Art House Productions is thrilled to present “Crushed” a solo exhibit by photographer, Beth Achenbach. Exhibit will run from Saturday, August 3rd through Sunday, August 25th with an opening reception on Saturday, August 3rd from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm. This event is an official Jersey City PRIDE event.
In her poignant new series, "Crushed," artist Beth Achenbach harnesses the evocative power of everyday objects to confront the hidden trauma that festers within us. She salvages discarded aluminum cans and plastic bottles, bearing the scars of neglect and abuse, as emblems of human suffering. Achenbach's photographs capture these objects as silent witnesses to the pain, abandonment, and heartbreak that often remain unexpressed. The artist's work challenges the societal norm of suppression, urging us to acknowledge the profound consequences of unexpressed pain.
“Beth’s work invites viewers to intimately engage with subjects that symbolically reflect her thoughts on human suffering. Her selection of discarded objects are familiar and commonly seen in everyday life, highlighting their unfortunate circumstances. It’s poignant and relatable in a way that is unexpected” says Gallery Director Andrea McKenna.
Large print literature and tactile and descriptive tours are available upon request.
Email Andrea McKenna for more information at gallery@arthouseproductions.org.
ABOUT BETH ACHENBACH
Beth Achenbach, is a photographer based in Jersey City. Her interest in photography began in the 1990s while working at a camera shop, where she gained invaluable experience by testing various cameras and working in the 1-hour photo department, which she credits for helping her develop an eye for composition. "Seeing thousands of photos week after week," she explains, "you sort of get a sense of what you love about an image or what you might do differently to make it more interesting.” Achenbach developed her "hobby" of taking urban photographs during that time but it was not until relocating to Jersey City in 2002 and assuming the role of official photographer for Jersey City Pride that she embraced the title of "photographer." Her first public exhibition occurred that year as part of the LGBTQ+ group show during the Jersey City Art & Studio Tour. As she continued to show more of her work, Achenbach started to realize that her images weren’t standing out amongst other urban photographers so she started experimenting with her subject matter. In 2006 her solo exhibit “The Sum of All Parts” showcased photographs of body parts. In 2009 she was the first solo exhibit at Art House Productions where she created a series called “In Search of Mother Nature” and then in 2010 she carried a pair of large angel wings around town photographing friends in them and created an exhibit called “Feathers, Flight and Fancy”. After that she discovered her love for still life photography! Beth’s first exhibit in just still life was called “Letters 4 My Love”, and then she started approaching this new found genre with more intention, purpose, playfulness, and creativity. It showed in her popular 2016 Exhibit “Thaw”, a beautiful series of photographs taken of objects frozen in ice. Thaw was the last solo exhibit she showcased, and some say, her best to date.
Achenbach believes still life photography presents a unique challenge in transforming ordinary objects into captivating compositions; she is drawn to those subjects with intricate textures, vibrant colors, and revealing folds that have anamorphic qualities, resembling human expressions or gestures. She strives to breathe life into her images and aims to create "visual poetry” that evokes personal narratives and emotional connections for her viewers. Nostalgia and shared experiences are themes that run through her work inviting viewers to engage with the images and find their own stories within them.