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Perspectives
Christopher Rok’s eye-opening photography exhibit
He calls it "Perspectives," his photography exhibit at Kybecca Wine Bar & Shop, 400 William St., and has it showing through Feb. 28. That it shows well on the walls of the wine bar is an understatement. That Chris Rok’s photography is the standard bearer for photography in Fredericksburg is not something this modest man would say, but we will. Chris once again has captured with his camera lens and his own phenomenal eye images and icons in a way that embed themselves in your mind’s eye and stay with you long after you’ve finished viewing his work. The exhibit has been well talked about but how it got there is a very cool story about friendships and common goals. Chris’ wife, Ru – a poet in her own right – tells the tale: “When Chris and I moved back down to Fredericksburg in 2005 from Fairfax, we arrived about the same time that Kyle and Rebecca Snyder opened their William Street Kybecca wine shop. Chris and I were thrilled as we are serious wine lovers. We became "regulars" at the wine shop early on. Not long after - as I was testing the area waters for interesting/alternative venues for Chris to show his work - I asked Rebecca if she might be interested in seeing his portfolio. She was very enthusiastic as - although they were still working day and night on the William Street store and by that time the new Kybecca on Plank Road - Rebecca already had plans to hang artwork in their stores. After seeing Chris' portfolio it was a done deal.” Kyle installed copper piping at the Plank Road store and the Snyder's invited Chris to be the first artist to hang his work there. As it turned out, it was Chris’ first show of his work in the Fredericksburg area and was up from February through April 2006. Fast-forward to late summer 2008 and the Snyders are knee-deep in getting their wine and tapas bar up and running. “Chris and I - ever the frequent Kybecca patrons - were thrilled when one evening, while getting a sneak-peak from Kyle at the goings-on behind the brown paper windows, Rebecca asked if Chris would like to be the first artist to show work at the wine bar once it was ready for prime time! We jumped at the chance.” Rebecca wanted to see the unique wood-mounted photographs that Chris does, as she thought it would work well with what Ru calls “the classic/modern-chique interior décor” of the wine and tapas bar. Chris began working on a dozen special pieces and chose many of his popular Fredericksburg photos, as well as some "new" not-seen-before local shots. The Roks hung those pieces in mid-October and as more copper piping went into place, they hung additional work in December (traditional, framed Chris Rok landscapes of the American West). With the wine and tapas now fully open, Rebecca offered to do an opening reception, for which they picked the date January 12. Even though much of the show had been up since October, the turnout at the reception was fantastic, and Chris sold half a dozen pieces between that night and over the next week. The work will be up until the end of February. “I believe that Rebecca will be implementing new art shows every two months - with Bill Harris being up next at the beginning of March,” says Ru. Bill stopped by Chris' opening to check things out and chat. “That was pretty cool,” says Ru. So is Chris’ show… See more at www.christopherrok.com
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