For immediate release

February 2, 2004
"War Clippings"

There are times for peaceful pictures whose beauty derives from harmonious arrangements of colors, shapes and images. When the highest levels of our government openly discuss the uses of torture as a tool of war, we seek a different kind of beauty, one that helps us understand a less comfortable, more bellicose moment. Daniel Heyman and 55 Mercer Gallery present "War Clippings," an on-going series of images in dialog with an America at war. "War Clippings" exhibits over 30 of Heyman's densely layered paintings in oil, ink and gouache on Mylar, some as large as 120 inches across.

"War Clippings" is on view at the 55 Mercer Gallery from March 1 - 26, 2005. An artist's reception will be open to the public on Saturday, March 5, 5-7 p.m.

Deeply moved and disgusted by the release of photographs taken at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, Heyman began incorporating these images into his already rich visual vocabulary. From his experience as a printmaker, where images are built slowly in layers, Heyman has learned to grow his painted works one image at a time, layering one idea over another until the final pictures are overflowing with rich and unusual juxtapositions -- juxtapositions that seek out who we are today.

The artist recently wrote, "Rather than accelerate the viewing process by presenting clear, simple images, I intend to slow it down with a flood of images to be absorbed and experienced over time." In a hurried age, these pictures give us deliberate moments of pause for reflection.

As well as painted work on Mylar, "War Clippings" also contains a number of new Japanese technique woodblock prints beautifully printed in layers of water based inks.

55 Mercer Gallery is open Tuesdays through Saturdays 10am to 6pm. This is Heyman's 4th solo exhibition at 55 Mercer Gallery, located at 55 Mercer Street, 3rd floor in Manhattan.

For more information and photo reproductions, please contact Daniel Heyman at 215-236-5236 or send email inquiries to daheyman@aol.com. You may also contact 55 Mercer Gallery directly at 212-226-8513. 55 Mercer Gallery is a non-profit artists' cooperative, founded in 1972.