For Matthew Kern It's His Proccess and His Vision that Produce His Fine Art

Now through April 28th, 2007, Gallery Imperato in Federal Hill presents the work of New York City artist, Matthew Kern.

Kern, now living in Manhattan, was born in a Ketchum, Idaho log cabin in 1970. He is a long way from his childhood home. However, he does begin many projects using a technology that was at its zenith in his early years...the 1970s and early 80s: The Polaroid SX70.

(His press release caught my eye because I owned one of the very first SX70s... the brushed chrome and saddle-leather clad camera wowed everyone in every crowd who saw it make its magic. And, taking it public nearly crashed my 70s bank account. When THE photo popped out of the rear-end of the beast the folks watching the process WANTED ONE. Well, there was ONLY ONE! Most often they got the photo.)

Matthew Kern begins his creative process by taking a seemingly insane number of SX70 photos. He, through his multiple processes of manipulating the disected Polaroid film set, creates final collage works along with single-image pieces. They are inspiring and remarkable.

Kern will be at Gallery Imperato in person on March 23rd. 7 to 10PM. Make a point of going to the gallery on Fort Avenue. And if you can get there on the 23rd, ask him where he still gets the film. I will, too.

This NOTICE from Polaroid seems to be a a royal pain in the hoo-ha.