ABOUT THE EXHIBITION...

Combining the nostalgic aesthetic of World War II with architectural photography, artist Mark Florida creates a hip 21st century propaganda campaign that is as visually satisfying as it is wickedly satirical. phd gallery presents Florida's collection of limited edition, large format, ultrachrome prints, which will be on display and for purchase from October 25 to December 13, 2008.

Mark Florida photographs time worn buildings in St. Louis and, using digital techniques, "paints" them with propaganda posters that are hybrids of his original paintings and slogans from WWII posters. The resulting 40" x 60" ultrachrome images, limited to editions of five prints, are vibrant portraits of architecture as well as a political commentary on contemporary culture, the war on terror, and the environment. Florida's propaganda posters are aged and weather worn; the older painted billboards and bricks bleed through the new. The effect is a wistful look at a government campaign that never happened. Instead, according to Florida, the "new propaganda" is secrecy: "We could give up PBS news coverage and page three of our paper and not even know we are at war." Beautifully rendered and disturbingly humorous, each image contains the illogical directive: "Buy Mark's Art or the terrorists win."

The artist, who owns and operates Gallery Framing in the Delmar Loop, has been an artist and photographer in St. Louis for 25 years. He is perhaps best known for his photographs of St. Louis landmarks and high profile events, including the statue of King Louis (under the Arch!), the Forest Park Balloon races, and the Botanical Gardens. Gallery two will feature these and other works from Florida's portfolio.