January 8, 2024

Press Release

Book Cover Image, Amie Potsic: Seeker © Amie Potsic 2024

Amie Potsic, *Struggle – Jerusalem, Israel*, Chromogenic Print, 19” x 19”, 1996 © Amie Potsic 1996

Amie Potsic's Seeker is a fearless, feminist exploration of Israel and India during a time of hope

A featured exhibition of the (re)FOCUS festival, the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts/1974, a citywide festival recognizing women artists

Amie Potsic's 'Seeker' exhibition and new book reveal a transcendent journey. With fearless exploration, Potsic's feminist lens captures a unique perspective on India and Israel, defying stereotypes and revealing a resilience of tradition. Created during a year-long solo backpacking expedition across the Holylands India and Israel at the age of 23 in 1995, her work invites reflection on female empowerment, cultural identity, and religious patriarchy.

The exhibition and monograph feature narratives woven through evocative photography, mixed media works, and introspective memoir created over decades. Seeker transcends boundaries, celebrating life, art, and the multifaceted experiences of womanhood. Seen through today's lens, Potsic's imagery provides a window to a time when Israel was in the midst of the Peace Process and India had yet to see a technology boom. Her photographs reveal a time when both countries were full of hope despite contradiction.

Amie Potsic, *Dome of the Rock – Jerusalem, Israel*, Chromogenic Print, 19” x 19”, 1996 © Amie Potsic 1996

AMIE POTSIC: SEEKER

Solo Exhibition & BOOK RELEASE

by Amie Potsic

A Featured Exhibition of (re)FOCUS 2024
Curated by Christopher Brown

(re)FOCUS celebrates the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia Focuses
on Women in the Visual Arts/1974, a citywide festival recognizing women artists

Exhibition Dates
January 27 - March 30, 2024

Opening Reception:
Saturday, February 3, 2024, 2:00 – 5:00 pm

Book Release & Artist Talk:
Saturday, February 24, 2024, 2:00 – 5:00 pm

Champagne Closing Party and Book Signing:
Saturday, March 23, 2024, 2:00 – 5:00 pm

Location:
The SPACE Art Gallery
749 S. 8th Street,
Philadelphia, PA 19147

Gallery Hours:
Wednesday–Friday, 5:00 – 8:00 pm
Saturday, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm and by appointment

PHILADELPHIA, PA, USA – Transcending boundaries through an inspired adventure, Amie Potsic: Seeker is a solo exhibition and new book spotlighting the visionary feminist photography of contemporary artist Amie Potsic. Seeker invites audiences into Potsic's transformative odyssey, capturing the essence of her year-long solo backpacking expedition across India and Israel at the age of 23 in 1995. Embracing a female gaze, Potsic defies the stereotype of the heroic male photographer, wielding her Hasselblad camera and over 100 rolls of film to traverse the Negev Desert and scale the Himalayas. Her lens not only documented visual splendor but also unveiled the complexities of human dignity and the vital role of women within their communities. Seen through today's optics, Potsic's imagery provides a window to a time when Israel was in the midst of the Peace Process and India had yet to see a technology boom. Her photographs reveal a time when both countries were full of hope despite contradiction.

The exhibition runs from Saturday, January 27 to Saturday, March 30, 2024, at The SPACE Art Gallery located at 749 S. 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147. The Opening Reception is on Saturday, February 3rd from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm and an Artist Talk and Book Release are scheduled for Saturday, February 24, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The Champagne Closing Party and Book Signing will be held on Saturday, March 23, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm which will include champagne and light fare. For further information, visit https://www.amiepotsicartadvisory.com/events/2024/1/27/amie-potsic-seeker-the-space-art-gallery-2024.

Amie Potsic: Seeker presents an array of colorful and dynamic original photographs and contact sheets joined with new mixed media works and a monograph. The artwork is distilled from decades of introspection on themes surrounding female empowerment, gender politics, and religious patriarchy. Curated by Christopher Brown, this exhibition captivates and provokes thoughtful reflection. It will be accompanied by public receptions and engaging artist talks, offering visitors a deeper understanding of Potsic's adventurous exploration.

“Traveling on my own for a year with nothing but a backpack, my Hasselblad camera, and over 100 rolls of film, I embarked on the adventure of a lifetime that would take me across the Holylands at a time when both India and Israel were full of hope and transformation. Being on my own in those years in those countries came with a lot of risk. Yet, the challenges were greatly outweighed by the rewards,” Potsic reflects.

Photographing for a year uninterrupted as well as having an empathetic nature allowed Potsic to capture many moments of intimacy and understanding with the people she encountered. Interested in how religion affected people's sense of identity and culture in the eastern Holyland of India where Hinduism and Buddhism began, her journey took her throughout the country for six months. While there, she volunteered in Mother Teresa's homes for the ill in Calcutta meeting Mother Teresa herself. She also had an audience with the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala where he remains in exile from Tibet. While India was full of wonder and discovery, it was also oppressively influenced by a brutal subjugation of women and poverty, truly a land of extremes.

Then drawn to understand how people's lives are shaped by religion in the western Holyland of Israel, the birthplace of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, she flew directly to Tel Aviv from New Dehli and spent 5 months photographing. At the time, Israel was in the midst of the Peace Process so Potsic was able to travel freely around the country and to visit many location now inaccessible, including the Dome of the Rock mosque located in Jerusalem and the burial place of the patriarchs in Hebron. While terrorism was prevalent, coexistence was a reality and peace seemed just around the corner.

In the mid-1990's, Both India and Israel were celebrating their 50th anniversary of independence from British Colonial rule. Both countries were created through the indigenous people seeking self-determination and establishing their own states around the time of Britain's withdraw from its former colonies. In the years since, both countries have evolved greatly but with many things remaining the same. While the technology boom and export of Bollywood have catapulted India to the world stage, their culture continues to subjugate women and girls and to struggle with generational poverty. Similarly, while Israel has evolved a great deal into a technology innovator and the only democracy in the Middle East, they continue to be challenged by violent attacks of terrorism and never-ending land disputes. Additionally, because religion in these Holylands is administered by patriarchal systems, women's power is further minimized. The starting points of the world's major religions, both countries continue to redefine themselves in a modern world.

Amie Potsic is recognized as a pioneering photographer and installation artist whose work transcends cultural, personal, and natural phenomena, propelling her on solitary photographic expeditions across the globe. Her artistry has graced esteemed international venues such as the Art Park in Rhodes, Greece; Museo de Arte Moderno de Bogotá, Colombia; The Royal College of Art, London, England; and a host of renowned galleries and museums across the United States.

Potsic's accolades include the prestigious Best in Show for her contribution to Experimental Photography Today at The Delaware Contemporary museum in 2015. She also featured prominently in Keystone 1, the inaugural Pennsylvania Photography Biennial, hosted at the Silver Eye Center for Photography in Pittsburgh that same year. Holding an MFA in Photography from the San Francisco Art Institute and BA degrees in Photojournalism and English Literature from Indiana University, she has carved a distinguished path in academia, artistry, and media.

Amidst her accomplished career, Potsic has enriched the cultural landscape of Philadelphia, exhibiting at prominent institutions including The Woodmere Art Museum, The National Constitution Center Museum, and James Oliver Gallery. Her published works have graced the pages of reputable publications such as The San Francisco Chronicle and The Philadelphia Inquirer, while her engaging lectures and radio broadcasts of Art Watch Radio and Podcast on WCHE 95.3 have resonated with audiences across Greater Philadelphia.

Seeker is a featured exhibition of the (re)FOCUS festival, the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts/1974, a citywide festival recognizing women artists. Potsic is also curating a solo exhibition of celebrated Philadelphia artist, Arlene Love, for the refocus festival at the Interactive Museum for Contemporary Art (IMOCA). Potsic's contributions as both an artist and curator in the festival are noteworthy.

Seeker: An Extraordinary Photographic Odyssey in the Holy Lands is a new monograph by Amie Potsic featuring photographs created on the artist's year-long solo photographic odyssey in India and Israel at the age of 23 in 1995. Defying the stereotype of the heroic male photographer, Potsic traversed the Negev Desert and scaled the Himalayas with her Hasselblad camera and over 100 rolls of film. Through a female gaze, she documented visual splendor, human dignity, and the role of women in their communities. Her lens revealed a multifaceted experience of the depth of ritual and resilience of tradition in the eastern and western Holylands. The monograph features an introduction written by Stephen Perloff, Founder and Editor of The Photo Review.

"Finding myself alone in India with just a backpack, my Hasselblad camera, and 100+ rolls of film, I was terrified yet certain. This was no accident. Despite my well-intended plans, the universe had something bigger and better in mind. "
- Amie Potsic

(re)FOCUS: Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts, a citywide festival celebrating the 50th anniversary of Philadelphia Focuses on Women in the Visual Arts/1974, will run from January 27 to May 31, 2024. Showcasing over 150 exhibitions, panels, lectures, workshops, and demonstrations, (re)FOCUS 2024 stands as a testament to the ascendance of women-identified and BIPOC artists from the periphery to the heart of the art world. Collaborating across Philadelphia's diverse visual arts institutions, this festival embodies the spirit of the American Feminist Art Movement's inception. For more information, visit https://refocus2024.org

The SPACE Art Gallery, Philadelphia, established 2018, specializes in fine art photography and design. The physical area is impeccably presented, with a bespoke jigsaw hardwood floor, a viewing bench, and natural lighting. In the curated collection of functional arts, the pieces are handmade by artisans across the country. The materials range from wood to glass and from silver to resin in a wide variety of price-points. The photography captures a range of styles and variety of developmental processes from emerging and established artists. For more information, visit: https://www.thespacephiladelphia.com/

Amie Potsic: Seeker will be on view at The SPACE Art Gallery, located at 749 S. 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147, from January 27 to March 30, 2024. The exhibition's key events include the Opening Reception on Saturday, February 3, 2024, from 2 pm to 5 pm; the Artist Talk & Book Release on Saturday, February 24, 2024, from 2 pm to 5 pm; and the Champagne Closing Party and Book Signing is on Saturday, March 23, 2024, from 2 pm to 5 pm which will include champagne and light fare. Gallery hours will be Wed-Fri 5-8 pm, Sat 10-4 pm, and by appointment.

For further information and to explore Amie Potsic's work, go to: https://www.amiepotsicartadvisory.com/art-history/amiepotsic and http://amiepotsic.com/

Amie Potsic, *Puja – Benares, India*, Chromogenic Print, 19” x 19”, 1996 © Amie Potsic 1996

Amie Potsic, *Pilgrims – Tirupati, India*, Chromogenic Print, 19” x 19”, 1996 © Amie Potsic 1996

For more information about the exhibition, click here: Amie Potsic: Seeker, a Solo Exhibition at The SPACE Art Gallery