A curious host of antiquated objects finds new life in the collages of artist Danny Moyer. The high walls of his Bank Street Studio in Easton are filled with creations reflecting decades of fertile artistic exploration. Below, the floors and shelves are populated with materials scavenged from flea markets, thrift stores, yard sales and grocery stores—all awaiting reassignment in one of his evolving pieces. Through cleverly combining these obsolete items, birch panels, heavy paper and water-based paints, Moyer has carved out a unique and respected position in the Lehigh Valley arts community.
A glance at his formidable resume reflects a nearly perennial presence throughout the Valley over the last 18 years. While his art has elevated shows in Easton galleries, the Allentown Art Museum, Banana Factory, Lafayette College and Lehigh University, Moyer maintains that the most influential spot to share his work is in the classroom at Whitehall High School. His life as a creator is inextricably bound to his role as a teacher and he revels in the exchange between student and instructor.
Moyer's playful and poignant orchestration of materials provides a wealth of layered coordinates waiting to be activated by the viewer's memory. His art cleverly exploits the latent fictive potential of a wide variety of culturally charged materials, quietly coaxing to consciousness images long forgotten. Our collective history of objects, kitsch and suburban Americana collide and harmonize in these strangely stylized and spaced out collages.
“Visual culture inspires me,” says Moyer. “Billboards, advertisements, diagrams that communicate more than words. Imagery that brings me to a new past with the possibilities of an invented history.” He clearly enjoys urban exploration and mining these psychogeographic zones. Giving a pragmatic moniker to each work further encourages this strategy. A name such as “0709111” only reveals the date and chronology of the creation, allowing the viewer to stray further into a private world of associations.
Currently Moyer is focusing on some interesting smaller pieces. In keeping with his commitment to fruitful interaction with his students, he is also collaborating on larger works with former
student and graffiti artist, Kibie. Watch for Moyer's upcoming shows in Easton at Brick and Mortar Gallery in September and a solo exhibition at Connexions Art Gallery in November.
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