WAYNE, PA – Contre-Jour and the Corinthian Maid, curated by Scott Noel, is on view in the Davenport and Vidinghoff Galleries at the Wayne Art Center from October 13 through November 15, 2025. The opening reception will be held on October 19 from 3 to 5 p.m., followed by a curator’s gallery talk with Noel on November 1 at 11 a.m.

The exhibition gathers works by Jeffrey Carr, Chris Feiro, Frank Galuszka, Philip Geiger, Mark Green, Paul Raphaelson, and Elaine S. Wilson. Together, their paintings and photographs explore the expressive power of light and its ability to shape perception and emotion.

The title refers to two central ideas. Contre-jour, French for “against the light,” describes compositions where the primary source of illumination is behind the subject, often producing silhouettes or striking contrasts. The Corinthian Maid recalls an ancient myth in which a young woman traces her lover’s shadow by lamplight, suggesting the enduring power of shadows and silhouettes as tools of memory and representation.

The works on view range from stark industrial scenes to intimate domestic interiors and coastal landscapes. Each artist treats light not only as a source of clarity but also as a force that defines absence, depth, and atmosphere.

Noel, a Philadelphia-based painter and educator, has long been concerned with the dialogue between light, image, and memory. With this exhibition, he brings together artists who show how illumination and shadow continue to be among the most powerful means of expression in contemporary art.