SUU’S ART INSIGHTS PRESENTS STEPHEN BERKMAN (CC: Sept 22)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 09/08/11 Whitney Hershberger Marketing and Public Relations Associate College of Performing and Visual Arts Southern Utah University Office: 435-865-8667 cpvamktg@suu.edu FOR CALENDAR EDITORS: SUU’S ART INSIGHTS PRESENTS STEPHEN BERKMAN WHAT: Emulating and twisting photography techniques from the past, Stephen Berkman constructs images that are excitingly absurd. Looking at his work, it is quick to understand that why his unique and singular vision sets him apart from his contemporaries. Mr. Berkman will present on his unique photography and artistic vision as par tof the SUU’s Art Insights’ lecture series. WHO: Art Insights Southern Utah University, Department of Art and Design WHEN: Thursday, September 22, 2011 TIME: 7:00pm WHERE: Centrum Arena: Section K, Southern Utah University, Cedar City, UT TICKETS: Phone: Arts Hotline: (435) 865-8800 or visit: www.suu.edu/arts PRICES: Free and the General Public is encouraged to attend. SUU’S ART INSIGHTS TO FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHER STEPHEN BERKMAN SEPTEMBER 22, 2011 Southern Utah University, Cedar City, Utah: Emulating and twisting photography techniques from the past, Stephen Berkman constructs images that are excitingly absurd. Looking at his work, it is quick to understand that why his unique and singular vision sets him apart from his contemporaries. He will present his on his work and vision in SUU’s Department of Art and Design’s weekly lecture series, Art Insights, on Thursday, September 22, 2011. The lecture begins at 7pm at Centrum Arena: Section K, admission is free and the general public is encouraged to attend. Using 19th-century wet-collodion photographic processes to achieve Ambrotypes and creating camera obscura installations, Berkman layers his work with history, humor, and a focused sensibility. It's as if he arrived in a time machine and landed in the wrong century, but it's his scientific and observational qualities that make his work wonderfully modern--along with quietly placed references to the contemporary world. The Los Angeles Times hails Berkman’s work as “a true occasion—surprising, amusing, edifying and seductive.” Stephen is methodical in his imagery, spending weeks or months finding "models" in the real world, researching costuming, and sometimes waiting up to a year for all the pieces to fall into place before he takes the photograph. Stephen Berkman was born in Syracuse, New York but made his way west to attend the Art Center College of Design in California. After earning is BFA in film making, he taught himself photography and became member of the Art Center faculty. His images have appeared in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Cold Mountain, and he also shot the incredible album cover of Jack White's band, The Raconteurs. Art Insights is a weekly program hosted during the fall and spring semesters by SUU’s Art and Design faculty. Students and community members meet weekly to experience presentations and discussions by visiting artists and art educators from around the nation who share their work and insights and attend gallery openings. Admission is free, and the general public is invited to attend. Learn more about Stephen Berkman’s unique artistic vision by attending his Art Insights’ appearance. For more information on the SUU College of Performing and Visual Arts events, please call the Arts Hotline at (435) 865-8800, or visit www.suu.edu/arts. ABOUT THE COLLEGE The Southern Utah University College of Performing and Visual Arts is comprised of nationally accredited departments of Art and Design, Music, Theatre Arts and Dance, as well as a graduate program in Arts Administration. The College offers 16 different degree areas, including liberal arts Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees; professional Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and theatre degrees; and a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration degree. More than 60 full- and part-time faculty and staff are engaged in teaching and mentoring over 550 majors in the College. Over 1100 students enroll each year in over 195 arts classes on the SUU campus. The College presents 100 performances, lectures, presentations, and exhibitions each year. The College’s affiliate organizations include the Braithwaite Fine Arts Gallery, American Folk Ballet, Utah Shakespeare Festival, the performance group Acclamation, and the SUU Ballroom Dance Company. For more information about the College of Performing and Visual Arts, contact the Office of the Dean at (435) 865-8561, or by e-mail at cpvamktg@suu.edu.