Expiry
A Mosaic Narrative Presented Through Expired Film
Jack Morris
April 1st - April 25th
Opening Reception : Saturday, April 6th 4-6pm
Burlington, VT - Frog Hollow is thrilled to present “Expiry,” a solo exhibition by Stowe, VT native Jack Morris, starting April 1st. This evocative show uses a unique mosaic narrative approach, weaving a story through photographs created with expired film.
We often view photographs as an unfiltered window into the past, an accurate reflection of reality shaped by the photographer’s eye. However, Morris challenges this perception using antique cameras and new and expired film. The unpredictability of this medium becomes a collaborator in his creative process. Morris embraces the dichotomy between photography’s ability to portray the world accurately, and the uncertainty of his analog approach. Without screens, live feedback, or guarantees of results. Every variable is determined by Morris, and any oversight means a moment not captured. “It’s the act of creating an image rather than simply getting an image.”
“Expiry” showcases Morris’ keen eye for captivating moments, the life existing within them, and the stories they can portray. The fragmented nature of the expired film adds a layer of intrigue, inviting viewers to piece together the narrative and contemplate the beauty of life and the impermanent.
MORE ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jack Morris, b. 2001, is a self-taught artist, photographer, and gallerist from Stowe, Vermont.
Morris’ journey began during a lasting and defining moment in photography’s history - the fall of film and the dawn of digital. Growing up in the 2000s in Vermont with two working-class parents who liked to hike, ski, and bike, photography was used as a quick and convenient means to capture memories rather than an art form. Despite this, as technology advanced in conjunction with his young and athletic life, taking photos of the places he went, things he noticed, and people he loved became second nature. At the age of 16, Morris was diagnosed with a severe degenerative heart condition and everything he expected his life to be changed overnight. This stark lesson in life’s unpredictability has followed Jack through years of struggle as he grew into a young adult. Still lost, yet facing the familial and societal pressures of choosing a career, Morris left America and embarked on a life-changing trip to Chile which opened his eyes to art and photography as a career. An epiphany, “What the fu*k am I doing here with an iPhone?” while taking photos in the Chilean Andes with an iPhone 8, ultimately brought Morris back to the States with a burning inspiration. He saved for, then bought his first “real” camera, a Sony a7iii with two lenses, and with no experience and even less knowledge of photography’s history as an art, Morris embarked on a self-actualizing journey. Learning exclusively through trial and error, he discovered his voice and interests as an artist.
Today, his passion for connecting with people and capturing the world in both true-to-life and abstract perspectives drives his artistic journey further into an unrestricted range of genre and subject matter, allowing for endless opportunity and freedom as a creative. Since July 2021, Morris has opted to primarily use fully mechanical analog cameras and a variety of new and discontinued film stocks for his work. Avoiding a digital interface allows him to be immersed in the moments in which he is capturing, and the sense of unpredictability speaks to his soul.
Morris underwent a full open heart surgery in 2022 and is physically healthier than he has been in years, but experiencing the degradation of his health and the failure of his heart on a day-to-day basis will always have a lasting impact on him. After realizing his love for photography, the idea of being able to create art regardless of the condition of his health helped Jack rediscover his passion for living.
It is Jack’s goal to help others who are struggling with difficult diagnoses to find their love of life again.
Jack Morris is currently exhibiting in three art galleries in Vermont: Frog Hollow Gallery in Burlington, Artisans Gallery in Waitsfield, and operates Robert Paul Galleries in Stowe.
