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Parallel Perspectives: The Brush/ Lens Collaboration
The eye-arresting images in this original contemporary art book feature two popular mediums, painting and photography. Although the art is inspired by the Long Island landscape, its visual appeal in artists’ interpretations of locations is universal. Paired with the dialog of the artists, the narrative becomes an intimate conversation with the reader. Combining life, loss, serendipity and art, it portrays two artists, whose conceptually similar work evolved independently until social media brought them together. Their collaboration continues to produce treasures of stunning, memorable beauty.
The improbable pairing of Holly Gordon, photographer from Bay Shore, Long Island, and Ward Hooper, painter from Northport, Long Island, is a symbiotic match.
Their artistic relationship is an affirmation of the human spirit in an age where most can’t seem to detach from objects.
These two contemporary artists discovered a serendipitous connection to the earlier American artistic and personal alliance of Arthur Dove and Helen Torr, whose work was inspired by the same Long Island locations. The past thus joined the present, deepening Gordon and Hooper’s bond, both personally and geographically.
In Gordon and Hooper’s intimate relationship there is a sense of empathy, connection, and mutual discovery that is invincible.
Ward Hooper and Holly Gordon understand that the meaning of their journey extends beyond themselves. Their camaraderie and brilliant exposition beckons others to do the same and thereby reach their own heights in art and life.
The transformative journey that unfolds centers on art as a positive force that ultimately unites two creative spirits. I found the imagery captivating and the text inspirational. Learning about how these two people from different art disciplines came together to help heal and enrich each others’ lives (and create wonderful imagery throughout the process) made me appreciate my life and relationships even more. The book may even encourage you to create something new, or collaborate with someone you already know...or someone who is out there waiting to be a part of your “Light's Journey.” -- Andrew Darlow, Photographer, Educator and Author
......A love story of friendship and renewal. Holly and Ward were meant to meet to discover their connection through art and nature. Two wonderful artists exploring life together through the warmth of colors, brush and lens strokes and subjects they created separately at different times and then together revealing their deep passion for life, friendship and art. --Charlee M. Miller, Executive Director, Art League of Long Island, Dix Hills, N.Y.
Parallel The Brush/Lens Project gives us seamlessly created images that work on many They pay attention to tiny details yet pulse with large swaths of vibrant color. They look like paintings — but they could be photographs, and vice versa. These are eye-arresting scenes, a visual harvest of the natural beauty that surrounds us, creating lasting sights that celebrate what talented artists have always quested the light. Holly Gordon finds images and builds digital layers that blend an unflinching assessment by a documentary photographer and environmentalist with a painterly sensitivity; Ward Hooper’s loose brushstrokes capture the ever-shifting light and shadow through watercolors that are as elusive as the light. Their collaboration continues to produce treasures of stunning, memorable beauty.—Annie Wilkinson Blachley’s features and cover stories have been published by The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and national and regional newspapers and magazines. She is a copy editor and columnist for the Long Island Press and writes several monthly columns for Long Island Woman Magazine
The improbable pairing of Holly Gordon, photographer from Bay Shore, Long Island, and Ward Hooper, painter from Northport, Long Island, is a symbiotic match.
Their artistic relationship is an affirmation of the human spirit in an age where most can’t seem to detach from objects.
These two contemporary artists discovered a serendipitous connection to the earlier American artistic and personal alliance of Arthur Dove and Helen Torr, whose work was inspired by the same Long Island locations. The past thus joined the present, deepening Gordon and Hooper’s bond, both personally and geographically.
In Gordon and Hooper’s intimate relationship there is a sense of empathy, connection, and mutual discovery that is invincible.
Ward Hooper and Holly Gordon understand that the meaning of their journey extends beyond themselves. Their camaraderie and brilliant exposition beckons others to do the same and thereby reach their own heights in art and life.
The transformative journey that unfolds centers on art as a positive force that ultimately unites two creative spirits. I found the imagery captivating and the text inspirational. Learning about how these two people from different art disciplines came together to help heal and enrich each others’ lives (and create wonderful imagery throughout the process) made me appreciate my life and relationships even more. The book may even encourage you to create something new, or collaborate with someone you already know...or someone who is out there waiting to be a part of your “Light's Journey.” -- Andrew Darlow, Photographer, Educator and Author
......A love story of friendship and renewal. Holly and Ward were meant to meet to discover their connection through art and nature. Two wonderful artists exploring life together through the warmth of colors, brush and lens strokes and subjects they created separately at different times and then together revealing their deep passion for life, friendship and art. --Charlee M. Miller, Executive Director, Art League of Long Island, Dix Hills, N.Y.
Parallel The Brush/Lens Project gives us seamlessly created images that work on many They pay attention to tiny details yet pulse with large swaths of vibrant color. They look like paintings — but they could be photographs, and vice versa. These are eye-arresting scenes, a visual harvest of the natural beauty that surrounds us, creating lasting sights that celebrate what talented artists have always quested the light. Holly Gordon finds images and builds digital layers that blend an unflinching assessment by a documentary photographer and environmentalist with a painterly sensitivity; Ward Hooper’s loose brushstrokes capture the ever-shifting light and shadow through watercolors that are as elusive as the light. Their collaboration continues to produce treasures of stunning, memorable beauty.—Annie Wilkinson Blachley’s features and cover stories have been published by The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and national and regional newspapers and magazines. She is a copy editor and columnist for the Long Island Press and writes several monthly columns for Long Island Woman Magazine
208 pages, Hardcover
Published October 6, 2020
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December 10, 2020
Parallel Perspectives: The Brush/Lens Collaboration
By Holly Gordon and Ward Hooper
Preface by Denise Bibro
Narrative by Bree Shirvell
This is an art book about two local artists, painter and photographer, who came together, viewed their mediums as equals rather than as adversaries, to collaborate and make something new, something special, of value to artists, thinkers and dreamers everywhere.
• It is a heart book…a story of life and loss…and found…and future
• It is a book about history…. repeating it and writing a next chapter
Social media was the meeting ground for Ward Hooper and Holly Gordon
Two paintings started the conversation that led to their collaboration and friendship. Ward posted a painting from his commuter series, then Holly posted her response –also a commuter image from a series she had been doing.
This book is the visual roadmap of their journey, much of it inspired by our Long Island landscape. Their art jumps off each page, their running dialog, paired with their images, welcome you, the reader, to join an intimate and personal conversation. It is an amazing and an inspiring journey.
Long Island has long served as fertile ground for generations of artists, Pollock and Krasner, Willem and Elaine DeKooning, Fairfield Porter, Helen Frankenthaler, Arthur Dove and Helen Torr, Cindy Sherman…many of whom sought out this corner of the world for inspiration, reflection and a place to work.
Holly and Ward’s emerging collaboration led to their research on the history of art on Long Island, and the discovery of uncanny parallels with the lives and work of Arthur Dove and Helen Torr. These two early American abstract artists, lived, loved and worked on the North Shore of Long Island 75 years before Holly and Ward developed their relationship.
As Ward took Holly into his past life and work, Holly began creating a new photographic art form she has named Photo-Liminalism. The order of acceptability is in flux, and a new order of acceptance has not yet been established, much as was the case for Impressionism, when that new style was first seen, and neither understood nor accepted.
In turn, Holly’s work has rekindled in Ward a desire to paint again, and now Ward is sketching, painting in watercolors and acrylics with gusto. He reports that it is remarkable for a 90 year old to feel like 30 again when holding a paintbrush.
Every exhibit and gallery talk and invitation to exhibit and talk fueled our determination to have our story become a book...and a book reviewer thinks it should become a documentary.
For anyone who wants the book before Xmas, tell them to buy it from Amazon itself, not one of these wretched third party crooks - they will have the book quickly.
You can also buy from Bookshop.org to support independent booksellers too. Use this link: https://bit.ly/2J0PGbm
By Holly Gordon and Ward Hooper
Preface by Denise Bibro
Narrative by Bree Shirvell
This is an art book about two local artists, painter and photographer, who came together, viewed their mediums as equals rather than as adversaries, to collaborate and make something new, something special, of value to artists, thinkers and dreamers everywhere.
• It is a heart book…a story of life and loss…and found…and future
• It is a book about history…. repeating it and writing a next chapter
Social media was the meeting ground for Ward Hooper and Holly Gordon
Two paintings started the conversation that led to their collaboration and friendship. Ward posted a painting from his commuter series, then Holly posted her response –also a commuter image from a series she had been doing.
This book is the visual roadmap of their journey, much of it inspired by our Long Island landscape. Their art jumps off each page, their running dialog, paired with their images, welcome you, the reader, to join an intimate and personal conversation. It is an amazing and an inspiring journey.
Long Island has long served as fertile ground for generations of artists, Pollock and Krasner, Willem and Elaine DeKooning, Fairfield Porter, Helen Frankenthaler, Arthur Dove and Helen Torr, Cindy Sherman…many of whom sought out this corner of the world for inspiration, reflection and a place to work.
Holly and Ward’s emerging collaboration led to their research on the history of art on Long Island, and the discovery of uncanny parallels with the lives and work of Arthur Dove and Helen Torr. These two early American abstract artists, lived, loved and worked on the North Shore of Long Island 75 years before Holly and Ward developed their relationship.
As Ward took Holly into his past life and work, Holly began creating a new photographic art form she has named Photo-Liminalism. The order of acceptability is in flux, and a new order of acceptance has not yet been established, much as was the case for Impressionism, when that new style was first seen, and neither understood nor accepted.
In turn, Holly’s work has rekindled in Ward a desire to paint again, and now Ward is sketching, painting in watercolors and acrylics with gusto. He reports that it is remarkable for a 90 year old to feel like 30 again when holding a paintbrush.
Every exhibit and gallery talk and invitation to exhibit and talk fueled our determination to have our story become a book...and a book reviewer thinks it should become a documentary.
For anyone who wants the book before Xmas, tell them to buy it from Amazon itself, not one of these wretched third party crooks - they will have the book quickly.
You can also buy from Bookshop.org to support independent booksellers too. Use this link: https://bit.ly/2J0PGbm
Displaying 1 of 1 review