CASPER, Wyo. — ART 321 welcomed visitors this November to Imaginarium: Everything Until Now, a sprawling gallery that traces the artistic evolution of local photographer and educator Cari Antonovich. The exhibit, which runs through Nov. 27, offers a personal look at Antonovich’s journey from a 15‑year‑old self‑portraitist to a mother exploring themes of love, identity and resilience.
From Home‑School Beginnings to Film‑Based Passion
Antonovich, who was homeschooled before attending Casper College, first discovered photography while taking a theater and dance major. “Something about the chemicals, the smells of the dark room, shooting the film and not being able to see the images until you’re in the dark room… I was enamored with it,” she recalled.
Her early work, displayed nearest the gallery entrance, features black‑and‑white self‑portraits taken during her teenage years. One image shows a young Antonovich with bracelet‑laden hands gently touching her face; another presents four versions of her in different outfits, each looking directly into the camera.
Surrealist Explorations and the Search for Soulmates
Moving deeper into the space, visitors encounter “Soulmate Theory,” a sepia‑toned series that blends three versions of Antonovich with a partner, floating up stairs and embracing with disembodied arms. The work reflects on love, connection and fate, concepts Antonovich describes as stemming from a recent breakup and major life transition.
She calls herself a “hopeless romantic,” using the images to ask whether soulmates exist and what they might look like.
“Girl with a Gun”: Confronting Inner Conflict
The gallery’s most recent series, titled “Girl with a Gun,” portrays Antonovich in cowboy attire within a ghost‑town setting, wielding pistols and knives. In the piece “Knife Fight at High Noon,” she explains, “That whole series is me getting ready to fight the last bad part of myself. I invite her to a knife fight… then I notice the last bad part of me showed up with a gun.” The series symbolizes the ongoing struggle to coexist with one’s darker impulses.
Cyanotypes and Motherhood
On the back wall, a collection of cyanotype prints captures nature in vivid azure, ranging from a woman gazing over a cliff to another merging with tree branches. Adjacent to these images is a dedicated corner celebrating Antonovich’s journey into motherhood. Her eight‑year‑old daughter, Naomi Peach, inspired the artist to create a space that honors the bond between parent and child.
“I definitely want to make sure she knows that anything you can imagine can become your reality,” Antonovich said. “I just want to keep showing her through my hard work that anything could be possible.”
Community Response and Future Plans
Opening night on Nov. 5 drew a packed house, making it one of ART 321’s largest exhibitions to date. Visitors were moved by the personal nature of the work; several approached Antonovich in tears, expressing how the images resonated with their own experiences.
When asked about upcoming projects, Antonovich mentioned plans for western‑style paintings paired with neon lighting, a potential show in New York, and a mosaic of self‑portraits designed to form a single eye.
Antonovich continues to teach art and photography to fifth‑ and eighth‑grade students at three local schools, balancing her full‑time artistic practice with a commitment to nurturing the next generation of creators.
The collection will remain on display at ART 321 until Nov. 27. Community members interested in viewing or purchasing the works are invited to stop by the gallery.
Original reporting: Oil City News (Casper WY) — read the source article.
