Gabriel Gaffney Smith (American Artist, b.1985) is a modern-day renaissance man with an artistic resumé spanning multiple mediums. Raised in beautiful upstate New York, Smith began dancing at Saugerties Ballet Center at the age of 12. After completing his training at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater school, he was asked to join the company in 2005. Gabriel then joined BalletMet in 2008 where he continued his career under the directorship of Gerard Charles and Edwaard Liang. As an accomplished fine artist, Smith’s intricate wood carvings have been showcased in museums, private collections, and galleries across the country. His award-winning choreography has graced the stages throughout the dance world alongside his musical compositions.
Title: Destructive Beauty
Artist's Statement: Using wood as my medium, I aim to symbolize the profound impact of destroying something inherently beautiful. The intensifying wildfires worldwide, exacerbated by factors like drought, heatwaves, and high winds, emphasize the pressing need to grasp the health implications of wildfire exposure. The hazardous mix of air pollutants in wildfire smoke, such as PM2.5, NO2, ozone, aromatic hydrocarbons, and lead, not only contaminates the air but also contributes significantly to climate impact by releasing substantial amounts of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. Wildfire events are becoming more extreme, disrupting essential services like transportation, communication, water supply, and power and gas services. Through this piece, I aim to visually represent these stark facts by juxtaposing the beauty of a sunset with the destructive force of fire, emphasizing that our world is metaphorically ablaze.
Alana Campbell Studio, based in Houston, Texas, specializes in dance, fashion, and portrait photography. With a BFA in photography from NYC’s Parsons School of Design and years of formal dance training, Alana brings a unique perspective to all of her work—whether she is photographing professional dancers of major companies, dance schools, dancewear, high fashion, or traditional portraits. In addition to studio photography, her fine art explorations include photo collage, printmaking, painting, sculpture, and conceptual video.
Miles To Go Before I Sleep examines the dichotomy in historical art canon of man’s desire to overtake nature and women looking to become one with the earth. Guided by the vision of a fallen star, the series journeys across a forgotten land destroyed by the hand of man. The ever-changing landscapes are illuminated through the use of digital and physical collage. The ephemeral nature of each image confronts binaries of controlling and releasing, creating and destroying, and remembering and forgetting.