PERFECT VESSELS, artist talk with David Orr

In the PRS Library!

For his series PERFECT VESSELS, artist David Orr photographs then mirrors half a human skull to simultaneously stylize and reinforce its original, iconic shape. Here, the formal balance of mirroring reinforces the notion of a skull as a container. In this talk, David will speak about influences for this work (including the Memento Mori and Vanitas traditions in art; the practical use of human skulls as cups and bowls in myriad cultures; how symmetry in art and objects has often been associated with perfection; links to transcendental mysticism) as well as the individual histories of some of the skulls he has photographed.
The Hansell Gallery will be open before and after the talk.

David Orr is a visual artist based in California. His work has been shown extensively in the United States and internationally in shows juried by representatives from the de Young Museum, theInternational Center for Photography, the Lucie Awards, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, The New Museum of Contemporary Art, The New York Times, and the Whitney Museum of American Art, among others. His work is in public collections among such artists as Ansel Adams, John Baldessari, Jim Dine, David Hockney, The Brothers Quay, Edward Weston, and Joel-Peter Witkin.
His work has appeared in Art Daily, Buzzfeed, Communication Arts, Graphis, Harper’s, Hyperallergic, The Photo Review, Print, The Art Director’s Club, The Society of Publication Designers, Psychological Perspectives, The Theosophist, Tricycle: The Buddhist Review, VICE, and VICTOR: The Hasselblad Magazine. Independent film projects have aired on Channel 4 Britain and PBS. He speaks about his work regularly, and has presented at The Joseph Campbell Foundation, Death Salon, The Director’s Guild of America, Dublintellectual, The Mütter Museum, The New School, Parsons School of Design, The Philosophical Research Society, Reed College, Tibet House US, and UCLA, among other venues. He is a member of The Long Now Foundation.
David established the contemporary arts program at The Philosophical Research Society, and founded the Hansell Gallery, serving as curator during its first year.

Gallery Hours: Tuesday-Friday 12-6pm and by appointment ([email protected])

Ticket Price: $5 - $15 sliding scale (in person event only)

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The views, opinions, and thoughts expressed within exhibited works are solely those of their creators and may not represent those of the Philosophical Research Society (PRS), its affiliates, or any individuals associated with PRS. Screenings are intended for educational and entertainment purposes.

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