March 2015

New Member Exhibit

Spectrum Art Gallery is proud to introduce some of our newest members in the biennial, New Members’ Exhibition.

Eleven of our members who joined us within the last two years will be featured during the month of March - Mahin Alibabaei, Neil Chowdhury, Daniel Dunham, Jan Flanigan, Andrew Holden, Brittany Kalemkarian, mARTin Nunez, Patrick W. Rhames, Jonathan Rollins, Lorinda Salvador, and Joan Sharma.

A wonderful variety of styles and motifs will be on display. The opening on ArtHop, March 5th will be a wonderful opportunity to give a warm welcome to some of our newest members and to view their work.

My name is Mahin Alibabaei, I’m from Iran. My family and I moved to the United States seven years ago. In Iran I was a teacher and after 22 years of teaching, I retired. Now, I am interested in continuing my major, which is visual art. I decided to go to the Fresno City College to achieve my personal goals such as learning more about the English language: so, that I will be able to better communicate. I am also majoring in photography with a focus on landscape. I hope to show the beauty of our environment that people don’t take the time to appreciate.

Untitled - Mahin Alibabaei

Neil Chowdhury thinks in images.

He uses the camera to examine the relationships between individuals, societies, and their environments, concentrating his efforts on exploring his heritage in India.

He has been awarded the 2011 Light Work Grant, and the 2005 SPE Gary Fritz Imagemaker Award. His works have been widely exhibited and published in the United States and abroad. He has also participated in artist residencies in several countries.

Chowdhury’s work can be found in the permanent collections of the William Benton Museum of Art, Light Work, the Tasveer Collection, The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, The Gershwin Hotel, and the National Gallery of Macedonia.

Mr. Chowdhury is assistant professor of photography at California State University, Fresno. He has worked as the director of the Photography Program at Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, New York; taught full time at Zayed University, Dubai; and part time at the College for Creative Studies, Detroit; and at the University of Washington, where he earned his MFA.

In addition to his work as a fine artist and educator, Chowdhury accepts freelance travel, editorial, and commercial photography assignments.

Untitled - Neil Chowdhury

Dan Dunham has been interested in Photography for many years. He has a website offering images of his work (dandunhamgallery.com). His photographic endeavors have been mainly in the field of agriculture. Joining Spectrum Gallery has broadened his perspective. Joining Spectrum Gallery has also shown Dan how much he has to learn about the art of photographic images.

Tommy's - Dan Dunham

Jan Flanigan is the Central Valley’s self-proclaimed premier dead fly artist. She creates a unique drawing, places actual dead flies on the drawing, then takes a macro photograph of the piece. She started creating these images in October, 2012, in an effort to cheer up a close friend. Jan has lived in Fresno for the past 25 years.

Weightlifter - Jan Flanigan

Andrew has been a member of Spectrum Art Gallery Since June 2013. Currently he is on the board of directors for the gallery as well as maintains the website and social media.

He got his start in photography with the student newspaper at the University of Waterloo where he covered various events on campus. Recently, he has been focusing on floral images. His interest is in capturing the true beauty of life in his art. He has had one show in January of 2014 from his floral collection.

In addition to floral images, Andrew has been capturing landscapes and black and white images. His next show will be in September 2016 comprised of drought images from Central California.

Untitled - Andrew Holden

Brittany Kalemkarian is a self-taught amateur photographer and graduate student at the University of the Pacific. She shoots in film and digital using a Canon AE-1 Program and Canon 60D. Her photography attempts to capture the beauty and creativity found in nature. In addition to photography, Brittany enjoys traveling, hiking, and skiing – which is reflected in her work.

Smoke - Brittany Kalemkarian

Take a moment to think of all that nature gives to you every single day so that you may live, yet nature never asks for anything in return. This is true giving. mARTin is a landscape and nature photographer. I find great pleasure and satisfaction in my photography. I love what I do and I do it with PASSION! There is always something in nature to share. If my images move you emotionally then I am happy. I am inspired by nature, fascinated in art, and passionate for photography, which makes it possible for the creation of my art. I am a Clovis Community College student in Clovis, CA pursuing my major in arts.

Untitled - mARTin Nunez

Patrick Rhames has lived in Fresno, since the age of 5. He grew up in Tarpey Village, was educated in local parochial schools, graduated from Fresno State and joined the Fresno Police Department at the age of 18. He spent the next 42 years with that department, retiring in 2007. While employed by FPD, he was introduced to photography as a crime scene investigator.

After retirement, he studied photography, earning a commercial photography credential from New York Institute of Photography. He is a member of the Fresno Camera Club, Spectrum Art Gallery and owns a photography business, locally.

Untitled - Patrick Rhames

For me, photography is an emotional experience; there must be something in an image that moves me before I take a picture. This is even more so, if I decide to take an image to the next level through post processing. I fully understand that perfection is a goal, not a reality. Nevertheless, I continue to work towards perfection, trying to get as much out of every image as possible. And, having lots of fun while doing so.

Popcorn Girl - Jonathan Rollins

My name is Lorinda Salvador and I present to you my appreciation for life and my emotions through the art of photography, a passion which grew from many influences. My parents introduced me to the wilderness of the Sierra Nevada’s. They taught me to appreciate the beauty of nature and to treat it with great respect. My parents were hunters, and although I enjoyed the sport of hiking and learning how to find game, I did not enjoy shooting them; until I took up arms with a camera.

The instructors of the Photography Department at Fresno City College provided guidance and focus on creativity and the gracious advice from seasoned photographers at the Spectrum Art Gallery. The instruction they have provided is priceless, thoughtful and truly an honor to be welcomed into the art world of photography. Art of Photography requires the technical ability to capture a moment and allow me to share the story and my emotions with you time and again.

I would not be able to present this art to your today, without the constant support and encouragement from my dearest friend. He woke a slumbering love of photography and accompanies me on a journey that has been incredible and most unexpected.

My photography is a collection of all things I find interesting, from something as simple as an old bolt on an old bridge, the coy smile of a stranger, to the majestic beauty of the Sierra Nevada’s, San Joaquin Valley and the California Coast. God has provided each of us with talents to share with one another. Some people speak of God and scripture with eloquence. I am not one of those people; therefore, I try to see God’s beauty in all things, I try to find love for all people and express my awe and gratitude with photography. My hope is that you find creativity, love and emotion I am meant to share with you through my art.

Lorinda Salvador

In 2003, I moved to Fresno from the Philadelphia area to join the faculty in the Department of Art and Design at Fresno State. I teach color theory, photography, two-dimensional and three-dimensional design. I received an MFA from Indiana University, Bloomington and BFA from Temple University, Tyler School of Art. During my junior year, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Rome, Italy. I have traveled throughout the United States, Europe and India. The first trip to India was in 1989. I co-directed two study-tours to various regions of India through Fresno State during the winters of 2006-07 and 2010-11 as well as a pate tour with local Art Historians in 2014. Following my 2009 sabbatical visit to the villages of Madhubani to meet the artists practicing the ancient and evolving art form of Mithila Painting I self-published a book, “Madhubani, Mithila Artists”. My photographs and paintings are in private and public collections.

Spine - Joan Sharma