Thursday, November 19, 2009
The Wagner College Gallery is hosting a photographic exhibition, “Storefront Houses of Worship,” containing work by native Staten Island photographer Willie Chu. The exhibition will run through Saturday, Jan. 15, with an artist’s reception on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 1 to 3 p.m. in the gallery, located in the Wagner Union.
“Storefront Houses” consists of about 20 large-format framed photographs and one 12x60” panoramic shot.
“A storefront house of worship can be found on almost any street in any neighborhood of Staten Island,” the artist explains. “Often we walk past taking no notice or maybe a quick glance if something catches our attention. For the past year I have photographed these houses of worship, their leaders and congregants. The photographs reveal that the rituals of these storefront houses of worship are similar to those practiced in mainstream churches, temples, and mosques.
“My goal for this project is to present a variety of images that will help enlighten viewers unfamiliar with storefront houses of worship,” Chu said.
Willie Chu is a photographer whose work has been shown in both solo and group exhibitions at various venues in New York City. He works as a freelance photographer. See examples of Chu’s work on his WEB SITE, and read the Staten Island Advance story about LAST YEAR'S SHOW, "The Asian American Experience: The Filipino Community of Staten Island".
The Wagner College Gallery, located off the atrium in the Wagner Union, is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 to 4 p.m., with extended hours on Thursdays until 9 p.m. Admission is free.
