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The Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park is proud to present an exhibition of photography titled, “Through the Lens: A Collection of Fine Art Photography”. The exhibit will run from October 15 to November 7 with an opening reception on Friday, October 15 from 5 - 8 PM at the Cultural Arts Council Fine Art Gallery located at 423 W. Elkhorn Ave. in Estes Park, Colorado.
In an age of digital photography where cameras are found on cell phones, computers, and as point and shoot devices smaller than a deck of playing cards, it is easy to forget that such cameras are still only a device for recording light. What is often lost in the present digital trend is a singular vision and craftsmanship used to produce one-of-a-kind photographs and prints.
“Through the Lens” is a collection of approximately 80 photographs by eleven photographers that cut a wide path through photography, history, and expression. The common thread in the exhibit is the use of a camera be it a pinhole, view camera, Diana, or digital. Beyond the camera, the manner of subject and expression is very diverse. Each photographer was asked to provide between six and eight prints that were representative of their body of work so that the viewer can better appreciate the consistent, personal vision of each individual. The photographers were invited to exhibit their photographs based on their use of alternative and traditional processes as well as having a consistent body of work.
This is an opportunity for the public, as well as students of the arts and photography, to see a variety of printing methods such as photogravure, platinum, carbon, dye transfer, traditional gelatin silver, and mixed media. Many of these processes are seldom seen today such as the dye transfer process popularized by Eliot Porter or the photogravure used extensively by Edward Curtis. In fact, there will be six contemporary photogravure prints from Curtis’ masterwork, The North American Indian, painstakingly reproduced by Paul Unks, owner of Mountain Hawk Prints.
Though the exhibit features alternative processes, digital cameras and techniques still find their way into the collection. Photographers Mark James, Ronda Stone, Pen Sartori, and Mike Butts all blend traditional methods of film or mixed media such as oil and pencil with digital techniques at different stages on the path to a final print. James, who also curated the exhibition, observes, “Digital cameras and output are altogether relevant in photography, but we must remember that they are just tools. There is no substitute for creativity, vision, and craftsmanship.”
Through the Lens is a very eclectic collection where the subjects contained in the photograph are almost secondary to the expression. This again will provide the public with an opportunity to see examples involving various art movements that have influenced photography from abstraction to post-modernism to pictorialism to the straight photo style popularized by Ansel Adams and Group f-64, formed in early 1930’s.
“One of the things that can be difficult for the viewer is not having a vocabulary to understand what they are looking at”, notes James. A short guide that explains art terms and processes will accompany the exhibit to help the viewer trace the different influences of history and art that inform the photographs on display. James observes that, “In this single exhibit, you will see a large slice of photographic vision and discover that the digital age is simply another chapter in the amazing story of photography”
The CAC Fine Art Gallery will premiere the collection starting at 5:00 PM on Friday October 15, 2010. Through the Lens: A Collection of Fine Art Photography participating artists will be on hand and refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be served.
Regular gallery hours starting October 16 are 12 noon to 5:00 PM daily through November 7. Viewing may also be arranged by special appointment by calling 970-586-9203 or e-mail info@estesarts.com.
The Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park is a publicly supported 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting all disciplines of art in the greater Estes Valley. Lynda S. Vogel is the Executive Director and has always sought to present multi-faceted programs serving persons of all ages. The Cultural Arts Council is celebrating its 20th year of operation and is located in Estes Park, Colorado.
List of photographers and their medium:
Kimberly Chiaris – Black and white gelatin silver prints, Diana camera, scenes from Europe
Charlie Christensen – Platinum and palladium contact prints, view camera, landscape and scenes from Europe
Peter Davidoff – Platinum and Carbon prints, view camera, still life and various subjects
Mike Butts – Giclee prints, pinhole camera and film, landscape
Ronda Stone – Giclee prints, mixed media, post-modern
Doug Kinnear – Black and white gelatin silver prints of blues musicians, documentary
Edd Hamilton – Black and white gelatin silver prints and Van Dyke Brown, view camera, landscape and urban
John Ward – Black and white, view camera, landscape and three dye transfer prints
Pen Sartori – Black and white gelatin silver and oil, abstract
Paul Unks – Photogravure, Edward Curtis photos of Native Americans
Mark James – Giclee prints, blue sensitive film, still life
For more information, contact:
Lynda S. Vogel, Executive Director, Cultural Arts Council of Estes Park
423 W. Elkhorn Ave
Estes Park, Colorado 80517
(970) 586-9203
Mark James, curator, (970) 391-1086
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