(PDF) (DOC) (JPG)March 22, 2011

(MAHWAH, NJ) – “Warner Wada” a haunting one-person exhibition of photographs of Angkor Wat and other ruins opens in the Pascal Gallery in the Berrie Center on Wednesday, March 23 and continues through April 27. An opening reception will be held on March 23 from 5 through 7 p.m. with an artist’s talk in the gallery at 6:30 p.m.

These compelling works continue interests which began when, as an undergraduate art and architecture major, Wada became interested in Pre-Columbian Mayan and Incan architecture; the physicality of trapezoidal interiors, intricate stonework and dramatic locations. During a memorable spring break he traveled to photograph the Mayan “ruinas” at Palenque and Uxmal, Quintana Roo, Mexico. Later he traveled to Tikal, Guatemala; and Machu Picchu, Peru. A number of these black and white prints are included in the exhibition.

Several decades later, Wada began experimenting with a pinhole photography using tintype and paper negative processes. In 2010, he went to the famous ruins of Angkor Wat in Cambodia to produce the pinhole-based series on view at Ramapo. According to the artist: “At Angkor, my exposures were often several minutes long, a conspicuous presence amidst the many digital SLR shutterbugs. Due to the weight of my equipment, the equatorial sun and subtropic humidity, I was limited to six exposures per day … I would carefully survey  the various sites, select my three photographic vantage points and return to shoot exposures. Photoshop and the newest series of Epson inkjet printers brought this 19th century process into its’ present state, 42 x 52″ prints on mold-made 100% cotton paper. The photographs were then hand sewn (using those pinholes again) on heavy black rag drawing paper.”

Wada is a Professor of Painting who has taught at Ramapo College since 1975. He received his Bachelor of Fine Art and Architecture from Yale University, and his Master in Fine Art in Painting and Photography from the Art Institute of Chicago.

This project is supported by a grant from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Gallery hours are Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday 1 through 5 p.m. and Wednesday 1 through 7 p.m. For more information, contact Sydney Jenkins at (201) 684-7147.

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About Ramapo College

Ramapo College of New Jersey is the state’s premier public liberal arts college and is committed to academic excellence through interdisciplinary and experiential learning, and international and intercultural understanding. The comprehensive college is situated among the beautiful Ramapo Mountains, is within commuting distance to New York City, was named one of the 50 Most Beautiful College Campuses in America by CondeNast Traveler, and boasts the best on-campus housing in New Jersey per Niche.com. Established in 1969, Ramapo College offers bachelor’s degrees in the arts, business, data science, humanities, social sciences and the sciences, as well as in professional studies, which include business, education, nursing and social work. In addition, the College offers courses leading to teacher certification at the elementary and secondary levels, and offers graduate programs leading to master’s degrees in Accounting, Applied Mathematics, Business Administration, Contemporary Instructional Design, Computer Science, Creative Music Technology, Data Science, Educational Leadership, Nursing, Social Work and Special Education, as well as a Doctor of Nursing Practice.

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