TRIPLEX: Three Strands of Thought

TRIPLEX: Three Strands of Thought

by

Wendy Denton, Edward Gillum & Kris Kessey

November 7 to December 1, 2024

Art Hop Reception: November 7th • 5 – 8 PM

Friday Photography Live • November 22, 2024 • 7PM

We chose to title our show TRIPLEX, Three Strands of Thought , (noun:
trip-leks) using an illustration of a triple helix DNA molecule, a rare genetic structure where the third strand winds around the central double helix in the larger spaces left by the original staircase shape.

The three of us sought different themes that are aspects of being human.
Kris chose “Hands “, Wendy chose “Aging “ and Ed chose “Curtains?”

KRIS KESSEY: HANDS • Hands are the “tool of tools” according to Aristotle.  They are the most frequently symbolized part of the human body… a complex, prehensile, multi-fingered appendage with opposable thumbs.  A grasping tool.  As humans, we use them in countless ways… for holding, stroking, caressing, punching, slapping,  grabbing, drawing, eating, operating machinery, pushing buttons, communicating,  the list is long…

I am not sure when I first became aware of how unique and useful hands are, I had taken them for granted for a long while.  Then one day I noticed that my hands were very similar to my father’s hands but not so much to my mothers. I noticed that my siblings also had our fathers hands.   I started to look at my friends’ hands, other relatives and strangers… how they were different and how they were the same, particularly among families.  I took my first photos of hands  in the mid-80’s – my father at his drafting board and my mother doing her morning crossword.  I took a group photo of my siblings’ hands in the late 90’s that I have included in this show.  

The rest of the images I am sharing are from friends, family and people I’ve met during my travels.

Every hand tells a story… the size, shape, length of fingers, skin texture, scars, wrinkles, paint stains, calluses… each one unique to the individual.  The hands reflect expression, emotion, personality, character, experience, culture, and occupation.  They provide insight into a person that words cannot.  I love the way hands can convey so much to us.  As a photographer, I am always drawn to images of hands, and I am delighted to share some of my favorite ones with you here.

WENDY DENTON: AGING •

In my exhibit thread, I explore the intricate tapestry of aging—its beauty, its challenges, and its profound stories. Each photograph captures not just the passage of time but the essence of lived experiences etched in the lines of a face, the grace of a posture, and the wisdom reflected in a gaze.

As we navigate through life, our bodies and spirits evolve, presenting a unique narrative that often goes unnoticed. This series invites viewers to pause and reflect on their own perceptions of aging, challenging societal norms that frequently celebrate youth while overlooking the richness of maturity.

I’ve sought to capture moments that convey vulnerability and strength—quiet reflections, shared laughter, and moments of solitude. I address such themes as “Forgetting Words,” “Consumer Culture and Aging,” “Pain,” “Indigenous Thoughts on Aging,” and others.

This exhibition is a reminder that aging is not merely an end but a continuation of stories, experiences, and identities. It honors those who have come before us and encourages a dialogue about the beauty of growing older, embracing every wrinkle and every gray hair as a testament to a life fully lived.

I invite you to step into this journey with me and see the profound beauty in aging, where every photograph is a chapter in the ever-evolving story of humanity. Thank you for joining me in this exploration of time, memory, and the art of living fully at every age.

EDWARD GILLUM: CURTAINS? •

It was the mid 70s, and we had survived the 60s.

As an art student, majoring in sculpture, I was very happy to learn techniques like mold making and bronze casting. 

My financial aid would run out soon, so I would need to make some decisions. UCSC did not offer grad courses so I would have to leave Santa Cruz if I chose to seek an MFA.  

Over beer and pizza, my best friend told me about a special topics class being offered by a visiting professor Christina Hooper, “Generative Systems “.  Little did I know how participating in this class would not only open my mind to new possibilities and ideas, but most significantly how to analyze the nature of systems and to try to understand the relational aspects of connectedness.

The biggest change I felt from taking this class was that I would no longer be content to be an “object maker “and my focus shifted from applying methods and techniques aimed at how well each object I made was crafted to what each endeavor could communicate.

The following summer I participated in a sculpture workshop at San Jose State that would also be a game changer. What I had gained/learned from the “Generative Systems” class began to show up in the work I made and how I talked about art and life experiences.  I didn’t realize how strong of a connection I had made with Tom Walsh, one of the invited artists, until a few weeks after the workshop had ended. This came my way in the form of a letter from professor Tom Walsh, Head of Sculpture at Southern Illinois University, offering tuition waiver and a teaching assistantship . Now all I needed to do was to graduate from UCSC. And that is another story for another time. 

During the “Generative Systems” class, Christina often referred to her mentor, Douglas R. Hofstadter.  His book “Godel, Esher, Bach: an eternal golden braid”, “and won him the Pulitzer Prize.

I was in my second year of the MFA program at SIU-C when a parcel was delivered that included a warm message of hope and a copy of Godel Escher Bach. It is a hefty read, but rewarding.  Some 40 years later, I am retiring from teaching sculpture at Fresno State and I am affiliated with Spectrum Art Gallery, a local venue that specializes in photography and as the name implies all aspects of photography are appreciated and exhibited. 

I signed up for a show in November 2024, along with two dear friends/colleagues, Kris Kessey and Wendy Denton.  While considering how our various creations could work together in the gallery space and what to call the show, etc., I remembered Hofstedter‘s book. By revisiting the basic notion that the work and ideas of three important geniuses could form a golden braid, yet were created with obviously different approaches, and employed systems that were similar in so many relational ways.

My choice was informed by systems out of my control – having been diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. So my part of the show is an installation that utilizes visual illustrations chosen from the imaging done along with the chemotherapy I was prescribed.  X-rays, MRIs and PET scans were made to illustrate the malady and to gauge the progress of healing toward remission.  Vacuum formed 3-D replicas of  pills and capsules are flanked by photographic representations of decay and preservation printed on fabric to form the curtains.

Spectrum Art Gallery Print Auction Exhibition 2024

Spectrum Art Gallery Print Auction Exhibition

October 3 to 25, 2024

Art Hop Reception: October 3rd • 5 – 8 PM

Location: Spectrum Art Gallery, 608 E. Olive Ave, Fresno CA 93728 

•••••

Live Print Auction Event: October 26, 2024 • 1PM to 4PM 

Location: Dulce Upfront, 2026 N. Van Ness Blvd, Fresno CA 93704

We are excited to present this year’s Photographic Auction and Exhibition. As in the past, we will showcase many wonderful works by Spectrum members, along with contributions from local and national photographers. Additionally, we are privileged to offer two photographs from Edward Weston’s portfolio.

The Annual Print Auction exhibition opens on Art Hop at Spectrum Art Gallery on Thursday, October 3rd, and continues through October 25th.

On Saturday, October 26th, all photographs will be relocated to the venue Dulce Upfront for the Live Print Auction. This spacious venue will provide a lively atmosphere for the auction and will include a silent auction, food, and refreshments.

Join us for an exciting afternoon of art and bidding! 

Don’t miss this opportunity to enrich your art collection and support a meaningful cause! Mark your calendars for Saturday, October 26, from 1-4 pm at the newly remodeled Dulce Upfront, located in the Fresno High area at 2026 N. Van Ness Blvd., Fresno CA. Prepare for an exciting event of art, food, fun, and impactful giving!

 

We would like to thank our generous friends and colleagues for donating their beautiful photography, monetary donations, your time and efforts to our fundraiser.

A big thank you to the local businesses who have donated items for the silent auction and drawings.

 

Menagerie of Light by Victoria Flores, Meg Kosloff, Josh Moulton

MENAGERIE OF LIGHT

September 5 to 29, 2024

Art Hop Reception: September 5th • 5 – 8 PM 

Friday Photography Live Presentation: Artist Discussion September 27th, 2024 • 7 PM

The phrase, Menagerie of Light, evokes the idea of a diverse and vibrant collection of light sources or visual effects, similar to how a menagerie is a collection of various animals. It suggests a scene that is rich, varied, and possibly magical or enchanting in its visual impact. In the context of photography, a menagerie of light refers to the diverse and intricate ways light is captured and manipulated in an image.

Victoria’s inspiration for her images comes from chasing light and discovering interesting organic shapes. She truly enjoys exploring and capturing moments of natural beauty. While photographing botanicals might seem mundane to some, she finds it exciting. By using multiple exposures on her digital camera, she creates intriguing new shapes from the plants and flowers in the environment. These new blooms evoke an ethereal feeling that many people can relate to when strolling through nature. Photography serves as an escape from the stresses of everyday life and a way to strengthen her artistic muscles. Her goal is to capture the essence of nature in a fresh way while presenting it differently from the norm.

Victoria Flores is the Spectrum Art Gallery manager and webmaster. She is an accomplished artist, adjunct professor at Fresno City College and a CSUSacramento Alumni. She has seamlessly integrated formal education, technical expertise, and community service throughout her diverse career in visual arts.

For this exhibition, Meg chose black and white photographs to showcase her distinctive approach to capturing “light.” Light is what allows us to see the world around us, and without it, there would be no such thing as photography. Meg delights in capturing the spectacular, gritty, “normal,” courageous, and bizarre aspects of the world we live in. She tends to be spontaneous when she shoots, seizing compelling moments and trying to capture the light before it fades away. Whether it’s spotlights in a dark music venue, soft diffuse light dispersing into seemingly quiet spaces during a rainstorm, or a silhouetted dancer in the sky, the starkness and softness of black and white make these two commanding shades capable of signifying everything and nothing at once. Meg is excited to share this space with two fellow photographers who also capture the world in their own distinct ways.

Meg Kosloff’s portfolio showcases a diverse range of subjects, including street scenes, bands/musicians, food, and landscapes, making her aptly described as a lifestyle photographer. Beyond her creative pursuits, Meg is also an accomplished ICU nurse with a wealth of experience in listening to people’s stories. She loves embarking on adventures and spending time with her husband and their two adorable kitties.

Joshua Moulton is an award-winning landscape photographer who seeks out large, imaginative scenes that skew towards the fantastical. With a backpack chock full of camera gear—Joshua is ready for any condition as he will often be found ankle-deep in rivers, traversing questionable heights, and craning his neck upwards with digital Fuji in hand to capture a fleeting moment. 

Menagerie of Light is a collection of images captured in 2024 with a focus on the American deserts with overlapping, yet discernible points of view. Each scene is transformed by unique light compelling the artist to capture its moment, to engage the shutter, to freeze time. 

Joshua is a CSU Fresno alumni with a BA in Geography. When not traveling, this Central California native stays close to home in Clovis with his favorite companion – his beautiful wife Jessica, their two cats and his Onewheels.

Art Hop Reception: September 5, 2024 • 5-8PM

Friday Photography Live: Artist discussion  September 27, 2024 • 7PM

Michael Karibian A Retrospective

Michael Karibian A Retrospective

July 5 to September 1, 2024

Art Hop Reception: July, 11 & August, 1 • 5 – 8 PM 

Reception: July 13, 2024 • 1 – 4 PM 

Friday Photography Live Presentation: Techniques of Traditional Darkroom Masters July 19, 2024 • 7 PM

Join us in a celebration of the work of distinguished artist, Michael Karibian, who contributed greatly to the fabric of our local arts community. Beloved and past member of Spectrum Art Gallery, Karibian was featured in exhibitions not only at Spectrum Art Gallery, but also the Fresno Art Museum, and Fig Tree Gallery. Although he has passed on, his amazing work continues to inspire with this retrospective exhibition featuring some of the highlights of his versatile career.

During his tour in Vietnam in 1969 he served as photographer for “Stars and Stripes.” With extensive Airforce training, he tackled everything from photographing generals shaking hands, troop movements in the field, to Agent Orange deployment and its results. While in Saigon, his camera turned to life in the streets and the souls he encountered. He came away with a mindset even more devoted to peace and tolerance. Coming from a heritage of those who escaped genocide, he listened, empathized, and later recorded Armenian elders’ stories accounting the horrors leading to the diaspora that enabled his generation precious opportunities to thrive in peace.

After military service with both a BA and MFA, he pursued a long and successful career as a professional photographer. To name a few, his clients ranged from California State University, Fresno, UC Merced, the Fresno Art Museum, major regional hospitals, The Big Fresno Fair, California Agricultural Industry, the Honor Flight for Veterans traveling to Washington D.C., to portraits of dignitaries, musicians, artists and their works.

As an avocation, he took great joy in listening and creating music with guitar and mandolin. Words and music were often integrated with his visuals in such ways that streams of consciousness could flow. Sketches, freeform poetry, memoirs, and Illustrated notebooks were developed as well as some very limited editions of custom-made books.

The visitors to this exhibition will have the opportunity to experience a cross-section of Michael Karibian’s unique life in photography through this collection of his finely crafted original artworks.


Join Steve Dzerigian’s Friday Photography Live on July 19th at 7PM for Techniques of Traditional Darkroom Masters.

This Is My World Juried Student Exhibition 2024

This Is My World: Juried Student Exhibition 2024

June 6 to 30, 2024

Art Hop Reception: June 6, 2024 • 5 – 8 PM 

Friday Photography Live Presentation: June 21, 2024 • 7 PM

Closing Reception: June 30, 2024 • 1 – 5 PM 

Photography encourages self-expression and creativity and can build confidence as well as a sense of individual identity. It can also help to develop critical thinking and the ability to interpret the world around us. Images for the student exhibition should be personal, meaningful, and indicative of identity. The process of photographic image making — from choosing subject matter to discovering new ways of manipulating light — requires “focus.” This very process of observing and creating, is, by nature, a meditative task that draws you into a mindful, peaceful state. In this sense, students can use their photography practice as a tool to curate and reframe the world around them.


It is with immense pride and joy that we extend a heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of these students on the success of this photo exhibition. Their creativity, passion, and dedication have culminated in a remarkable showcase of talent that not only captures the beauty of the world around us but also tells compelling stories through the lens of their cameras.

This exhibition is more than just a display of photographs; it is a testament of their hard work, artistic vision, and the courage to express themselves in unique and powerful ways. Each image reflects their individual perspectives and the collective spirit of their groups, highlighting the diversity and richness of our Central Valley community.


As you all continue to pursue your artistic endeavors, remember that you are not only creating art but also carrying on the important legacy of the photographic arts. Art has the power to inspire, to challenge, to provoke thought, and to evoke emotions. It bridges gaps between cultures, speaks truths that words cannot, and leaves an indelible mark on society.

By embracing your roles as artists, you are contributing to a tradition that spans centuries and transcends boundaries. You are the torchbearers of creativity and innovation, and your work will undoubtedly inspire future generations to see the world through fresh eyes and with open hearts.

Thank you for sharing your talents with us and for reminding us of the beauty and power of artistic expression. Congratulations on this outstanding achievement, and may this be the first of many successes in your artistic journeys.

Jurors:

Sandee Scott

Sandee expresses her passion for creativity through pastel painting, alcohol ink, cold wax and oil, mixed media projects, and photography. Her artwork has received recognition and won awards in local exhibits and she has been a participating artist in Sierra Art Trails since 2014. Additionally, she has felt honored to have her mixed media pieces accepted in recent Yosemite Renaissance exhibits. Her work can be seen intermittently at various venues sponsored by Yosemite Sierra Artists.

Dean Taylor

Over the last forty-five years his passion for photography has led him on
numerous photographic adventures. The majority of his photographic knowledge has come from participating in numerous workshops and seminars, and attending local camera club meetings, listening to and learning from guest judge’s critiques of his own and other’s images. He feels that whatever insight and photographic artistry he has accrued is a direct result of those sharing experiences. His experience as a photography judge includes judging for numerous camera clubs, camera club councils, county fairs, local photography shows, fine-arts organization’s gallery shows, and various Photographic Society of America sponsored international salons.

Steve Dzerigian

Weaving history, philosophy, and the natural world with artmaking, Steve Dzerigian adopted photography as his primary investigative and contemplative tool. The activities of photography and teaching it became his life’s work. He instructed field workshops for the University of California, Santa Cruz Extension from 1977 through 2007. For the Ansel Adams Gallery Photography Workshop in Yosemite, from 1984 to 1990, he was an assistant instructor and served as director one of those years. In 2002, he was co-coordinator for the “Ansel Adams Centennial Symposium in Yosemite, Edges and Intersections: The Evolution of Change”. Devoted to facilitating art and education in Central California for more than forty-five years, he has served as curator, juror, and consultant for many exhibitions, competitions, and media events, in addition to teaching photography full-time at Fresno City College. 

50 Years of Photography: A Retrospective by Tim A. Fleming

50+ Years of Photography: A Retrospective by Tim A. Fleming

May 2 to June 2, 2024

Art Hop Reception: May 2, 2024 • 4 – 8 PM 

Friday Photography Live Presentation and Q&A: May 10, 2024 • 7 PM

Artist Statement:

The Exhibition. Photographs 1966 to 2024. 

It is a collection of my images, from my teen age years to present time.

My earliest work.
I’ll show some of my earliest work, How I saw things (at ages 12 to 15), not my best work, of course, but just to compare. I started printing my own images at age 14 when I bought a Darkroom from a neighbor (only $10 down and $5 a month). Printing my own work gave me quick feedback that helped me to learn faster as I took roll after roll of film around Fresno, my neighborhood and at school.

High School and College
In high school, the photography teacher was an ART teacher who was “assigned” to teach photography. This was a good thing (for me) because I already knew the basics and he was exceptional at teaching artistic composition. While attending Fresno City college, the photography teacher was really a MATH professor and instead of retiring he stayed on to set up and grow the photography department. He taught photography by skillfully describing processes and techniques using mathematics and formulas. This was perfect timing for me as I was taking math and chemistry classes at the time. It made everything seem more interesting because I could see how the math could describe photographic processes, camera use and exposure.

The many Activities going on around me provided my subjects. My sister was
competing in gymnastics, so I made photographs of her team, this led to work from other teams. My mom showed my gymnastics photography to the Fresno Ballet group, I was hired to photograph the Ballerinas at their performances. I also worked several part time photography jobs during college to pay my bills (and buy more camera stuff). I exhibited my work at two different galleries there in Santa Cruz. 

Santa Cruz and Shaver Lake
I moved to Santa Cruz and got a Job at Bay Photo Lab in 1977. My boss let me use the lab after hours, to print my own work. I met many amazing photographers at the Lab. After moving to Shaver Lake, where I got my own darkroom up and running again, I made great strides in teaching myself the Ansel Adams Zone system using his series of books.

Back to Fresno
In 1978 to 1981, I traveled to cities in the Western states to sell my landscape photos at art shows and crafts fairs. My brother and I flew and sold Hang gliders during this time period, and we traveled to many hang glider mountain flying sites to meet new customers. This gave me more precious time to be in the mountains and capture wonderful landscape images as well as people flying.

My Brick and Morter Location.
1981 to 2001, I operated a professional Lab called Flash Foto. It had two locations. The tower district and a north Fresno store. We did black and white film and Color film developing, and printing. This gave me the opportunity to meet many great photographers from all over the country as they traveled through Fresno to California and the national parks. The company grew to over 100 commercial clients. I spent my vacations and long weekends out in nature, photographing whenever I could.

Working from Home
2002 to the present, I have enjoyed working as a professional photographer in my home studio building. I have also worked on my own “Artistic” and landscape photography. I traveled to several western states and in California making the images I will present here.
Thank You for reading,
Tim A. Fleming

On May 10, 7 pm, I will give a talk and Q&A about my life in photography at Spectrum Art Gallery. Using these Techniques, Processes and Styles I will present my work in these categories:
Landscapes and Still Life prints, Infra-Red Photography, Intentional Camera movement (ICM), Rorschach Inkblot Test or Mirror image-I call it “Flip n Fold”.
Painted photographs, a technique that uses Photoshop to paint over an image.
Portraits, in Color and Black and White – Painted – ICM – Performers – Sports.
Composite Images, combining 2 or more images into one piece.

Spectrum Art Gallery’s New Hours of Operation:

Thursdays and Fridays: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

An Infrared Fantasy by Caroline Jackson

An Infrared Fantasy by Caroline Jackson

Exhibit: April 7 – April 29, 2022

Art Hop Reception: April 7, 2022 – 5PM to 8PM

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"Nicole S." -- Caroline Jackson
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"Radar" -- Caroline Jackson

Caroline Jackson bought her first camera 10 years ago, and has seldom set it aside. She never settled on a particular genre, and normally takes a mindfulness approach to creating images. Her photographs are not made with intention – such as documentary work – but on free flowing feeling. Always drawn to the range of human experience, and usually a darker, lonely or edgy mood, her images feature themes of alienation, separation and exclusion and can encompass street scenes, lonely desert landscape, crumbling structures; scenes that convey isolation and being cast aside. Being drawn to the outlier segments of society, her pictures are usually not “pretty.” The goal is always to have the viewer pause, feel, listen and question their relationship to a subject, emotion or idea. Caroline’s primary presentation has always been monochrome – without the distracting element of color – the subject and composition takes center stage. 3 years ago, Caroline decided to convert a digital camera by having its hot filter removed and replaced with a filter that allows some infrared light to reach the sensor – light not within our visible spectrum. This genre of shooting accentuates her usual lonely and edgy scenes. Working with this light the human eye cannot see lends a sense of distortion to her photographs. They appear “different,” and  at times other worldly.The infrared medium gives a new spin on familiar subject matter, a portal to a new or strange vision. Much of Caroline’s work has a shrouded, depressed, or gritty feel. With infrared, there is a different take created on cliche subject matter. Infrared photography has a learning curve, like any genre. An out of the camera RAW file is a jumbled red image, essentially unusable. She shoots with a custom white balance, and utilized a DNG profile in Adobe Camera RAW, to allow the images to be edited. Swaps of color channels are done, to bring out the infrared spectrum of color, and eventually most images are converted to monochrome for a haunting appearance.

Caroline V. Jackson is an attorney from the San Francisco Bay Area, now making her home in Fresno. Infrared takes her photography to the realm of noir. She is affiliated with Spectrum Gallery in Fresno. Her work has been shown at various exhibitions in the Central Valley.

Spectrum Art Gallery’s New Hours of Operation:
ArtHop (1st) Thursdays: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Fridays: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Spectrum Art Gallery Annual Print Auction

Spectrum Art Gallery Annual Print Auction & Exhibition

Exhibit: March 3 – April 3rd 2022 • Auction: March 15- April 3 2022

Art Hop Reception: March 3 – 5PM to 8PM

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"Lumenocity #7" -- Travis Rockett
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"Crow's Landing" -- Sue Thorson
Spectrum Art Gallery is hosting its Annual Print Auction! 

Spectrum Art Gallery’s Annual Print Auction is now open for your bidding!!  The auction closes on April 3rd at 5PM.  Select the following link to open the auction website to start bidding:

https://www.accelevents.com/e/2022spectrum

Over 55 items from internationally recognized photographers and well-known local artists will be available to view at Spectrum Art Gallery and posted on Spectrum’s on-line silent auction site hosted by Accelevents.  The link will be available on the Gallery Website at www.spectrumphotogallery.org on March 15, 2022.

For further information regarding either the images or the photographers please contact Spectrum Art Gallery at auction@spectrumphotogallery.org. All sales will be final. No returns or refunds will be provided.

Auction Prints on Exhibit
Spectrum Art Gallery
608 E Olive Ave, Fresno, CA 93728
March 3 – April 3, 2022

Spectrum Art Gallery’s New Hours of Operation:
ArtHop (1st) Thursdays: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Fridays: 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Members’ Exhibition

Spectrum Members’ Exhibition

February 3 – 27

ArtHop Artist Reception: Thursday, February 3, 4PM to 8PM

Wheels of the Past, Bodie, CA - Travis Rockett (1 of 1)
Wheels of the Past, Bodie" -- Travis Rockett
Self Esteem, From Captive Isolation Series - Jesse Merrell
"Self Esteem" From Captive Isolation Series -- Jesse Merrell

A Group Exhibition of Works
by Spectrum Art Gallery Members.
 

Spectrum Art Gallery is proud to present the 2022 Member’s Exhibition. We are excited to show new works from our membership, including members who have recently joined our collective. This show will be an open theme, so members are able to highlight their favorite works they would like to share. Our membership is an eclectic group comprised of photographic artists from many different walks of life. We’ve come together to express our joy of photography, and continue to do so well into our current era. Forty years ago, exhibitions of photography as an art form appeared very infrequently, especially in the San Joaquin Valley. It was at that time that a growing number of photographic artists congregated in Photo- Synthesis, a darkroom rental gallery establishment. In 1980, this group formed a not-for-profit cooperative and created a local forum for fine art photography.

Later that year, the group rented a space in Fresno’s Tower District, and referring to the broad variety of work produced by the charter members called itself “Spectrum Gallery.” The present is an exhilarating time in which we now have many traditional photographers, photographic artists, and creatives that push the boundaries of photography. This exhibition will show a collection of our members’ work. Come on down to the gallery for ArtHop and view original and refreshing photographic art by our fine members.

Gabler-Jackson

Ice-elation and Lumine-scent
An Exhibit Featuring the Photography of
Franka Gabler and Caroline Jackson

December 2, 2021 – January 2, 2022

ArtHop Artist Reception: Thursday, December 4, 5PM to 8PM

Ice-elation... Mule's Ears #2 copy
Mule's Ears #2 -- Franka M. Gabler

“Ice-elation”
by Franka M. Gabler

Franka’s ‘Ice-elation’ project began with the 2020 pandemic and the resultant closure of National and State Parks, followed by a period of sheltering in place and self-isolation.  The project helped her to overcome the initial creative block caused by the pandemic. One day, during lockdown, she froze an orchid stem and loved the effect – delicate textures of cracked ice encasing the flowers, revealing parts of them and concealing others. This inspired her to start exploring the forms and patterns of different flowers encased in ice. She photographed the ice blocks with flowers on the light box in her studio.  Backlighting further revealed subtle textures of ice and flowers, their translucency and luminance, exposing their transient nature and fragility. The effect seemed similar to photographing landscapes in fog – her favorite photography subject:  subtle, mysterious, unstable, and unpredictable. 

And there it happened…her inspiration came back!  The ‘Ice-elation’ project sparked her creativity and helped her to refocus her thoughts from the doom and gloom of the initial days of the pandemic to something beautiful and uplifting. 

Biography:

Award-winning photographer and scientist, Franka M. Gabler, developed a fascination, admiration, and respect for nature early in her lifetime. Soon after moving to California in 1997, she experienced her first wilderness backpacking trip in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Ever since that time, she has been photographing the magnificence of the high-country mountains and the California landscape. Her photographs are evocative – the light and atmosphere evident in her photographs often result in sentimental impact and ethereal feeling. She strives to capture the mood and the essence of the place she photographs.

Franka’s photographs have won many awards, including the most recent – a 1st place award for the ‘Intimate and Abstract’ category of the Natural Landscape Photography Awards. Her photographs are published in several books and she has been featured in several photography magazines.  Franka has been invited to speak at several photography conferences. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibits and is represented in private collections throughout the United States and abroad. She is affiliated with Stellar Gallery in Oakhurst, Spectrum Art Gallery in Fresno, Ridgeline Gallery in Mariposa, Viewpoint Photographic Art Center in Sacramento, and Circle Gallery in Madera, CA.

Franka lives in the Sierra foothills, in the small mountain town of Coarsegold, not far from Yosemite National Park.

You can learn more about her work at: www.frankagabler.com.


Pink Tulip Bouquet
Pink Tulip Bouquet -- Caroline V. Jackson


“Lumine-scent
by Caroline V. Jackson

Caroline V. Jackson bought her first camera 10 years ago, and has seldom set it aside. She never settled on a particular genre, and normally takes a mindfulness approach to creating images. Her photographs are not made with intention – such as documentary work – but on free flowing feeling. Always drawn to the range of human experience, and usually a “darker,” lonely or “edgy” mood, her images feature themes of alienation, separation and exclusion and can encompass street scenes, lonely desert landscape, crumbling structures – scenes that convey isolation and being cast aside. Being drawn to the outlier segments of society, her pictures are usually not “pretty.” The goal is always to have the viewer pause, feel, listen and question their relationship to a subject or an idea. The pandemic came, with an about face. Its isolation and travel bans foreclosed most photographic opportunities. But the stay at home orders, along with available time, and a refusal to put down her camera, led to a cloistered genre of photography created with intention and planning – lightbox floral photography. The light coming through her images gives a different take on a familiar subject. The light brings out the beauty of floral arrangement, a twist to her usual style. Through intention, Lumine-Scent conveys beauty, softness, organization, calmness, symmetry – qualities lost to the pandemic chaos. Each featured Lumine-Scent piece begins with a lightbox and fresh flowers selected for potential translucency. An arrangement is made atop the lightbox, with attention paid to symmetry or lack thereof, openness, movement. Each piece is then crafted by taking 4-8 shots of the floral arrangement at varying exposures. The 4-8 exposures are then hand blended in post with layer masks and brushes to bring forth delicate highlights and contrast. The final image is placed on a background or texture complementing the color palette of the individual arrangement. This technique makes the final image appear more as a painting than a photograph.

Biography:

Caroline V. Jackson is an attorney from the San Francisco Bay Area, now making Fresno her home. This structured approach to creating images – with intention and planning – syncs well with legal training.  She is affiliated with Spectrum Gallery in Fresno. Her work has been shown at various exhibitions in the Central Valley.