Non-Fiction gallery hosts “Navigating the Non-places”

Photo by Katherine Rountree

Written by Marian Carrasquero

Guests visited the Non-Fiction gallery last Friday night for the opening reception for John Haverty’s exhibition, “Navigating The Non-Places.” The gallery was full of SCAD students, alumni and professors who were there to see the thesis show of the graduate student from Marion, Massachusetts, pursuing his MFA in painting.

Haverty was present for the duration of the show, enjoying the company of the observers.

“We came in last night and arranged the individual paintings and doodles in the way we thought worked best and ended up with this collage,” Haverty said.

The wide range of colors made with watercolor and ink drew viewers’ eyes through the various themes. The multicolored collage addressed political, social and economic themes with motifs of political figures, elements of nature and a strong recurring theme of airplanes. One wall displayed a collage of works that spanned approximately four feet wide.

“Subconsciously, everything relative to my career in [American Airlines] bleeds out through my pens,” Haverty said.

He said the methods of his creations are a product of being a “traveling nomad.” His pieces were created in sketchbooks with an easily transported medium: watercolors and ink.

“The finished products do not attempt to solve or answer any questions,” Haverty said. “However, they do shed light on problematic events that we as a society label as normal.”

The wall opposite the collage displayed individually framed paintings titled “Studies” that were for sale as stand alone pieces. The prices ranged from $200-$600.

The title of the exhibition, “Traveling the Non-Places,” is a reference to the term “non-place,” coined by anthropologist and writer Marc Augé. The term describes a place that isn’t significant enough to be considered a “place.”

The exhibition will be up until Feb. 27 at the Non-Fiction gallery at 1522 Bull St. A silent auction for the individual parts of the collage will continue until Feb. 24.

For more information visit the gallery or call (912)-662-5151.