EXHIBITION PRESS RELEASE
GALLERY II

Thom o'connor
CONFRONTING OBJECTS

SEPTEMBER 10 - OCTOBER 15, 2005

Brad Cooper Gallery is pleased to announce a solo exhibition titled Confronting Objects by Thom O’Connor, with an opening reception for the artist on Saturday evening, September 10,  7- 9 p.m.   The exhibit includes works consisting of a mixture of photography and printmaking; the smaller works are photo polymer gravure along with larger iris prints.  The work will be on view through October 15, 2005.  The Brad Cooper Gallery is located at 1712 E. 7^th Ave in YBOR CITY.  Regular hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11am until 5pm.

Thom O'Connor's prints are richly visual, highly accomplished works from a master printmaker, which is enough to make this exhibition worth a visit. The prints have a curious visual sensitivity and show extraordinary ability with the printmaking medium. There is a feeling of realization that puts forward a sincere human characteristic. Thom O'Connor has achieved making Zen-like objects of sincere beauty.

“Several years ago when I returned to looking at objects after many years of trying to avoid it, I discovered that what I had been making was very close to the real things that I was confronting. These objects were all around me and obviously had been an unconscious source of visual stimulation.  It was like having a fresh eye but with all the trappings of the previous works. I found this to be an interesting aspect of working with these objects. They seem like old friends that you discovered many years later, and beginning to use them once more is a pleasant surprise for your senses. I guess they have always been there and are now uncovered. I wonder why they disappeared?”       
-THOM O’CONNOR                        

Born in 1937 in Detroit, Michigan, Thom O’Connor studied at University of Michigan, received his B.A. from Florida State University and his M.F.A. from Cranbrook Academy of Art.  O’Connor’s work can be seen in many collections including San Diego Art Museum; Pasadena Art Museum; Santa Barbara Museum of Art;  Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.; Phillips Collection; Smithsonian Institute; Baltimore Museum of Art; Rochester Memorial Art Gallery; Whitney Museum of American Art; Museum of Modern Art; Brooklyn Museum and many more.  O’Connor recently retired after 37 years of teaching in University at Albany's Art Department.  He currently lives in Voorheesville, NY and Lake Wales, FL.  This is the first solo exhibition for Thom O’Connor at Brad Cooper Gallery.  Further information about the artist and his exhibition can be viewed online @ www.bradcoopergallery.com

concurrent exhibition in Gallery I:  YVONNE PETKUS: RECENT PAINTING                                    

*online exhibition link coming soon
 

Gallery II Exhibition:

Brad Cooper Gallery
1712 E 7th Ave. YBOR CITY  (between 17th & 18th St)

11am - 5 pm / Wed – Sat  &  by appointment.