When we view art in a museum the paintings and art work may be only one part of the exhibition. Watching people can be equally interesting, for what they are drawn to, what their body language is and how they respond. Photographer Laurie Victor Kay's exhibit at the Anne Reed Gallery in Ketchum captures the essence of children's experience in museums, be it wonder, awe or confusion.
The exhibit, called "Au Museé," can be viewed from 5 to 7 p.m. tonight during a reception with the artist, who will discuss her work. Victor Kay, who is from Omaha, Neb., has been working in Paris on new work for several months.
"The 'Au Museé' project is my personal journey to art museums through the eyes of a child," Victor Kay said. "The journey began in my youth. As I reflect on my visits to museums as a child, it is not specific pieces of art that I remember, but rather a blurred sense of color with light. In this new work I draw from the relationship between the children, the art, and the museum spaces, and as a result, find myself understanding art in a new way."
"Au Museé" includes large color photographs taken with permission inside international museums, such as the Louvre, the Rodin and the Musé D'Orsay in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Taken with a 4x5 Leica camera, the photographs emphasize the enormity of museums from a child's point of view, as well as the illusion embodied by great art.
"This is her first gallery exhibit," Barbi Reed, owner of the Anne Reed Gallery said. "It's rare that I'll accept work instantly, but I was really impressed. It's uniquely engaging."
"Stella" by Laurie Victor Kay
