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OtMtmb** 30, 1994 LIGHT AFTER DARK: A PORTRAIT OF SOUTHERN RUINS BY KAREKIN GOEKJIAN • Lucinne Inc. • Hardback, 112 pages, $40 The collection of photographs by Karekin Goekjian in Light After Dark A Portrait of Southern Ruins depicts remnants of a South long gone. Old plantations, forts and mills are the primary subjects of Goekjian's works. Through his per sonal style, Goekjian has shown us how time has weathered what was once considered the brilliance of wealth to a generation. Now many of these structures, some hidden deeply in undergrowth, are in de cay and almost forgotten Ruins present a reality never intended by the original inhabitants. The Parthenon in Greece served as a temple to its first generation It was an arms supply dump to another, and a tourist at traction to yet another For Goekjian these ruins present an opportunity to explore how time changes all meanings and references In order to depict these ruins, Goekjian has cho sen to shoot the photographs in Light After Dark at night with portable lights accenting the structures. He shines his lights onto the face of the ruins and photographs them over and over. Goekjian will light up one col umn or wall as much as he lights up another The re sult is lighting that in no way competes with the sun or with one dominating light source. Goekjian has em phasized abstraction with his photographs without re sorting to manipulating the print What is in front of the camera is what you see. For instance, “Magnolia” is a photograph of a tree in a field seen between the break in a dilapidated stone wall. The distant tree is illuminated with as much de tail as the plume of the wild grass in the middle ground and the stones and mortar of the divided wall in the foreground. The detail that Goekjian brings out results in a photograph unsure of its depth This is intentional. Goekjian plays with detail and depth, creating a para dox as the eye attempts to unify the photograph. Goekjian has created photographs that require re view and time to comprehend. My personal favorite, “Old Great Falls Mill" (in Richmond County, S. C.), is a ghostly presence of an old industrial building con structed after the Civil War. In some ways, it resembles the Coliseum in Rome. “Old Great Falls Mill” is like an apparition where you are not certain if you are see ing the building that is in front of you. Goekjian plays tricks on your eyes; the closer you look, the more diffi cult it is to see. What ts intriguing about Light After Dark is that the concept of time is manifested in at least three ways First of all, the subject is about how time plays its theme not only on old buildings, but on the myths and sym bols of that generation. Secondly, all of Goekjian's pho tographs are timed-exposed from 15 minutes to an hour and a half. And finally, time becomes an element in the viewer’s examination of the work. Because of com peting details and the lack of central lighting the eye has to spend time processing the work into a unified visual form. An added advantage to Goekjian's work is his Ar menian heritage His outsider's eye allows a view not clouded by any past or family history related to these forms. Goekjian is able to show those of us who have such relations structures stripped bare of the mythol ogy that once clothed them However, if anyone should doubt Goekjian’s place in presenting these views, a stamp of approval comes in the form of a foreword authored by Mississippi novelist Eudora Welty (an ac complished photographer in her own right). Welty ends her foreword by saying that Goekjian's “work effectively carries out one of the prime functions of the camera... to amaze us with what has been there all the time, wait ing to be seen ” Indeed, his outsider’s eye has reached into our past and shown us splendor subjected to the passage of time. John Hawkins A reception and signing u*ii be held at the Old Black Dog Bookstore Thursday. Dec I, from 5-7 p m. • FarroJ Soms signs copies of his new book. Epiphany (loogstreet Press!, o collection of three stories. 2-4 p m. Saturday. Dec 4. at Book Peddlers in Beechwood Shopping Center Sams, author of Run With The Horseman. lives in Fayettevie. Ga. where he practices medkine Cat 546-7427 for mfo • W *om Goddfc won the National Book Award for fiction for ha novel 4 Frokc of His Own (Poseidon Press) at a ceremony held in late November in New York City Sherwin B. Nuiand received the award for nonfiction for How We Die Reflections on Life's Final Chapter (Knopf), and James Tote won the poetry award for ha new poetry collection. Worshipful Company of Fletchers (Ecco Press) • Acclaimed dark fantasy author (and former Athens resident) Poppy Z. Brito has edrted a collection of onginal vampire erotica tales titled Love in Vein (Harper Coins Paperbacks) Brie's second novel. Drawing Blood, has just been released in paperback by Del Publishing • Join the Old Black Dog Bookstore for a reception and autographing honoring Korekin Goekjian on the publication of his new book of photographs. U&t After Dark: A Portrait of Southern Ruins. 5-7 p m. Thursday. Dec 1 For info: 549-2449. • Scott Morrison, the founding teacher of the American Zen Society and the cxihor of Open and Innocent: The Gentle Passionate Art of Not-knowmg lAmencan Zen Society Press), conducts a mediation intensive 10 am.-5 p m Saturday. Dec 3. at Friendship Christian Church. 265 foNassee Rd Suggested donation is S35 (No one wi be turned away, however, for lack of funds J For information: 546-3474 Judy long BOOK PEDDLERS BOOK WAREHOUSE BMChwood Shopping Center 194 Alp* Bd. • 544-7427 Holiday Hours Mon-Sat 9:00-9:00 GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION Dec. 2, Dec. ], Dec. 4 fri., Sat., Sun. 'll Vnerel! • CIFT CERTIFICATE give aways all weekend $5 • $25 • $50 • $100 00 •BOOKS ON TAPES GIVE AWAYS with every $20 purchase (Limited pty. available) • LARCE SELECTION OF HARD BACK BOOKS Only $2.00-$3.00 • CASSETTE GIVE AWAYS With $20.00 purchase (some are actually not bad) BOOK SIGNING FERROL SAMS Sunday Dec. 4 • 2'4pm A S t I I* ITS I l tie Signing his new book EPIPHANY For more info, call 546 7427 Your first delivery of W3ter (*upto 10 9*Ions) with new cooler rental * Oom not apply Id boa* Mpoan Call Today 549-0550 ARCHIPELAGO ANTIQUES DESK ACCESSORIES • PRINTS •FOLK ART l M SI ALGIETS 1676 South l.umpkm S|. Ki\e Points Athens. Georgia 50606 706-554-4297 *3^* THE STUDIO GROUP 1994 Holiday Sale Friday. Dec. 2. 5-9pm Saturday. Dec. 3. 10-6pm Sunday. Dec 4. 12-5pm 490 S. Milledge Ave. 399 Ponderosa Drive Fine Crafts & Art WiqhllifSpteiali ■ Monday & Tuesday 18" pizza for the price of a small Wed: Pasta Night 2 pasta dishes* 2 salads, Z soft drinks for $12 Thursday 2 ca bones 6c 2 soft drinks for $8 353-0000 FREE DELIVERY Noon til Close 233 Clayton St. WE RECYCLE!