Forelli is one of 22 artists on the Wayne County Open Studio Tour. Artists’ studios will be open to the public for free Friday, July 30-Sunday, Aug. 1, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Studio Tour Headquarters is The Hanson Gallery & Decorium (1037 Main St., Honesdale, which currently has brochures with maps and sample works of Studio Tour artists. Info: www.waynecountyartsalliance.org.
Capturing the simple moments of time and creating magic, Chip Forelli’s fine art photographs slow down the world and transport you to nirvana. Although he is renowned for his commercial photography with such big named clients as BMW, Land Rover, AT&T and Eastman Kodak, his fine art collection of photographs is a treat for the soul. His compilations of black-and-white photographs in his book “Terra Emota” captures time as a sacred moment like no other.
Images from Paris, Italy, San Francisco, South Hampton, Maine, and even our Pennsylvania countryside, are vividly captured within the pages. The peaceful Zen-like theme repeats itself throughout the book. Various subjects are covered, each consistently finding the perfect aesthetic qualities, somehow isolating the moment so as not to distract our appreciation of it, for its own sake and in its own terms.
These images are not simple by any means, other than subject. The works are often a mastery of time-lapsed photography, technique and intense compositions. The works are elevated to another level with dramatic lighting, depth of field, a change of focus, somehow managing to catch that something special that lingers with each picture, a sacred or spiritual quality.
Perhaps it is the personality of the man himself, one of principles and character that shines through the lens onto the pages?
Swearing that he must wake up at 5 a.m. daily to capture those morning quiet and still shots that leave you breathless, as in the work titled “Steel Pier,” you can just imagine the tranquil sea awakening to the day, stripping away the clutter of the mind and taking time to slow down and enjoy the simple things of life.
The work titled “Oil Drilling - Casing Guide,” a large-scale (30 inches by 30 inches) color photograph, is dramatic and bold. Even the color industrial shot of a steel column with water below evokes beauty. Forelli captured a simple unnoticed pole and transformed it into an abstract work of art. The time-lapsed blue water gently moving below the round, golden-yellow hole propels into a geometric and surreal image with a power punch. The interesting contrast between industry and nature are harmoniously fused together.
Forelli utilizes light in his work with new ends and in doing so creates a dramatic effect with spiritual undertones. As with Jackson Pollock’s intense sessions when he became one with the painting in pure harmony, Forelli echoes the same sentiment, composing at the exact moment of releasing the shutter in the quiet of nature. Self-expression, passion and an ample vision go together to create his truly unique works of art.
In his own words, he’s bringing to life that “which elevates and enriches the spirit and gives us hope. Our society needs more than ever … it feeds and replenishes the soul.” Although lacking in today’s frantically paced society, spending time unplugged from the TV, Internet, and spending more time nurturing the soul through nature should become a priority.
Forelli has a distinguished career of 25 years with international representation and publication credits including the cover of and a feature profile in Communication Arts, Photo District News, Graphis, Lenswork, Rangefinder and Lurzer’s Archive. He has had solo exhibitions at the Steinhardt Conservatory Gallery of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the Mercedes Benz Gallery of New York, the Art Institute of Atlanta, the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies and Hoopers Gallery in London. This is a brief sampling of his distinguished career — for more information about the artist, peruse the Web site www.chipforelli.com. His work is also a screen saver for MAC computers; we can all have great art on our own computers, too.
Although he is already well known, I believe he will go down as truly one of the greatest photographers of our time.
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