FLATFILEcontemporary will present OXIDATION, opening on Friday, July 9 with a reception from 5-9pm, and running through August 21. The exhibit takes its name from the sense of dust, rust and decay apparent in paintings by David Andres, large-scale archival digital photographs by David Weinberg, weighty oxidized steel sculptures by Richard Heinrich, and a remarkable project room installation by Martin Brief, all gallery artists.

David Andres, who lives and works in Tucson, Arizona, paints what, at first glance, seem to be rusted out surfaces in acrylic on canvas. In reality, there are eels, seaweed and other deep-sea creatures in these semi-abstract paintings, which are actually created from Andresí underwater photographs. Andres' work is contained in several dozen corporate collections including Delta Airlines, IBM, Shell Oil, City Bank, and Bank of America.

David Weinberg, on the other hand, really does photograph rusted-out surfaces, portraying small details in enormous magnification, and a painterly abstract style. He haunts the scrap-yards in a several state area searching for subject matter. His images are in many private collections throughout the US.

Richard Heinrich, from New York City, has shown his large and small constructed steel sculptures in many galleries, museums, and sculpture parks throughout the US. His work is contained in more than twenty private, public, and corporate collections including those of Grounds for Sculpture, Hofstra University, Edward Albee, Pepsico, American Express, and Chemical Bank.

Martin Brief, who is from Virginia, creates photo-based installation pieces, in this case, from rusted antiquated mailboxes, lit from within in a completely darkened project room. Brief, who is a photographer/artist book artist, has shown installation work previously at FLATFILE to great acclaim. He has exhibited his work in various venues around the United States.