Carl Patow
Do We Have The Courage?

February 23 - March 16, 2024

Photography

Statement

I find my artwork to be most effective when the images draw people into conversation. Consistently, the installations and artwork that I create are centered on topics of contemporary concern and interest, such as the environment or equity. I have been fortunate to work on both a grand scale and on intimate projects, in a variety of media. For example, in 2018, I asked Richmonders to express their wishes for the city by writing them on a small piece of paper. The wishes were cascaded down a water feature at the VMFA into a wading pool. 3,500 wishes illuminated the night with genuine affection and hope for the future. Two years later, at another InLight event, I examined the practice of “red lining” and its effect on communities in a large installation on Broad Street. Sixteen hours of conversations with hundreds of people were a critical part of the art. For my Master’s thesis, I interviewed 300 people living in Richmond about their community concerns and created a sculptural work to document the conversations. And two years ago, I created a flock of stylized standing flamingoes that were installed at Artspace and at the Richmond Main Library. The flamingoes were not solely decorative. They started conversations about rising sea levels and the fate of migratory birds. At the Science Museum of Virginia, I directed 40 children in grades 2 to 6, in a performance piece about the flamingoes, that simulated rising waters and challenged the participants to consider, “Will the flamingoes stay or go?” 

In this installation, two young people engage on a treacherous journey chronicled in 14 images and text. Like in the classic “hero’s journey”, the young adventurers embark on an unforeseen quest, where they face challenges, gain insights, and return home transformed. The images are created by photographic layering that highlights the exotic nature of the adventure in vivid color and embedded images. The artwork, however, is more than a series of panels. It is a call for all of us at this critical time to reflect on the state of our world. I’m hoping the title of the installation alone will spark conversations. Is it enough to be silent and passive? Will we stand aside, or “Do We Have the Courage?”

Many thanks to my collaborator, Jane Holliday Wilson, who brought the text to life. 

Biography

Carl Patow is an artist in Richmond, VA, who creates unique images by layering digital photographs. Often his work reflects important contemporary social issues: the environment, inequity, and challenges of today’s youth. His work has been shown locally at many venues, including 1708 Gallery InLight, the Weinstein JCC, Artspace Gallery, the VCU Anderson Gallery, the Richmond Main Public Library, and the Virginia Science Museum. As a volunteer mentor, he guides eighth-grade art students at Richmond’s Albert Hill Middle School and VCU students at Artspace Gallery. His works are included in collections of the Duke University Archives, Virginia Commission for the Arts, the James River Association, Valentine Museum, TPT Minnesota Public Media, Meta, and private collectors. In 2019, he received an MFA degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. His studio is in Scott's Addition.

Website: www.carlpatow.com
Instagram: @carlpatow