UC Clermont Gallery Features The Bayou: A Story of Love, Tragedy and Revenge

The UC Clermont Art Gallery presents “The Bayou: A Story of Love, Tragedy and Revenge,” by Fairfield artist and UC Clermont art instructor Matthew Miller-Novak, April 5 – 27. “The exhibit features a series of narrative photographs that focus on the glamorization of violence in the American media and imagination,” Miller-Novak said.

“As children, many toys are little more than dolls of destruction for children to launch an imaginative world of violence and aggression,” said Miller-Novak. “As adults, these toys are merely replaced by animated violence in movies such as ‘Kill Bill’ and ‘Sin City.’”

Miller-Novak’s photographs are meant to expose this progression of imaginative violence by using objects of childhood play, like G.I. Joes, to act out the violence of adult fantasy. The series intends to an expose this phenomenon rather than a pass judgment on how violent American society is. “It is my intention that the viewer will have the freedom and opportunity to form their own opinions of the violence depicted,” Miller-Novak said. Additional information on the exhibit and on Miller-Novak’s other works can be found on his Web site, www.miller-novak.com.

The Clermont Art Gallery is sponsored by First Clermont Bank and located in the Snyder building on the UC Clermont College campus in Batavia at 4200 Clermont College Drive. Hours are Monday - Thursday 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m., Friday 7:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 a.m. The exhibition is free and open to the public. 2005-2006 season sponsors are First Clermont Bank, The Richard L. and Debbie L. Westheimer Family Fund and Lehr’s Market.

For more information contact Mae Hanna, Director of College Relations UC Clermont College (513) 732-5332