The Gallery at the Marmara Manhattan is pleased to announce an extraordinary exhibition of photo collages by Julie Mardin. Julie Mardin examines our violent society through its own violent toys. She uses bright colors and bold graphics to reflect on the influence of advertising and media, and searches for our spirit in the growing clutter of technology, information, problems and possibilities. Disturbed by such recent statistics as: 1 out of 5 high school students comes to school armed with a gun, knife or club, she works to illuminate questions of gender, heredity and the environment through the use of naïve symbolism and romantic yet ironic imagery. The work is accompanied by a suite of techno and ambient compositions by Joe Mardin, a composer and producer who has worked with artists ranging from Jewel to Aretha Franklin, and who says of the photo collagist's vision, " it keeps idealism alive, reminds us of the possibility to rise above human nature" Ms.Mardin has been exhibiting since 1996 in various museums and galleries throughout the United States and abroad. Her 'anolog' technique involves arranging cut-up versions of her photographs, re-photographing, and often layering with yet another image in the printing process. She has moved on to explore the digital tools available to achieve similar effects. "Once upon a time there was a land filled with toys, calling us to play..." JULIE MARDIN