Review by Cara Ober, ARTnews, Jan 2009 re: The Projectionist
Artists to Watch
...Messick's black and white photos are formally rich and dense with texture, with romantic and melancholy undertones...In contrast, the color prints vibrate with an artificial and burlesque esthetic: cadmium reds and acid greens compete for attention with gold brocade and satin curtains... Messick's skill as a portraitist lies in his willingness to meld fact and fantasy. These photos exist in a realm between reality and imagination where staged poses and theatrical color intensify authenticity rather than undermine it.
