This Exhibit Is Closed.
First edition limited to 250 copies. 128 pages, softcover, 8.5” x 11” landscape, Full Color, 128 gsm Glossy Fine Art paper, perfect binding
Review by Dana Davis, Photographer and Arts Educator, Sacramento, CA
Philip Ringler’s new book of photographs, This Exhibit Is Closed., Ringworm Press, is a wonder for the eyes and for the imagination that lurks right behind them. This composition of neglected adventure parks and amusement rides has an icing of humor and irony with a crust of the temporal limits of human endeavors but with a warm, whimsical core of rich, poetic nutrition. What fun!
In these places where sets and stages were built to encompass the animal performers in an illusory environment or silly, smiling faces greeted visitors enroute to the show or the next stop on the theme park trail but now, over time and with neglect, these illusions have holes opened to stark realities. Backgrounds of clouds and water and jungle foliage is torn by falling plaster, peeling paint and graffiti. The suspenders of disbelief are caught in the act of holding up the floating rabbit. Scaffolding, wires, bricks and hinges are revealed against the still strong images of artificial spaces. Ringler brings us along on his adventures.
“The best laid schemes of mice and men…” are a subtle undertow of this book but not enough to evoke anything like despair. Joy and humor and the delight of metaphoric pairing of disparate images gives the viewer much to turn over with the harmonics of fine music and dance. Ringler has set these images with delightful sequencing. They move the viewer in ways that keep any one way of seeing this work in limbo. Pagination is the way a book of images is given the rhythm to dance and these photographs can dance!
I believe that most of our perception is recognition. We see what we already know. That is, after the age of, say 5 years. Art allows us the opportunity to see what we first can only sense as wonder. This Exhibit Is Closed will open a way into visions that are not presented by “the way things are”. The step after “What the…?” is into “Wow”. I encourage you to enter the exhibit that is closed.
Dana Davis; Artist, maker of books and just this guy, you know?
First edition limited to 250 copies. 128 pages, softcover, 8.5” x 11” landscape, Full Color, 128 gsm Glossy Fine Art paper, perfect binding
Review by Dana Davis, Photographer and Arts Educator, Sacramento, CA
Philip Ringler’s new book of photographs, This Exhibit Is Closed., Ringworm Press, is a wonder for the eyes and for the imagination that lurks right behind them. This composition of neglected adventure parks and amusement rides has an icing of humor and irony with a crust of the temporal limits of human endeavors but with a warm, whimsical core of rich, poetic nutrition. What fun!
In these places where sets and stages were built to encompass the animal performers in an illusory environment or silly, smiling faces greeted visitors enroute to the show or the next stop on the theme park trail but now, over time and with neglect, these illusions have holes opened to stark realities. Backgrounds of clouds and water and jungle foliage is torn by falling plaster, peeling paint and graffiti. The suspenders of disbelief are caught in the act of holding up the floating rabbit. Scaffolding, wires, bricks and hinges are revealed against the still strong images of artificial spaces. Ringler brings us along on his adventures.
“The best laid schemes of mice and men…” are a subtle undertow of this book but not enough to evoke anything like despair. Joy and humor and the delight of metaphoric pairing of disparate images gives the viewer much to turn over with the harmonics of fine music and dance. Ringler has set these images with delightful sequencing. They move the viewer in ways that keep any one way of seeing this work in limbo. Pagination is the way a book of images is given the rhythm to dance and these photographs can dance!
I believe that most of our perception is recognition. We see what we already know. That is, after the age of, say 5 years. Art allows us the opportunity to see what we first can only sense as wonder. This Exhibit Is Closed will open a way into visions that are not presented by “the way things are”. The step after “What the…?” is into “Wow”. I encourage you to enter the exhibit that is closed.
Dana Davis; Artist, maker of books and just this guy, you know?
First edition limited to 250 copies. 128 pages, softcover, 8.5” x 11” landscape, Full Color, 128 gsm Glossy Fine Art paper, perfect binding
Review by Dana Davis, Photographer and Arts Educator, Sacramento, CA
Philip Ringler’s new book of photographs, This Exhibit Is Closed., Ringworm Press, is a wonder for the eyes and for the imagination that lurks right behind them. This composition of neglected adventure parks and amusement rides has an icing of humor and irony with a crust of the temporal limits of human endeavors but with a warm, whimsical core of rich, poetic nutrition. What fun!
In these places where sets and stages were built to encompass the animal performers in an illusory environment or silly, smiling faces greeted visitors enroute to the show or the next stop on the theme park trail but now, over time and with neglect, these illusions have holes opened to stark realities. Backgrounds of clouds and water and jungle foliage is torn by falling plaster, peeling paint and graffiti. The suspenders of disbelief are caught in the act of holding up the floating rabbit. Scaffolding, wires, bricks and hinges are revealed against the still strong images of artificial spaces. Ringler brings us along on his adventures.
“The best laid schemes of mice and men…” are a subtle undertow of this book but not enough to evoke anything like despair. Joy and humor and the delight of metaphoric pairing of disparate images gives the viewer much to turn over with the harmonics of fine music and dance. Ringler has set these images with delightful sequencing. They move the viewer in ways that keep any one way of seeing this work in limbo. Pagination is the way a book of images is given the rhythm to dance and these photographs can dance!
I believe that most of our perception is recognition. We see what we already know. That is, after the age of, say 5 years. Art allows us the opportunity to see what we first can only sense as wonder. This Exhibit Is Closed will open a way into visions that are not presented by “the way things are”. The step after “What the…?” is into “Wow”. I encourage you to enter the exhibit that is closed.
Dana Davis; Artist, maker of books and just this guy, you know?
Conceptual photographic explorations of the simulated found sets of amusement parks, zoos, aquariums, and others. Foreword by art critic, Dewitt Cheng. Published by Ringworm Press, 2023.