For Immediate Release

Contact: Ryan Nabulsi

Ryan@jenniferschwartzgallery.com
(229) 378-7289

ESCAPE: a duet by LUCEO Photographers David Walter Banks and Kendrick Brinson
SUN AND SHADOW: a selection of images from Mario DiGirolamo’s book, Sole e Ombra

Jennifer Schwartz Gallery is proud to present Escape, works by LUCEO photographers, David Walter
Banks and Kendrick Brinson, and Sun and Shadow a selection of images of Italy from Mario DiGirolamo’s
book Sole e Ombra. On Saturday, January 29, 2011 the gallery will host an opening reception from 7 until 10
P.M. The gallery will present an artist talk in conjunction with the First Thursday Buckhead Art Walk on
February 3, 2011 starting at 7 P.M. All events are free and open to the public.

Even though more than 50 years separate the bodies of work presented in this exhibition, commonalities can be
seen in the photographers’ approach to their subject material. DiGirolamo’s work in Sun and Shadow focuses
on capturing that decisive moment perfected by the likes of Henri Cartier-Bresson. Conversely, Banks and
Brinson have a more selective focus; their intense studies of one area or theme elucidates the underbelly of
American society; our penchant to escape the realities of our world. In ‘Sun City: Life After Life’ Brinson
documents the quirky energetic home of the country’s first city built entirely for retirees, while Banks explores
theme parks, roadside attractions and altered theatrical realities in his essay entitled ‘The Fourth Wall’. In this
selection of an on-going project, both Banks and Brinson create tight photo-essays that tell a story using icons
to create visual puns. Collectively, the images of all three photographers show a brief glimpse into the changes
within photographic methods and traditions over the past half-century.

David Walter Banks and Kendrick Brinson are founding members of LUCEO Images, a photographer owned
cooperative that supports its members’ pursuit of significant bodies of work. LUCEO photographers’ work
have recently been featured in the New York Times, TIME Magazine, US News & World Report, GQ and
many others. They have been heralded by the New York Times Lens blog as the new pioneers of
photojournalism by adapting their techniques and goals to the ever-changing technology of photography and the
fickle nature of the market. Escape, curated by LUCEO’s Matt Eich and on exhibition in the main gallery at
Jennifer Schwartz Gallery, features Banks’s and Brinson’s ongoing bodies of work “The Fourth Wall” and
“Sun City.” In Eich’s words, “Banks’ images deal with notions of reality while Brinson makes photographs
that manage to be quirky but heartfelt without poking fun at the people she depicts. Their visual approaches,
while different, both manage to be tongue-in-cheek without coming off as judgmental. Stylistically unified by
their vibrant use of color it is easy to see their influence on one another.”

A selection of Polaroids from Banks’s and Brinson’s ongoing essay “The Coast” will also be on display. This
body of work uses a nearly extinct format to document their own personal escapes – from hectic photographic
schedules and the normal tools of their trade. Eich says, “Through their exploration of escapism in theme parks
and attractions, escapism as a lifestyle for the elderly or their own personal escapism to remember the simple
joy of making pictures, these images direct our thoughts to escape in our society. As Americans, maybe as
humans, many of us are wired with the desire to break from reality. Banks and Brinson confront this head-on
through the lives of others and are still able to bare their own vulnerabilities.”
David Walter Banks (b. 1982) is an American born photographer living in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a
conceptually based documentary and portrait photographer. His work is aimed at questioning the way in which
we view the everyday reality around us. Banks was a finalist for the 2010 Magnum Expression Award, and was
one of the Magenta Foundation Flash Forward 2009 census of emerging photographers. His work was exhibited
at the 2009 LOOK3 Festival of the Photograph, the 2010 LOOKbetween Festival and most recently at the
Aperture Gallery in New York and the Houston Center for Photography.

Kendrick Brinson (b. 1983) is a photographer based out of Atlanta, Georgia. She worked full-time as an intern
and a staff photographer for newspapers for three and a half years after receiving a journalism degree from the
University of Georgia in 2005. In 2009, she left the world of being a staff photographer to pursue personal
projects and to work full-time with LUCEO. In 2010 she was one of the Critical Mass Top 50 for her “Sun
City” series. Her work has been exhibited at 25CPW (NYC), The Houston Center for Photography (Houston),
and LOOKbetween (Charlottesville). Most recently, Kendrick was awarded the 2011 Houston Center for
Photography Fellowship for her body of work on Sun City.

Sun and Shadow, located in the print room of Jennifer Schwartz Gallery, displays a selection of traditional
black and white images from Mario DiGirolamo’s book Sole e Ombra. DiGirolamo has been featured
numerous times in Atlanta Celebrates Photography’s live auction and has been a Francis Wu Photographer of
the Year Award recipient. Sun and Shadow displays DiGirolamo’s early work in Italy during the late 1950s to
early 1960s. DiGirolamo’s images show sensitivity to his environment, capturing the perfect moment, which
reveals the interplay between subject and light. From vast landscapes of the Italian country side to more
intimate details such as a nest of new hatchlings, DiGirolamo’s keen eye for detail and superb silver gelatin
printing create and intimate engagement with Italy during this time period.

Mario DiGirolamo will be available to sign copies of his book Sole e Ombra, which will be available for
purchase the night of the opening. To reserve your copy email Ryan Nabulsi at
ryan@jenniferschwartzgallery.com or call the gallery at (404)-351-1050.

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11A.M. to 5P.M. and by appointment. Jennifer Schwartz
Gallery is located in suite K-2 in the TULA Arts Center at 75 Bennett Street in Atlanta. For more information
call (404) 351-1050 or visit www.jenniferschwartzgallery.com.