THE ZODIAC:
Snapshots from a Serial Killer

May 30th-June 14th, 2009
Opening Reception Saturday, May 30th, 7-10 pm

drkrm.gallery announces the exhibition of THE ZODIAC: Snapshots from a Serial Killer. These provocative and some might say, subversive photos, will be on view from May 30th to June 14th, 2009. There will be an opening reception on Saturday, May 30th from 7-10pm.

Due to the graphic nature of this exhibit, viewer discretion is strongly advised!

For a greater part of the 1960’s, Northern California was stalked by a serial killer known only as the Zodiac Killer. He was notorious for sending the police letters in his signature handwriting, complete with disturbing jokes and lewd comments targeting police. Over the years the Zodiac talked to newspapers, police and other agencies about shooting little school children, stabbing police, strangling citizens and planting a homemade bomb at an office building. He included sketches of weapons, greeting cards, and even blood soaked pieces of clothing from his victims. The killer is known to have attacked seven people, but in taunting letters the Zodiac claimed 37 victims.

Last year, Dennis Kaufman began supplying the FBI with evidence attempting to prove his stepfather, Jack Tarrance, was the Zodiac Killer. The evidence included 16 rolls of film he found in his stepfather's belongings after he died. One roll reveals disturbing images of murder. The photographs are graphic, but the film has deteriorated over time to a point where many of images appear to be a haze of colors. The first picture on the roll is the clearest: A stained baseball cap near what could be blood spatter.

Even the clearest images leave a haze of questions. Is the tattooed body with a peace sign the victim of an unsolved murder? Do the ghostly snapshots show the murders of a girl and boy? Do we really see a woman's naked, mutilated body? Most of the images on display are blurry and indistinct and are open to interpretation, but Kaufman believes they show people being murdered.

Perhaps the biggest question: if Jack Tarrance took the pictures, could he be a previously unknown serial killer or one of the most infamous in history? Does the film prove Jack Tarrance killed anyone? Kaufman says if just one family finds answers about a loved one who was murdered, the last nine years he's dedicated to this case will be worth it.

drkrm. gallery is an exhibition space dedicated to fine art and documentary photography, cutting edge and alternative photographic processes and the display and survey of popular cultural images. All gallery events are open to the public.

PR CONTACT: Jay Lopez 213.595.7419
jay@jaylopez.net