Photography in Dumbo

Last Thursday, I ventured to Dumbo and noticed that it was taken over by two interesting photography shows. “Exposed” a group show at Klompching gallery and “Child Brides 2003 - 2006” at VII photo by the photojournalist, Stephanie Sinclair.

Walking into Klompching, I was struck with three female nudes by Carla Van De Puttelaar that use a chiaroscuro technique that shows these full nudes emerging from the dark ground. Creates a saint like feeling Puttelaar creates fully exposes the models to the viewer that appear to be floating in their environment. Next is the works by Antony Crossfield seem to come directly out horror movie as the figures morph into one another in dingy, desolate interiors. These place feel like abandon buildings where these combined figures struggle to move through their daily lives. Together in a beautiful mix of gloomy with high saturate color, Crossfield's combined humans creates critique of the human relationship.

Where as in VII Photo Gallery the large format prints by Stephanie Sinclair stems from two of her series, “Child Brides” and “Self-Immolation: A Cry for Help”. In the front area of VII, you see the gorgeous prints of these 8-15 year old girls who are married off by their father to men their own age to 55 years of age. Each photo is accompanied with text about the bride, one states when asked about the day she was to be wed said “I don’t know this man. What am I suppose to feel?” Moving to the back of the gallery, the works from “Self-Immolation” are disturbing as they depict women who burn themselves to escape different injustices to them. Such as the image of Rokhshana Rahimi, who set herself on fire after her husband demanded she return to him after he left her 14 years earlier. Rokhshana, is wrapped in blue sheets as the nurse is placing a rose by her nose, both beautiful and upsetting.

Leaving VII, I need a drink to help me digest their show. So, I stumble in to re-Bar where I found Old Chub Scottish Ale from Oskar Blues Grill and Brewery. The Old chub has a sweet flavor from it caramel malts and a sweet fruity aroma that doesn’t show up in the taste. Its dark brownish red color produced a light brown head with a medium body that goes down very easy due to its lack of carbonation. There is almost no aftertaste with a kiss of malty sweetness, this very crisp ale comes with a 8.0 abv. This Colorado brewed beer I found to be one of the best I’ve had in a while.

Back at Gypsy bar, I experienced the River Horse Double Wit from the River House Brewing Company. The Double Wit has a cloudy yellow color that is coupled with spiced flavors that leaves your mouth dry with a hop finish. It has a lemon and coriander aroma with a medium body and highly carbonated this beer goes down easily. The spiced flavors gives it a flavorful taste with a strong after taste that has a 7.0 abv..