Kinetic Image opens on January 30 and runs through February 24. A reception to meet the artists and listen to the juror speak will be on Second Thursday art night, February 14 from 6-8pm with the talk at 7pm. This free and open to the public, so please join us.

This exhibition highlights the latest developments in New Media and the more traditional approach to kinetic sculpture. Juried by, Chicago artist, Patrick Lichty who is also a digital intermedia designer, writer, professor and independent curator. Lichty’s choices feature work by artists from across the country and an artist from the Ukraine. The chosen work examines art in motion, from time-based video to kinetic sculpture to work that gives the illusion of motion.

There were close to 200 entries for Lichty to choose from, and as he began this curatorial challenge he started by asking the question, ‘what is a kinetic image, given that kinetic art has been around for a very long time?’ He also asks the question, ‘what is the nature of motion-based arts, and how is the idea of motion so inspirational to the human animal that it inspires us to create kinetic works?’ He challenged himself with the quest to answer these very broad questions by choosing work that includes video and new digital forms but also including work that acknowledged a variety of content that expressed and portrayed an illusion of motion.

Most of the work in the exhibition is interactive, that is bound to engage the viewer quite literally as well as raise some eyebrows. Whether using infrared sensors, or hidden video cameras or specially written computer code to access random peoples Google keyword searches, this exhibition has playful elements that also carry important social messages. In regard to how technology has evolved so quickly and at such a pace that the paranoia of our privacy being challenged is on many people’s mind and this exhibition helps to address some of those concerns. Also, the simple love affair with the moving image that seduces us and grabs our attention using sound, color, motion and imagery to cast its spell.

Lichty’s choices for this exhibition were right on target and addressed the questions that he had hoped to raise very succinctly. This is an exciting time in the art world and the Target Gallery is thrilled to be able to highlight a small sampling of what is happening now on the art scene. I hope you take your time to soak in all that this exhibit has to offer and allow yourself a moment to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.