Doug Burgess has been photographing and exhibiting in the Bay Area since the 1980’s. He has photographed an assortment of studies: play dolls, night landscapes, advertising imagery, road kill, galls, weeds, and now balloons. Since he makes his living in shipyards and refineries rather than as a professional photographer, he has absolute freedom to wander among topics, silly and serious, as fits his fancy.

THE ARTIST'S STATEMENT

The balloons are simple yet surprisingly varied. The images record the entire life cycle; un-stretched new balloons, brightly colored inflated orbs, wrinkled shrunken partially deflated old balloons, and the remnants of escaped exploded balloons. He has purchased a few, but most are found randomly. Some have come to the studio from office parties after they have served their purpose and have been discarded. Predictably, the broken and injured can be found in neighborhoods surrounding used car lots. Even on the remote trails of the Bay Area hills are remnants that have fallen from the sky.

These photographs, more than eye candy, less than a thesis, are about the pleasure of looking.

See Doug's previous show "Weeds" in the Picturish Gallery here.