Shortly after the Oxford dictionary named “selfie” the word of the year for 2013 the blogosphere and pop TV were all aflutter with admonitions of narcissistic millennials and the vanity of social media. When local gallery owner Violeta Chinni dubbed her most recent exhibition “Selfie,” narcissism had nothing to do with it.
Chinni’s gallery, Niàbos, is a space that is roughly a 150 square feet and occupies a storefront within the front portion of her home located on the square beside Park Street Pottery. The gallery departs from the typical art scene people know or imagine.
That sort of thinking is what sets Chinni apart from the selfie detractors. Where others saw vanity, Chinni saw expression.
In fact, the history of self portraits suggests it might be aligned practicality than vanity. It might be thought that artists like Van Gogh were vain for painting themselves so much, but for many working artists there is value in the self portrait.
Art, like any other skill, requires immense work and practice. Models are expensive and even one’s dearest friends grow tired of sitting still for hours on end whilst an artist hones their craft. Mirrors are remarkably cheap by comparison.
Self portraits, much like selfies, are born of practicality and economy. Good self portraits (and selfies) take it all a step further.
“I’d first thought about a self portrait show a year ago or so, but it was just an idea. I had another show planned for the gallery in January. Then when the Oxford Dictionary announcement came out it just clicked,” said Chinni.
Chinni and her creative team quickly shortlisted 22 artists to invite as exhibitors, and were pleased to curate a show with the work of 16 artists in such short order.
The sixteen artists in the exhibition represent a spectrum of humanity seldom sharing space. While some of the artists are professionals, even art professors, others work regular nine to five jobs, and one is even in elementary school.
Kate Shannon, Assistant Professor of Art at The Ohio State University Mansfield, has been featured in exhibitions all over the country. For Scott Smith this was his debut exhibition. Belicia Maria Salas is only eight years old, but before the “Selfie” exhibition she was already featured on the Artsonia Kids Art Museum’s website.
“Niàbos did a really good job of making this show work as a whole,” said artist Cameron Sharp.
Sharp’s Camera Phone is a piece that he made in 2008, a long-ago time before the advent of the selfie as Instagram has solidified it. Sharp converted a telephone into a pinhole camera and then used it to produce images “old school,” in a darkroom.
Riley Kemerling’s Worry Doll is startling, stern, and honest in ways that are surprising when one considers that the artist isn’t yet old enough to buy herself a beer.
Even with the absence of all body parts minus head, hands, and heart some gallery visitors might see a Christ figure implied in Jason Kaufman’s Mimesis. Whatever may be revelatory or otherwise apparent, the execution and craftsmanship or the soulful gaze from the piercing blue eyes is difficult to overlook.
Chinni contributed to an open and community friendly atmosphere by not only opening her gallery, but also her home, to the public for the opening on Saturday.
“Selfie” runs through Sunday, Feb. 23. The gallery is open every Sunday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m
Niàbos has an image gallery from the opening reception on their Facebook page.
