NASHVILLE, TN - (April 18, 2023) – The Parthenon and Centennial Park Conservancy announced today London Amara: The Alchemy of Spirit and Light, a thought-provoking wet-plate photography exhibition, will be on display in the East Gallery of the Parthenon from May 19 to September 10. A free opening reception will take place on May 18 at the Parthenon from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
London Amara: The Alchemy of Spirit and Light includes 33 large-format collodion wet-plate photographs. Wet-plate photography was in use in the Parthenon at the Tennessee Centennial and International Exposition in 1897. The Parthenon will have a wet-plate camera on display throughout the exhibition with an explanation of the photography process for visitors.
“There is something timeless and eternal in the photographs of this exhibit that will inspire our visitors’ imagination,” cites Jennifer Richardson, curator at the Parthenon. “We are used to thinking of photographs as images of things, but London Amara is interested in exploring light which results in photographs that are mysterious and dreamlike. In the age of Instagram, the ‘flaws’ in these photographs are celebrated as the unique characteristics of the wet-plate collodion process. This method of photography was in use during the Tennessee Centennial Exposition. In fact, Parthenon visitors will pass by examples on the way to the art galleries. I think they will be surprised to learn these hauntingly beautiful photographs were made less than five years ago rather than 125 years ago and provide new entry points into appreciating contemporary art.”
Raised in the woods of rural Ohio, London Amara retains a deep connection to the wordless language of nature. Amara uses the wet-plate process to create intimate portraits and haunting images of the wooded landscapes of Florida, Ohio, California, and British Columbia. Her prints are filled with fine detail, rich earth tones, and the kinds of technical flaws that underscore the work’s handcrafted, painterly style.
Inspired in part by the work of photographers Sally Mann and Justine Kurland, Amara creates landscapes and portraits filled with a romanticism born of nostalgic longing for her wild, outdoor childhood. Because her photographic process is time-sensitive and logistically demanding, Amara uses a portable darkroom made from an ice-fishing tent when working in remote locations.
All of Amara’s subjects are offered as representations of ancient wisdom with a sensitivity to the cycle of life, death, and decay often suppressed by modern life. The lush beauty of these images also reminds us of the planet’s fragility and of our critical role in its preservation.
A free opening reception will be held on May 18 at the Parthenon from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Guests can RSVP here. The Parthenon will offer free admission to all Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) students, staff and faculty — and their families — at the MNPS STEAM Night on June 13 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
For more information on the exhibit, please visit nashvilleparthenon.com/events/london-amara. For more information on Centennial Park Conservancy, please visit conservancyonline.com.
PARTHENON HOURS & ADMISSION
The Parthenon is open Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sunday from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Admission to the Parthenon is $10 for adults; $8 for seniors 62 and over; and $8 for children 4 to 17. Children under 4 are admitted free. Centennial Park Conservancy members receive free museum admission.
ABOUT CENTENNIAL PARK CONSERVANCY
Centennial Park Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization with a mission to preserve, enhance, and share the Parthenon and Centennial Park so all future generations may benefit from these cultural and enriching landmarks. The organization works in partnership with Metro Parks to protect and revitalize the Park’s green space, underwrite the Parthenon’s exhibition and educational programs, and present accessible and inclusive community programming to sustain the Park’s vibrancy.
ABOUT THE PARTHENON
The Parthenon, owned and operated by the Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County’s Parks and Recreation Department, is the city of Nashville’s longest-lived art museum. Opened as a museum in 1931, its galleries are the home of the distinguished Cowan Collection of American art and feature several temporary exhibitions per year. The galleries are housed on the lower level of the Parthenon, the world’s only full-scale replica of the fifth-century BCE temple in Athens, Greece. Beloved symbol of civic pride to Nashvillians since its original manifestation as the art building for the Tennessee Centennial Exposition in 1897, it welcomes hundreds of thousands of Nashvillians and visitors to the city per year.
ABOUT METRO PARKS AND RECREATION
The Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of facilities and programs throughout Davidson County. Currently, Metro Parks oversees 15,114 acres of open space, including 184 parks and 85 miles of greenways. It is the department’s mission to sustainably and equitably provide everyone in Nashville with an inviting network of parks and greenways that offer health, wellness and quality of life through recreation, conservation and community.
The Metro Board of Parks and Recreation does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, color, national origin, or disability in admission, access to, or operations of its programs, services, or activities. For TTY (relay service), call 1-800-849-0299. For questions, concerns, or requests regarding the American Disabilities Act call 862-8400.
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