THE INVISIBLE COLLEGE
Stephen Appleby-Barr Solo Exhibition
http://www.narwhalartprojects.com/exhibitions/2009/sab/

OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, Oct. 29 from 7-10pm
Artist will be in attendance

EXHIBIT RUNS: Oct. 29 - Nov. 29, 2009

Following his highly-praised 2008 debut, Stephen Appleby-Barr returns with an incredible new body of work. Continuing with the imagined legacies first constructed in the esoteric 'Nortammag Archives', Appleby-Barr delves further into the ancestry of academia and the arcane with 'The Invisible College'.

We invite you to share a glimpse into the mysterious world of this prodigious young artist and witness the unveiling of his latest secrets on Thursday, October 29th at Narwhal Art Projects.

Due to the tremendous success of Appleby-Barr's last exhibition, we highly encourage press and interested buyers to sign up for the art preview list. To do so, please send an e-mail to contact@narwhalartprojects.com with your name, telephone number and e-mail address.
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Press Release:

Emerging artist Stephen Appleby-Barr presents a solo show of portraits at Narwhal Art Projects. Entitled The Invisible College, this new body of oil paintings explores Appleby-Barr's profound involvement with the merits of portraiture. The Invisible College draws inspiration from an independent organization of philosophers whose purpose was to acquire knowledge through experimental investigation in 16th century Europe. Akin to the guild system, this group practice is exemplified by Hegelian collaboration: the free transfer of thought, expertise and tradition carried out without the establishment of designated facilities or institutional authority. Appleby-Barr explores the state of the personal disassociation with tradition and searches to find a connection with one's self and heritage. Working within a body of meticulously detailed oil portraits, Appleby-Barr conjures clues to uncovering the secrets of his own creation.

Continuing with the imagined legacies first constructed in the esoteric Nortammag Archives, allegoric images depicting varsity, academia, the occult and couture give lineage to an arcane society. Through the deliberate celebrity and obscurement of each character, Appleby-Barr speculates on the traditions of metaphorical, social and personal history.

The Invisible College runs October 29th to November 29th at Narwhal Art Projects. The opening reception is Thursday, October 29th from 7-10pm. The artist will be in attendance.