“People, Places and Things” at Luckystar Studio

By the time People, Places and Things closes on April 9 at Luckystar Studio on floor three of the Marshall Building, perhaps we can raise a toast to spring. I visited the Studio prior to the March 4 opening, coinciding with the building’s “Marshall Arts” event, beginning at 6 p.m. Friday. Floor three was buzzing with dusty workmen refurbishing various spaces, but behind the expanse of glass, Luckystar’s first-ever exhibition of photographs was hung and raring to go.

People is represented by a selection of work from ThirdCoast Digest’s own Brian Jacobson. My personal favorite is an image of Art Altenburg reigning behind his bar, awash in a colorful tsunami of funky artifacts. Jacobson and I share labor at this magazine, and in the interest of “full disclosure,” one of his photographs has been hanging in my collection for months. He has a knack for capturing intimate moments, be they sweet or sour. Life, after all, comes in diverse flavors.

Art Altenburg, by Brian Jacobson.

Mark Cherek has exhibited with Luckystar over the years, and in Places he takes  broad view shots of garish Las Vegas (both night & day), the road to Red Rock, and an image of Hoover Dam. There’s a touch of travel poster style, or perhaps, an on-the-road card to send home to the folks.

Vegas, by Mark Cherek.

Corey Hengen nails his take on Things, by literally using metal rivets to attach his photographs to pine boards. It works in a blue collar way, perfect for his all-American glimpse of a Hostess truck hauling eats for the masses. The twisted heads of outdoor sculptures in an RV Park serve as reminders that one person’s trash is another’s treasure. A soft cover book (Seen) of his images is available at the gallery.

America, by Corey Hengen.

Luckystar’s proprietors, Bridget & Gene Evans, have been here and there and everywhere over the years. In their most recent space, they’ve struck a balance twixt the outrageous and the sublime, and for their debut exhibition of photographs…the focus is charming.

People, Places and Things opens March 4, 6-9 p.m. at Luckystar Studio, located on the third floor of the Marshall Building (207 E. Buffalo), and will remain on view through April 9, 2011. For more information, click here.