My work is an extension of my deep personal regard for life and art. I am often moved by objects and events that most people would overlook. It is the unique patterns; the strange juxtapositions; and bizarre contrasts of life and nature that inspire me. So, in the derivative works, which I create from my original photography, I go beyond reality, reaching for that which will inspire this same awe and delight in others.
My approach is to follow the traditional principles of both photographic and conventional fine arts so that the work maintains a foundation of excellence. However, by utilizing new tools and developing my own digital techniques, I am exploring and refining new creative territory.
Photographers and artists, myself included, have sought to do this with the equipment and skills of the past, but generally the goal was to replicate, as close as possible, the original scene. I use the computer to alter the architecture of reality; paint with the extremes of color; create movement and flow; and isolate and focus the viewer"s mind. Various unique presentation methods allow the final result to further showcase the work.
Some works are recognizable as the original objects; some are mysteriously familiar, but not readily identifiable; some are more, but not totally, abstract; and others have been taken beyond recognizable images to the impressionistic, or surreal. Remember, "A rose is a rose," only if you stick to your preconceived ideas.
I have dubbed this new art form "Photographic Refacimento," (pronounced ree-FATCH-i-men-toe.) The term was first used by William Safire, in On Language, NY Times Magazine, 02-15-09, and is defined as "the radical refashioning of a work of art, often by computer."
I recently presented a talk to 100 members of the Southeastern Photography Society and was introduced as "a driving force behind the emerging digital/computer art scene." A fitting tribute to the journey I've been taking for the last six years.
Photographic
Refacimento
Resume of
H. Gay
Allen
Combining
art education, professional photography experience and computer
skills
AWARDS AND
HONORS
BODY DOUBLE, Honorable Mention, Southeastern Photography Society,
September, 2012
ALTER EGOS, Honorable Mention, Atlanta Artists Center/Binders, August,
2012
STONE FLOWER, Honorable Mention, Bows ArtSS Bash, Sandy Springs GA,
2012
ANNA"S LIGHT DISPLAY, Honorable Mention, Southeastern Photography
Society, 2012
PUMP IT, First Place, Southeastern Photography Society, Sun &
Shadows, 2011
IRISTOCRATIC, First Place, Dunwoody Fine Arts Association,
2011
LILY PORTRAIT, First Place, Southeastern Photography Society, Flowers
Competition, 2011
PEONYGAZER, Merit Award for Artistic Excellence, AAC Photographic
Celebration, 2011, Judged by Mark Karelson, Mason Murer
Gallery
PRIMAMATERIA, Honorable Mention, AAC Fall Drama, October,
2011
PERCEPTIVE CAT, Second Place, Dunwoody Fine Arts, Art To Inspire,
2011
ONYXEYE, Honorable Mention, June, 2011, Atlanta Artists
Center
MINGOLING, Honorable Mention, Cash Award, Atlanta Artists Center (AAC)
Dogwood Show, judged by Alan Avery, Alan Avery Art Co., two images
chosen, 2010
Juried into the 2010 Worldwide
MOCANET, a listing of digital artists who, through their presence on the
internet,
meet the worldwide standards of The Museum of Computer Art. This select
group
is chosen based on their artistry; innovation(s) in the use of digital
technology; and their individual web presence.
SLURP "N POOF, Merit Award, First Annual Georgia Photography Show,
juried, Gallery at Paper Mill Village, three images,
2010
SKELETONS, Honorable Mention, AAC Photographic Celebration, 2010,
juried
by Katheryn Kolb, Executive Director of Serenbe Photography
Center
ALILI, Honorable Mention, AAC, Through the Looking Glass, judged by
Tony
Casadonte, Lumiere Gallery, three images chosen,
2009
PEONYLIGHT, First Place, AAC Juried Photography Show, Seeing the
Light,
2008
DILLARDSUN, Award of Excellence (top 5% of thousands,) Photographer"s
Forum Magazine 27th International Best of Photography Annual,
2007
SOLO
SHOWS
One-woman
show, Physiotherapy
Associates offices, Dunwoody, GA, Dunwoody Fine Arts
Celebration,2012
One-woman
show,
Offices of Preluck and Nordonne, Dunwoody, GA, February through July,
2011
One-woman
show, MOSTLY
BLACK & WHITE, Defoor Gallery, Atlanta GA, January through April,
2011
One-woman show, PAINTERLY REFACIMENTO & 4 STUDIES, Smyrna Library
Gallery, Atlanta, GA, May and June, 2010
One-woman show, Peri Gallery, to benefit Murphy Harpst Children"s
Centers,
Inc., Atlanta, GA, 2007
Two-woman show, C. G. Jung"s Journey Into Wholeness, Hendersonville,
NC, 2006
JURIED
SHOWS
BODY DOUBLE, FERTILE, AAC Photographic Celebration,
2012
JUSTIN THINKING, KEEP MOVING, juried into Southeastern Photography
Society ACP Show, 2012
FLOAT IT, ROSEHEADS, BEAUTIES-3 juried into the AAC Defoor Gallery
Show,
2012
SHY IRIS juried into the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art Design Showhouse,
2012
PEONY GAZER, PALM FLARE, Southeastern Photography Society, Spring
Show,
2012
MARRIED THRICE, The Donnie Awards Show, Museum of Computer Art
Gallery,
New York, 2012; feature page of show catalogue
STONE FLOWER 1/10, and YOU WILL (fused glass 1/1), Art Sandy Springs,
Bows ArtSS, 2012
DORMITORY and TEA PLEASE, National League of Pen Women, Third Annual
Show, 2012
Various works: Dunwoody Fine Arts Celebration, Dunwoody City Hall;
Chamber
of Commerce; Ravinia Gallery, 2012
MINGO PHANTOMS, In Your Dreams, Atlanta Photography Group,
2011
APINK, Rome Art Coterie National Show, 2011
ONYXEYE selected for the 2nd Anniversary Show at the Museum
of
Computer Art Gallery, New York, New York, 2010; feature page of show
catalogue
BARN BONES and
SEWANEE TURRET STAIRS, AAC Synchronicity Show,
2010
WIFF 'N PUFF, In Your Dreams, Atlanta Photography Group; judge,
Mark
Karelson, owner, Mason Muir Gallery, Atlanta, GA,
2010
WIFF 'N PUFF, AAC Winners
Circle,
AAC, 2010
PEONY EMBRYON, Fay Gold Selects, Atlanta Photography Group
Show,
2009
Juried into the Museum of Computer Art as featured artist,
2009
Three images, The AAC Winners Circle, AAC, 2009
Four works selected by Alan Avery, Alan Avery Art Co., On The
Edge,
Atlanta Photography Group, 2008
TONSUN5, chosen as one of only 50, out of 1300, by George
DeWolfe,
Senior Editor for Camera Arts Magazine, The International Art of Digital
Imagery, Center for Fine Art Photography, Denver, 2007
DESERTFIRE chosen for FIAT LUX, national show, Cade Fine Arts Center
Gallery, Washington D.C., juried by Stephen Bennett Phillips, who was
curator for the Sean Scully show, at the Metropolitan Museum, New York,
2006
CALADIUMTEARS8, Hot Images That Sizzle, Atlanta Photography Group,
judged
by Laurie Kratochvil, former photographer for Rolling Stone,
2006
ONDENAGA chosen by American Juried Art Salon, and shown on the
National
Assoc. for Gallery Owners website
Four images selected for C.G. Jung Society of Atlanta Newsletter,
2006
OTHER ENDEAVORS
Commissioned to produce three works for Mary and Martha"s Place, Inc.,
2012
Invited lecturer on the Fundamentals of Design in Photography,
Southeastern
Photography Society, August, 2012
Twelve pieces of fused glass art at 2Rules Fine Art Gallery, Marietta,
GA, "Colors of Summer Show," August, 2012
"Take It or Make It! Altered Photography Redux," Southeastern
Photography
Society, 2012; Art League of Hilton Head, 2012
"Take It or Make It! Altered Photography Redux," Speaking of
Photography,
Atlanta Photography Group, 2011
Administrator/Judge for Fine Art America web site,
ongoing
Five images at the Seen Gallery, Think Red Exhibit, Decatur, GA,
2011
Juried into the Atlanta Maker
Faire, Georgia Tech, celebrating those who innovate and create,
2011
Elected to Advisory Board,
Museum
of Computer Art, 2010
Taught two-day
photography class to teenagers at Murphy Harpst Children"s Home, Cedartown,
GA,
2010
Three articles published in Museum of Computer Art
Journal,
2009, 2010
Photo feature, Journeys International Newsletter, 2006, Vol.14,
No.2
American
Mensa
Magazine, two color covers, June,
1992; June, 1994
