Word: vanderwarkerã
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Photographer Peter Vanderwarker relies more on blinding colors than provocative themes in his works of art. From his portraits of prominent Bostonians to his photographs of the city’s architecture and scenic locations, Vanderwarker??s attempt to emphasize the cultural diversity and vivacity of Boston lacks innovation and depth; at the very most, his artistic visions are cliché. “Vanderwarker??s Pantheon: Minds and Matter in Boston,” Vanderwarker??s current exhibition, is on show at the Boston Athenaeum through...
...Peter Vanderwarker has developed an intimate familiarity with Boston and its community. Trained in both photography and architectural design, he was a Loeb Fellow at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. “Vanderwarker??s Pantheon” is a continuation of his exploration of Boston as a historically innovative urban center. Vanderwarker strives to relate his vision of Boston’s unique aspects by capturing prominent buildings, locations, and individuals on film. The portraits and architectural photos endeavor to depict Boston in its ongoing development as a commonwealth center of life, culture, and community. However...
...society. Many of the portraits are displayed one next to the other, some even tangent at their sides. With African American educator next to Asian American pharmacist next to Caucasian judge, the juxtaposition of the portraits strives too obviously to emphasize the diversity and unity of the Boston population. Vanderwarker??s portrayal of these individuals is forced rather than sincere, and the contrivance renders the photographs too idealistic...
...relationship between the subject and the setting of the photo is exceedingly apparent—for example, a doctor placed against a background of pill containers—there is hardly any room for imagination or analysis on the part of the viewer. While it may have been Vanderwarker??s intent to create a scrapbook of his “heroes,” the lack of creativity and innovation in his execution makes these tributes seem more like enlarged Facebook profile pictures...
...Vanderwarker??s Pantheon” does succeed in capturing picturesque snippets of locations in the city that are integral to Boston’s urban identity, but it fails to convey any inspiring or provocative messages. Overcome by clichéd perspectives and overly deliberated connections, the exhibition is muddled by the cheap, commercial nature of the photographs. While there was no gift shop in the Athenaeum, the museum very well could have shrunk Vanderwarker??s images to sell them as postcards to tourists...
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