“In 2001 citizens were encouraged to take to the malls to boost the U.S. economy through shopping, thereby equating consumerism with patriotism. The Copia project, a direct response to that advice, is a long-term photographic examination of the peculiarities and complexities of the consumer-dominated culture in which we live.”
Brian Ulrich makes photos of shopping. The photos he’s shot for the “Retail,” “Thrift,” and “Backroom” chapters of Copia are views of shopper and object, photos of desire, (in)decision, display, disorder (a jumbled pile of thrift garments) and a favorite: a crisp row of fire-engine red checkout stands flying their checkout stand flags.
For the first Northwest exhibition for this Chicago-based artist, Quality Pictures shows thirteen medium to large format photos from the “Thrift” chapter of Copia beginning tonight, Friday, January 11 with a reception for the artist from 6-9 PM.
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