Frank Rodick — Arena

Arena

fragments of a celestial abattoir [polyptych, 2004]

fragments of a celestial abattoir [detail from polyptych, 2004]

you must console me, no. 2 [triptych, 2004]

3 a.m. (engram), [detail from triptych, 2002]

the passage of summer lightning [polyptych, 2005]

the passage of summer lightning [detail from polyptych, 2005]

in pain there burns a secret joy (for HH), [polyptych, 2002]

in pain there burns a secret joy (for HH), [detail from polyptych, 2002]

you must console me, no. 1 [triptych, 2005]

you must console me, no. 1 [detail from triptych, 2005]

la pucelle [detail from polyptych, 2004]

The laughing woman and her memories no. 2, 2005

As in sub rosa and Liquid City, these images are not characterized by stasis, randomly snatched as they often are from low-resolution moving pictures. Degraded and imprecise, they reinforce our sense of being outside the boundaries of normal reality. The artist again harnesses the powerful associations of the mimetic image while always working to subvert the documentary quality of photography. Here, too, the approach approximates the vivid but indistinct quality of the fantasies and nightmares that play nightly in the private theaters of our minds.

—Katherine Ware, curator New Mexico Museum of Art, from her essay in the book Labyrinth of Desire: Work by Frank Rodick. Arena completed 2002-2005.

artist statement

Toned (selenium, iron, copper) gelatin silver and archival pigment prints.
Edition: 5 + 2 AP. Editions include a few remaining unique variants based on toning and handmade filters.
26 works including single images, diptychs, triptychs, and polyptychs.
Size: dimensions vary, for single images from 2 ½ x 5 ½ inches / 6.4 cm x 14 cm to approx 20 x 16 inches / 50.8 x 45.7cm.
Contact info@frankrodick.com for information.