention and offers from many to go home with them. I’m possibly going to do another one in May and June, but will keep you posted. Much appreciated!

Visionaries

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts, Jan. 24th ~ Feb 16th

Photography Exhibition Celebrates the 20th Anniversary of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve

The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy presents “Best Works of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve” at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts through Feb. 16. Photographer Marianne Skov Jensen, whose work is shown above, has pledged profits from the sale of her images to the Conservancy (contact Marianne directly for price information: marianne@ezpixels.com).

This link takes you to Marianne’s blog (where she posts a photo every day!) and to a link of a video preview of the exhibition:
http://ezpixels.com/blog/2011/01/24/photography-exhibit/