Malden resident Christina DiSessa’s photographic work will be on view at the MATV Gallery in the 18-year-old’s first exhibit entitled Raw Era. Featuring both portraits and landscapes, the show is, in part, a natural outgrowth of her enthusiasm for anime, a stylized, colorful animation form that originated in Japan and often draws from Japanese culture and lore. As a younger teenager, DiSessa became interested in anime about the same time she became a member of MATV’s Youth Channel. Already operating her own anime web site, she was eager to use her new technical skills to become a cohost and producer of the MATV television show Anime Suga, a forum for discussing anime-related topics.
DiSessa was also interested in other forms of creative expression and began dabbling in various art forms, including drawing. She eventually discovered her affinity for photography, which provided another outlet for exploring the anime world. Much of her portrait work involves cosplay, a type of costume play in which participants dress up as characters from anime. The costumes are typically handmade, an approach that DiSessa follows by making her models’ costumes and styling the requisite wigs herself.
The Japanese influence on her work is pervasive; she is also a fan of J-rock, or Japanese rock, and the evocative translated lyrics readily conjure images for DiSessa to reproduce as photographs. She also looks to other artists for inspiration, finding their works to be a starting point for taking her own photography in different directions. Her cemetery scenes, for instance, mark her foray into landscape photography, which she plans to further explore.
Interested in pursuing an art-related career by attending a photography institute or graphic arts program, the self-taught artist does all her work in the digital format. She uses an HP Photosmart camera and such software as Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro, and Fireworks to make minor corrections to images, which are otherwise not altered digitally.
Raw Era will be on view from January 8 through February 16 and the public is invited to attend the artist’s reception on Wednesday, January 17, from 4:00 to 6:00pm. Exhibit hours are Monday–Thursday, 10am-9pm; Friday, 10am-6pm; and Saturday, 10am-2pm. Handicapped accessible, Malden Access Television is located at 145 Pleasant St. in Malden Square. For information, visit www.matv.org/gallery or call 781-321-6400. DiSessa’s work can also be viewed at http://deadxdandelion.deviantart.com.
Gallery Information
If you would like to be added to the Gallery email list, please send a request to Anne D’Urso-Rose, Gallery Exhibition Coordinator, at anne@matv.org. If you include your home address, you will also receive our postcard mailings.
The Gallery is free and open to the public during regular MATV business hours.
These are Mondays – Thursdays, 10am – 9pm, Fridays,
10am – 6pm, and Saturdays, 10am – 2pm.
The Gallery facility is handicapped accessible.
Most exhibiting artists host a public reception for their exhibit.
Refreshments are served and visitors have an opportunity to meet the artists.
During the reception, the video program Gallery Spotlight can be viewed.
This program features the artists and their artwork for
each exhibit held at the MATV Gallery.
Come on in and check out our current exhibit! We welcome your thoughts and feedback about our exhibits. Write your comments in the guest book at the exhibit, or email the Gallery Exhibition Coordinator at anne@matv.org
If you are an artist interested in exhibiting at the MATV Gallery, click HERE to
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