This Bold Exhibition Fuses Photography and Painting to Honor the Spirit of Vanishing America

by Nilofer Khan

Photography has always been treated like an unloved younger sibling of painting and other art forms. While photography sometimes takes inspiration from paintings, the latter is highly dependent on personal experiences. However, in some rare instances, paintings may be inspired by cinema and pictures, but people rarely discuss it. So, what happens when both mediums come together to recount a story? They form a cohesive dialogue where one art form complements the other. An example of this is photographer, painter, and filmmaker Michael Dweck’s latest exhibition at Staley-Wise Gallery: Blunderbust. Read more to discover Dweck’s vision behind the exhibition.

A Breakthrough Exhibition of Two Different Formats

In this exhibition, Dweck’s fondness for stock car racing takes center stage, and he expresses himself through photography and paintings. This is also the first-ever show of the Staley-Wise Gallery, where painting is a dominant part of the showcase. Dweck and the Staley-Wise Gallery have collaborated on multiple occasions, and the space is often used to display Dweck’s photography, which has spanned over two decades.

Born in 1957 near Long Island, Dweck’s early days were around raceways, which was a crucial part of his town’s culture. It was 2007 when Dweck decided to document “Blunderbust” races, which were held on Riverhead’s last remaining course track. Over the next decade, the photographer worked continuously with the race track, which also turned out to be a studio. However, the photographs became an emblem for a larger discourse on the decline of concrete identities, a sense of community, and the downfall of handmade objects.

Over the years, the photographer began painting “to evoke the feeling of the track with gut intensity.” To portray the racing culture, the artwork focuses on dents, tears, and scratches on large aluminum canvases, scrap metal, and rubber. Dweck uses various methods, which also comment on the unpredictable nature of racing. “The drivers were my heroes. The cars were their weapons, sculptures, flags, and family crests rolled into one,” the artist said. The exhibition will also showcase his 2018 film, The Last Race, which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.

At The Junction of Documentary and Fine Art

Michael Dweck’s exhibition not only portrays a dying tradition but also makes us see the beauty and importance of its rich and complex history through painting. The two mediums portray what makes racing a quintessentially American experience. The photographs focus on a larger discourse, while the fine art paintings ensure you form a deep connection with the story. Furthermore, one can’t help but feel that both photography and painting also highlight the disappearance of smaller community values, which are increasingly in peril from globalization and modernization. Social media is transforming our society into homogenized clusters where being different is frowned upon. Much of it is also driven by capitalism, in which one derives one’s worth from one’s productivity, and slowing down or investing in recreational activities is often questioned.

Overall, Dweck’s exhibition reminds us to cherish what makes us who we are. It urges us to explore our identity, look at our history, and remind us of the transient nature of memory. The pictures and paintings are not just documents of the past but also serve as significant artifacts for future generations. If we don’t preserve these pockets of traditions, we will lose our way. Or worse, artificial intelligence will take over to make these customs into dull copy-paste versions of its former glory. And who wants that?

The exhibition begins on September 27 and concludes on November 23. Michael Dweck will also discuss the exhibition with Andrew Russet on September 26 from 5 to 6 p.m. For more information, visit Staley-Wise Gallery’s website.