2013-523 Arts - Barbara Tyroler for Fall 2013 Arts Grant Agreement $1,000

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Review f�Q There's Much to See in "Beijing Impressions" by Carol Griffith w. In the angular, many-layered and vividly colored works of the exhibit by Barbara Tyroler en- titled "Beijing Impressions" there's much more than one might expect from a photography ° show. In the gallery of the Community Center through July 29, the photographs are thought- Z provoking yet may appear to be ' o simple expressions of a mother's love or the record of a visit to s=_ an unfamiliar city and culture. 'o When Tyroler's daughter ".",NW�� Samm Tyroler-Cooper went to Beijing to research migration Barbara Tyroler stands in front of some of the images from"Beijing practices, the artist received fund- Impressions"which provides both the travelers sights and emotions. ing for a trip to "produce an im- pressionistic illustration of and more. Yet in each picture riders of the apparently tradi- Beijing." The results, reflecting the eye is coaxed around many tional bicycles that are not in a "tone of multi-layered intro- elements — architectural photo- view. Do the bicycles represent spection and transition," express graphs, swaths of color, Chinese old traditions passing or do they the artist's experiences as a visi- characters and impressionistic de- suggest progress? for in a foreign city and her tails. There is no foreground or Several images depict young emotions upon the departure of background; each image is in- children, appearing to represent her daughter. serted in a layer over or at an the future of Beijing — yet they,, Two large works function as angle to another, adding to the are in traditional clothing, a anchors of the collection. One is intensity of the works, theme most evident in "Critical a loving portrait of her daughter The theme of many street Whispers." In this picture a and the other, "Urban Spectacle scenes seems to be an interplay group of people wearing brightly in Red," is a study of a child between old traditions and mod- colored sashes and carrying wearing a traditional hat. ern influences. In "Hitachi" a drums — perhaps practitioners of The remaining works are man plays a musical instrument the controversial Falun Gong — scenes of life on the streets of in front of a huge piece of con- stand in a street at dusk or dawn. Beijing — men playing musical struction equipment labeled by Behind them are a crane and sev- instruments, young women riding its manufacturer, Hitachi. Two eral tall buildings in various bicycles, young security guards works labeled "Receding Past, stages of construction. obviously posing for the camera Bike" show full figures of the