Images by Jeremy Brugo

Gitterman Gallery is pleased to present Suddenly, an exhibition of new work by Allen Frame made by the artist during a year-long residency at the American Academy in Rome. The exhibition will run from Friday June 7th through Friday August 16th with a reception for the artist Thursday, June 20th from 6 to 8 pm.

The exhibition consists of new color photographs from Italy: figures in outdoor settings in Rome, Positano, Polignano a Vito, Argentario, and Capalbio, as well as two multi-piece works that juxtapose anonymous found photographs with Frame’s own images, expanding the narrative context while highlighting the individually-framed vernacular pictures.

The title piece Suddenly consists of 5 new black and white portraits, presented with 2 anonymous vintage photos Frame found in the flea market in Rome of one middle-aged man, posed on the street and peering from a balcony. The group of images, presented in a linear sequence, is inspired by Tennessee Williams’ 1958 play Suddenly Last Summer,which was adapted into the 1959 film with Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift, and Katharine Hepburn. In the story, a gay poet from New Orleans is traveling in Europe with his beautiful younger female cousin, whom he uses as bait to attract the men he desires. In Suddenly, Allen Frame explores the chilling coexistence of privileged refinement and the malevolent effects of repressed sexuality. In Tennessee Williams’ play, the offstage, remembered character Sebastian Venable becomes gradually unhinged, and finally, is cannibalized by starving children on the streets of a Spanish beach town. Frame has worked with Italian photographer and photo book designer Michela Palermo to produce a zine that includes photographs from the piece, a page from the Williams playscript, and an original poem by the artist.

Gitterman Gallery
June 7-August 16, 2019
Hours: Tues-Sat 10am~6pm
SUMMER HOURS - Starting July 2
Mon-Fri 10am~6pm

For more information please click here.