Jeff Petry
OPERNBALL
(May 13-31)

Opening reception: Thursday, May 15, 6:30 - 8:30 PM

@ the Elliott Louis Gallery
258 East 1st Avenue, Vancouver

Opernball, Vienna’s Traditional Opera Ball, takes place each year on the Thursday preceding Ash Wednesday. Held in the Vienna State Opera House, the annual fete – attended by Austrian high society, invited celebrities, politicians and corporate head honchos – has become a tradition for public protest since 1987. Spurred by the sight of what many consider a form of wasteful grandiosity and elitism, protests are loud and varied.

Opernballdemo - or the Opera Ball Demonstrations, take place on the surrounding streets between police and left wing opponents of the source of extravagant capitalism thought represented by the attendees. Tickets for the evening event range from €230 for the cheap seats, to €17,000 for a dress circle box. Being a part of the chaotic street scene is free.

It is a good mix-up for an artist, and the locale and title of Jeff Petry’s current narrative that opens May 13th at the Elliott Louis Gallery. Opernball sparked Petry’s interest in the relationship between the police and the demonstrators. What evolved is his photographic essay of a dance between the two opposing forces on the outside – that is incongruous, yet, analogous to the dance inside the walls of the Opera House. Outside the police dictate the dancing formation of the crowds while inside, with the command, "Alles Waltzer," the evening’s dance commences.

Petry’s powerful black and white imagery engenders conversation about the universal and continuously tricky dance between free society, police power and public expression.

We hope to see you at the exhibition.  Your guests are always welcome.

Sincerely,
Ted Lederer

Elliott Louis Gallery Inc.
Email: gallery@elliottlouis.com
Web Site: www.elliottlouis.com

Phone: 604-736-3282
Gallery Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am to 6pm
and by appointment.