Though we're familiar with Colin Blakely for his wistful, haunting representations of Middle America, a new group exhibition will examine a rather more fanciful side of his work. A Matter of Wit, which opens at FotoFest in Houston on January 13th, 2011, will focus on the funny side of art—an aspect of the field that is so often overlooked. The show will feature work by Colin, as well as by Gilbert Garcin and Miro Švolík.

Some words from the exhibition's curator:

“Wit and humor are among the rarest and most precious aspects of creative expression in almost any field of art,” says...Wendy Watriss, FotoFest Artistic Director and Senior Curator. “Photography is often seen to be peculiarly adept at showing us the humorous aspects of human behavior because of street photography’s ability to ‘capture’ the fleeting, unguarded moments that reveal paradox and comedy what we do. But what about the images that are deliberately constructed to play with our sense of what photography usually is and what is visually real? Visual paradox and staged fantasy are the most difficult things to do successfully in photography, but this is what these artists do.”

The show's press release states of Colin's work specifically:

Colin Blakely...injects elements of nature and text into the most familiar settings of everyday life to expose the curious underpinnings of the domestic scenes that we take for granted. Nothing is out of bounds – hunting dogs, flags, rural facades, clouds that are out of place, small town architecture, stars, the memories of romantic Western landscapes.

If you find yourself in Houston in the early new year (maybe en route to SXSW in Austin? It starts just about a week after A Matter of Wit closes) make sure you stop by and have a look at what is certain to be an unusual (and unusually entertaining!) show.

The Details:
A Matter of Wit
On View: January 13th - February 27th, 2011
Opening Reception: Thursday, January 13th, 6-9pm
Saturday Matinee Public Tour and Artists' Talk: Saturday, January 15th, 2pm
at FotoFest Headquarters Gallery, 1113 Vine Street, Houston, Texas.