Darren Pollard’s exhibition at Gallery Guichard is strong and bold. The Detroit native, currently residing between Chicago and Detroit, is showcasing his work as part of a two-artists exhibition titled “Found.” Pollard is best known for his use of a wide range of mediums to create a kaleidoscope of intertwining themes.
Tell us about the exhibit at Gallery Guichard.
The artwork I’m presenting in the exhibition is a collection of non-objective paintings. Each piece is abstract and open to interpretation. The titles of the paintings are arbitrary and not particularly related to the creative process. Each title is simply a statement or thought that helps the viewer understand some of my thought processes, beliefs and experiences.
How would you say your work at Gallery Guichard differs from other galleries you’ve shown at?
Gallery Guichard is very committed to making certain the work reaches the widest possible audience. In addition, I think Andre and Frances Guichard take great pride in presenting work from artists that are concerned with the community and have ties to Chicago.
I read that your artistic journey started after the purchase of a Pentax camera from a friend. How did that purchase change you?
When I purchased that camera and looked through its lens, the world became an irresistible kaleidoscope of form and composition. All of a sudden, things I normally ignored or overlooked became critical to the way I perceived the world.To this day, I find myself framing the world and analyzing just about everything that crosses my eyes.
What was it like working with kids in California and curating the Joyce Gallery?
When I taught photography in California, one of my goals was to teach basic photography skills. But more importantly, the aim was to encourage learners to develop, express and present their perspectives.
What would you like audiences to take away from your work when they see it?
As a photography curator, I was a neophyte just feeling my way around, but I enjoyed creating narratives around art to facilitate important discussions.
How would you say an artist’s work connects with the viewer?
When people look at my art they may have difficulty appreciating it, because they expect every piece to have a secret or hidden meaning. To the contrary, my art is not intended to represent objects figures or concepts. It’s totally up to the viewer to either: place the work into context, simply accept it as non-objective art, or assign meaning, based on an infinite number of possibilities.
Found runs June 15 through July 7, 2016, at Gallery Guichard, 437 E. 47th St., Chicago 60653. For more information, visit www.GalleryGuichard.com.
