Image: Detail of Sssummmmmwhhhhhhhhhhere, 2018
Baxter St at the Camera Club of New York will present a simple song by 2018 Workspace Resident and alum of the NYU Tisch Department of Photography and Imaging Elliott Jerome Brown Jr., opening January 9, 2019 and running through February 16, 2019. This exhibition comprised of multimedia photographic and photo-sculptural works, draws influences from Billy Preston’s 1971 album, I Wrote a Simple Song, in which the named track describes working on a straightforward song for an intended person and having the song embellished for radio success, leaving this special gesture now stripped of its intimacy and privacy. This exhibition of work considers the act of rendering private moments and discourse with reserve.
The works in a simple song offer a visual exercise for the viewer through Elliott's photo-structural works that use public space to further obscure private moments. The viewer is allowed to be a part of this intimate experience, yet through the constructed space is asked to maintain a respectful distance to gain access to the pictured environment or individual.
As a Baxter St Workspace Resident, Elliott was awarded three months access to the International Center of Photography, Baxter St facilities, an artist stipend and a solo exhibition at Baxter St. He is the second 2018 Workplace Resident to have a solo exhibition at Baxter St, after Arash Fewzee and will be followed by fellow DPI alum Zalika Azim in February and Tommy Kha in May.