Sperryville, Va., June 6, 2012 – From July 6 through July 29, the Middle Street Gallery will put on a special exhibition of “Extreme Art.” The show will run at the the non-profit artists’ cooperative’s gallery in Sperryville, Virginia and will feature the works of its 20 members from Northern Virginia and nearby counties.

How to define “extreme” has been left to each artist. Some have taken their chosen medium in some unusual direction, some have chosen edgy or politically charged subject matter and some have pushed a certain quality – such as form, color or contrast – beyond conventional limits. Many will challenge viewers to see these artists in a new way.

For example, Jo Levine, a photographer from Sperryville and Washington, D.C., will show an image called UFO? (Unidentified Floating Object). Says Levine, “The word ‘photography’ comes from Greek words for ‘light’ and ‘writing.’ In keeping with those roots, UFO? (Unidentified Floating Object) does not rely on any physical objects, but rather uses light alone to create the image.”

Gary Anthes of Castleton, Va. and Arlington, Va. will show photographs taken inside the factories of the Ansonia Copper & Brass Co. in Connecticut. Founded in 1845, the company once employed thousands but has been reduced to a few dozen workers after years of layoffs prompted by foreign competition. The photos show the sad, stark and gritty interiors of factory buildings that have closed but stand in mute testimony to the decline in American manufacturing in New England.

Besides photography, the show will include paintings, prints, sculpture and multimedia works, each accompanied by the artist’s interpretation of his or her work.

The gallery will hold an opening reception for the public, with refreshments, from 2 pm until 5 pm on Sat. July 7. The gallery is at Rappahannock Central, 3 River Lane, Sperryville and is open Fri., Sat. and Sun. from 10 am until 5 pm. For more information call 540-987-9330 or go to www.middlestreetgallery.org.