AFTER DARK

Published: April, 2009 

These images, along with this month’s cover photo, are part of an exhibition on display in Oakland. They are taken from two series that photographer Tom Paiva has been working on over the past year.  One set of images is from an exploration of the construction of the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge.  Paiva explains in his artist’s statement: I am attracted to the monumental scale and dynamic forms of the development of this major bridge project.   Each image is a moment in time, because the project is always changing, morphing each month as new materials, engineering, and components are added. 

  Other images are from industrial sites of quite diverse types: oil and chemical refineries and a ship in drydock.   Paiva states, I find these environments exceedingly appealing.  The forms are modern, massive, simplified, without embellishment.  Light creates dimension and startling relationships.  It can magnify shapes and textures, and stimulate the viewer’s interest.

  Paiva notes that he works at night, and explains some of the technique behind his unique images: Rarely can I get more than three or four images completed in a night’s work.  I actually like the technical challenges of working with film at night.  You cannot be sure what the film will pick up in these environments of complex mixed light sources, diverse intensities, and deep shadows.  The available light sources of sodium vapor, mercury vapor, metal halide, tungsten and fluorescent intensify the yellows, blues, greens, and overall depth.  I do not use computer manipulation in my work.

The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) Community Art Program is presenting After Dark, Photos by Tom Paiva through April 30^th at the LunchStop Café at the Joseph P. Bort MetroCenter at 101 Eighth Street in Oakland just across from the Lake Merritt BART Station. The show is open for viewing from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. weekdays free of charge.