BACKSTAGE/BACKSTORY
AUGUST 8 - SEPTEMBER 3
works by Dan Derby

• Reception / Meet the artist: Friday, September 1 / 5-8pm
• Free and open to the public
• Reception coincides with the Opening Reception in the main Gallery for TESTSET featuring works by Shaina Gates, As Above, So Below featuring works by Davana Robedee, as well as Art Round Town.

In honor of Portsmouth’s 400th year anniversary, 3S Artspace held an open call for submissions by artists living or working in Portsmouth today. There was no shortage of talent and creativity. We invite you to join us as we celebrate the extraordinary artists selected to exhibit in the Lobby Gallery in 2023. All exhibited works are available for purchase, with revenue supporting both the artists and 3S.

Artist Statement
Dan Derby's lens-based image projects, primarily monochromatic, are long-form series with common themes. They evolve over time, starting with photographs which are refined by exploring hidden themes and complexities.

Backstage/Backstory is about creating evocative images of citizen artists during performing arts rehearsals including theatrical plays, musical rehearsals, and acting classes in the Seacoast area.

While public performances in the arts are dramatic, their rehearsals are also delightful visual opportunities. This is, after all, where much of the creative expression is born. They are rich with complexities rarely seen by audiences. Derby creates visual excerpts of this work that attest to the magic he witnesses.

This is photo-journalistic style image making, but they are not documentaries. No lights, rarely costumed, shot mostly on plain stages. The images use the energy of actors, singers, dancers, directors, musicians to capture how performances come to life and, importantly, give him the opportunity to make expressive images capturing the complexities of the artistic creation process.

The project is privately funded and the performing groups can use the final images for their own promotions, at no cost.

Dan Derby Bio
Dan Derby is a photographer and a freelance writer. He has done photographic and editorial work for regional and national publications. Additionally, he provides photographic services to a number of non-profit performing arts organizations.

Previously, Dan was a designer & manager in high technology industries, including Xerox, Hewlett-Packard, Sequent Computers & IBM.

Dan has done a number of invitation only photographic exhibitions. These included NH Furniture Masters and Artists Annual Exhibition at Kimball-Jenkins College, the annual 100 Market Gallery Artists (jury chosen - both years submitted), various NHSPA gallery shows and others. He was featured on “the Creators”, the SomeCity series of Coruway Film Institute.

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Generously supported by:

3S Artspace is supported in part by a grant from the New Hampshire State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.