Opalka's 'Object Permanence' looks at simultaneous absence, presence
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resulting prints in background. Courtesy of Opalka GalleryOpalka GalleryShow MoreShow Less
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The title of an art exhibition is usually the least important thing about it. But when Terry James Conrad, whose show “Object Permanence,” is on view at the Opalka Gallery through March 13, begins reflecting on those two words, he uncovers layers of meaning that offer clues to his inspiration and his process.
Closest to Conrad’s heart is the association with his baby daughter, who provides him with the opportunity to observe object permanence—a fundamental concept of developmental psychology—in real time. She is just beginning to understand that things still exist even when you can’t see them, and in her world, objects have no assigned value or definition.