Painted in white on one of the walls in the John Wood exhibition at the Center for Photography is a poignant quotation. He states, “I would like my pictures to be abstract and poetic visual images of friends and the world. No story telling. Sometimes slight propaganda and quiet protest on the edge of clear meaning.” To discuss this thought further, one only has to take a step into this exhibition.  From the first photograph on the wall, it is evident that there is something extremely unique about the way Wood approaches photography. To even call Wood’s work photography is too simple a statement. His use of multimedia expression to convey prominent 1960’s images and observations almost transcends the art form. According to the curator, Wood’s style was indeed unique at the time in comparison to the straight photography of the 1960’s where the photographer would shoot and develop their photos without altering the film. Wood, however, really played with his film in terms of slicing, overlapping and color contrasting. For many of his pieces, this technical alteration of the film gave way for numerous interpretations of his illustrations. Wood, however, was not story telling. His pieces did not provide a beginning, middle, end and moral. He instead presented powerful images to let the observer really analyze. The personal significance I experienced after this exhibition was how incredible it was to have such an ambiguous exhibition. Here were historically compelling images and Wood was not suggesting you feel a specific way about anything. He presented it, maybe even dramatized it, and then allowed for each his own. This freedom to really analyze the art without being right or wrong was powerful. The image that truly struck me was that of a dead bald eagle. It was so strong. What did this mean? How many different ways could you look at this? What did it say about America? Was it presenting a point about ecological conversation? Although you could never say for sure, it was invigorating to be on the edge of Wood’s clear meaning.  I will certainly be returning soon.

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