Night Photography by John Vias Chosen for "New Visions: Introductions 2006" Show

"Large Boat Winch," a night photograph by John Vias, was selected by jury to be included in Pro Arts's "New Visions: Introductions 2006" exhibition. A reception will be hosted by Pro Arts in Oakland on Thursday, July 20, at 6pm. The show begins July 18 and runs through September 3, 2006.

Oakland, CA (PRWEB) July 12, 2006 –- "Large Boat Winch," a night photograph by John Vias, has been selected by jury to be included in Pro Arts's "New Visions: Introductions 2006" exhibition. Over 200 artists submitted work but only thirty pieces were selected.

A reception will be held Thursday, July 20, from 6pm to 8pm. The public is invited. Refreshments will be served and admission is free. Pro Arts is located at 550 2nd St, Oakland, CA 94607, in the Jack London Square neighborhood.

"Large Boat Winch" was photographed one night in June, 2005, at the Berkeley Marina. In the image, the winch is a rusty red and at its foot is green indoor/outdoor carpeting. Light comes from a streetlight outside the frame in the upper right, and falls off toward the left of the image, casting shadows on the winch. In the background, part of a short pier, San Francisco Bay, and the skylines of Oakland and Emeryville can be seen. The colors in the skyline vary across the horizon because the cities use different types of streetlights.

Vias says "a central focus of my work is to reveal the beauty in ordinary things. A boat winch is one example." He photographs many common objects: a drinking fountain, a highway overpass, an industrial site. On his website, he quotes Confucius: "Everything has its beauty but not everyone sees it."

Vias's home and studio are in Ocean View, a neighborhood in west Berkeley. He describes the area as diverse, providing a "wide variety of potential subjects, including a marina, foundry, factories, stores, restaurants, apartments, and houses." The locale supplies much of the subject matter for his work. "Strong lines and unusual shapes draw my eye," Vias said. "The ambiguity of purpose, content, and history of some structures arouses my curiosity."

His night photos are captured on film with the aid of exposures as long as twenty minutes. As for the sometimes surreal colors in his images, Vias explains they occur through "the intersection of street lighting, long exposures, and film."

The jurors for "New Visions" this year are Dennis O'Leary, Executive Director of the Djerassi Resident Artists Program, and Gary Sangster, Executive Director of the Headlands Center for the Arts.

About John Vias:

Vias earned a Certificate in Photography, awarded with distinction, from UC Berkeley Extension in 2004. He has participated in many regional exhibitions and has been recognized in art and photography competitions. His work can be previewed at his website: http://www.johnvias.com.

About Pro Arts:

Pro Arts's 2500 square-foot gallery is located in the Jack London Square area of Oakland, California. Pro Arts continues to serve as the region's primary visual-arts venue by hosting annual exhibitions and special events. More information is available at http://www.proartsgallery.org.

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