The Naked Lounge in downtown Chico regularly features the work of local artists and this month a new series, called “Vulturus,” by local photographer Kyle Burns can be viewed there.
The Naked Lounge hosted a reception on Saturday night to introduce the new series, with the photos on display and a performance by the local band The Hasta La Pizzas.
The Hasta La Pizzas helped create a fun atmosphere with their surf-inspired, garage rock’n’roll musical style.
The framed photographs fill the walls of the two rooms in the back of the lounge, which serve as both a gallery and a comfortable place to sip on a delicious caffeinated beverage.
Burns’ captivating photographs show off his distinct style.
Each photo is different, but each of the subjects has a common air of loneliness, sometimes even an eerie feel.
The lounge displays photos of a bleached cow skull resting in dry grass, a spindly tree rising in the middle of a field on a cloudy day and a depiction of an abandoned-looking trailer.
Some photos are in black and white, while others are printed in color. However, Burns favors subdued colors.
Burns is easily recognizable — he is tall with tattoos on his arms and he sports a very distinct mustache.
The inspiration for photography comes from his surroundings, Burns said. He was raised in the foothills and enjoys photographing subjects in nature and capturing a certain atmosphere.
“I tend to like darker imagery,” Burns said. “I love horror films and kind of just want people to feel the mood.”
One of Burns’ favorite things to do is to just drive and look for places that seem abandoned. He also likes to leave room for interpretation in his photography.
“You can’t dictate the way a piece of art should make someone feel,” Burns said.
His goal is just to evoke emotion of some kind with each piece.
Derek Mangan, a Chico local, said that when he looks at the photos he can see that Burns has a unique eye for things in the outdoors.
In a lot of photos you can imagine being in the scene, alone, just enjoying a simple moment of solitude, Mangan said.
“He also has an eye for small stuff that most people wouldn’t necessarily think to photograph,” Mangan said.
Since Burns uses more traditional film printing, rather than digital, it shows a lot of skill to create beautiful photos without digital editing options, Mangan said.
Alec Binyon, owner of the Naked Lounge, likes featuring different local artists because he is committed to supporting local artists and these receptions are a great way for them to get their work into the public sphere.
Burns’ series, “Vulturus,” will be on display for the remainder of the month.
Sarah Scharf can be reached at [email protected] or @theorion_news on Twitter.
