Java.FEB.2017

SATURDAYS 8AM - 1PM
SHOP LOCAL + EAT LOCAL + CELEBRATE LOCAL
AGRICULTURE + PREPARED FOOD + ARTISAN VENDORS
FREE YOGA | WORKSHOPS | COOKING DEMOS
structure you build,” he explains. “I’m very big on the final product and not the
tools that got you there.” When shooting a portrait, he’s able to engage with the
subject without hiding behind the lens and viewfinder. His process is simple, and he
often observes the space for only a few minutes before knowing how to proceed.
“Stars to Satellites” has retained an intimate, engaging aesthetic throughout the
series. Darr invites viewers into the creative refuge of the subject’s home. There is
an element of voyeurism as a sense of privacy falls away. He brings you in, but
the subjects themselves at times appear wary and unsure of how to pose in the very
space where they should feel most comfortable. Some spaces are cluttered, others
clean and well organized, each revealing the nuances of the individual pictured.
Many of the subjects are easily recognizable to anyone familiar with the Phoenix
arts community—Tato Caraveo, Lalo Cota and Sierra Joy, to name a few.
For Darr, they are friends, colleagues, former professors and other important
figures in his life, who act as pieces of the puzzle.
What does it mean to be an artist? Darr’s portraits have brought him closer to
creating his own definition. “I’ve become more educated on what being an artist
means and have gained a unique insight by going to artists’ spaces and talking to
them about their process and their vision,” he said.
This is a collection of people whom the 35-year-old Darr aspires to, because
of their work ethic and passion. They are the stars and Darr is their satellite,
orbiting around them. While the series is ongoing, he has no end goal in mind,
except one: to look at these portraits years from now and remember the people
who inspired him. “Down the road when it’s all over,” Darr says, “I’m going to be
happy that it was documented and recorded.”
www.chardarr.com
PHXPUBLICMARKET.COM