On The Way Here by Richard Harrison

 

“On The Way Here” by Richard Harrison

Exhibit: September 1 to October 2, 2022
Art Hop Reception: September 1, 2022 – 5PM to 8PM

 After being a photographer for over fifty years, the last couple of years I have become interested in the Botanical World. Up until now I had spent very little time taking pictures of flowers. Not that I didn’t enjoy flowers, but I had other interests, never really taking time to explore this fascinating area of photography.

The first series was by accident and the fact that all my wife’s irises were in blossom. A great subject to start the process. After photographing irises for a week or so, until their flowery show dwindled, I started looking around the yard for more willing subjects. And there were plenty! It was at this time the beauty of “weeds” took root.

After my first few encounters with the wonderful world of weeds, I started to take a closer look. To my surprise, the beauty of weeds, in all their glory, began twinkling before the camera’s lens.

“The Travels of WoeBear” is a special section of this exhibit. WoeBear is a loving, magical, odd little Dog who wandered about during the last plague digging up secrets of the Dog Universe. Some (but not all) of WoeBear’s adventures and encounters are shown here.

“Stuff from Old Boxes,” as the name implies, are pictures from the past, using film, chemicals and what was known as silver gelatin paper. Numerous techniques and processes were used, including a camera that, outwardly, wasn’t doing much more than making a clicking sound.

Thank you for taking time to visit; not just my exhibit, but to enjoy all the wonderful images created by other photographers of Spectrum Art Gallery.

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

Jeffrey D. Nicholas “Spotlight” Memorial Retrospective Exhibition

 

Jeffrey D. Nicholas “Spotlight”

Memorial Retrospective Exhibition

Exhibit: August 4 – 28, 2022
Art Hop Reception: August 4, 2022 – 4PM to 8PM
Reception in Honor of the Artist: August 13, 2022 – 1PM to 4PM

Award-winning photographer Jeffrey David Nicholas first
became fascinated with the art of photography while studying architecture in the late-1960s. Following a year of traditional formal photographic education, which focused principally on black-and- white darkroom technique, he realized that color was his prime motivation. He cited Edward and Brett Weston, Minor White, Paul Caponigro, especially Harry Callahan – who worked brilliantly in both black and white and color – and (of course) Ansel Adams as early black & white influences. Eliot Glass, Brian Eno, Harold Budd and Arvo Part and, of course, Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck, and Bill Evans.

Nicholas’ imagery was awarded, published, exhibited, and
collected. In the mid-1980s he moved to Yosemite National Park to work at The Ansel Adams Gallery as book-buyer and curator of prints and exhibits. Later he co-founded Sierra Press with several other photographers to launch a line of color photography books celebrating the beauty of America’s National Parks. Ultimately, working with so many of America’s leading landscape photographers led him to question his own photographic intentions and aspirations. For most of the last 10 years he steadily moved away from his earlier style and subject matter: working instead to find his own voice. Nicholas pursued the muse of photography for more than four-and-a-half decades.

In 2013 Jeff had an exhibit titled “WINDOWS and WALLS.” The series included architectural imagery from Puerto Rico, New Orleans, New Mexico and, yes,
Fresno, California. This body of work, according to the artist, represents his intention to un-learn all the “rules” he mastered during the first 30 years of his photographic career. It is work that is not about what the photograph’s subject “is”, but rather “what else” it might be. This work is, arguably, most heavily influenced not by photographers but, rather, by the imagery of abstract expressionist and impressionist painters.

In 2016 Jeff exhibited a series titled “Essence.” In his exhibition statement Jeffrey noted: The aim of art is to represent not the outward appearance of things, but their inward significance. And Georgia O’Keeffe is quoted as having said:
     Nothing is less real than realism…
     It is only by selection, by elimination, by emphasis,
     That we get at the real meaning of things.
Finally, the artist/photographer Ralph Gibson was quoted as saying about his own imagery:
     I can tell you what it is,
     But I cannot tell you what it means.

All I can add to that is: “Ditto.”

We at Spectrum were deeply saddened to lose our long-time member, frequent exhibiting artist, generous donor, and dear friend, Jeff Nicholas. His wish was that any sales of his work benefit our non-profit mission to serve the community. Limited copies of Jeffrey D. Nicholas Memorial Retrospective Exhibition Catalogs will be available at the gallery. Additional copies are available to order.

A reception in honor of Jeffrey D. Nicholas will be held Saturday, August 13, 2022 from 1PM to 4PM. Sharing memories at 2PM.

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

Pride! An LGBTQI+ Invitational Exhibition

HELD OVER THROUGH JULY 31, 2022

Pride! An LGBTQI+ Invitational Exhibition

Exhibit: June 2 – July 31, 2022
Art Hop Reception: July 7, 2022 – 4PM to 8PM
Fresno Pride Reception: Saturday June 4, 2022 – 11AM to 1PM1
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Spectrum Art Gallery proudly presents an invitational exhibition of photographic works featuring LGBTQI+ photographers, Spectrum Members and Supporters.

Queer culture is as unique and diverse as the individual community members within the LGBTQI+ community.  Through photographs, we celebrate and express ourselves and our culture, our struggles and our hopes, and our visions that come together and make us who we are.  During Pride month, we celebrate this diversity, and through it, we find strength and empowerment.  LGBTQI+ photographers have a unique perspective, especially considering the challenges, struggles, and obstacles that generations of our queer community has been through, and Spectrum Art Gallery is proud to bring this vision to light through this exhibition. 

Pride! Features a combination of Spectrum Art Gallery members who identify with, or are supporters of the LGBTQI+ community, and in the spirit of inclusiveness and support, have invited several LGBTQI+ guests to show photographic artworks that represent their personal vision.  Listed among our guests will be Ray Quenga, Avigdar “Bill” Adams, and others.

Join us for ArtHop on Thursday, June 2, 2022 between 5pm and 8pm to see these amazing artworks, and if you come to the Tower District Pride Parade on Saturday, June 4, stop on in from 11am-1pm for a special reception you won’t want to miss!

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

Fenestration & Demarcation by Edward Gillum & Kris Kessey

“Fenestration & Demarcation”

by

Edward Gillum & Kris Kessey

Exhibit: May 5 – 29, 2022
Art Hop Reception: May 5, 2022 – 5PM to 8PM

Edward Gillum will be sharing his recent photography-based artwork with that of new gallery member, Kris Kessey, in a two-person exhibit during May of 2022. The title of this upcoming show is “fenestration and demarcation.” Her mixed media with photography work is focused on windows – looking through glass and the images therein as well as those reflected upon the surfaces. Edward’s work takes the form of an installation, and shares as its subject matter, the images of 41 gates that can be seen while driving between Fresno and Oakhurst on Highway 41. 

 

Kris Kessey has been interested in photography since childhood, beginning with the iconic Brownie and then borrowing her dad’s Leica. A few years later a friend introduced her to a darkroom and all the magic that happens there. This prompted her to purchase her first SLR camera, a Canon A-1, and a Beseler enlarger. In college at the University of Nevada Reno, Kris majored in Fine Art with an emphasis on Photography. She was drawn to macro imagery and nature subjects . Sometimes she would make scientific “slides” to use as negatives directly in the enlarger. After college Kris went to work for Kruger Photographic Services in Reno. She was put in charge of the black and white darkroom and film developing. Spending eight to ten hours a day in the darkroom had her up to her armpits in vats of developer and fixer. No longer able get the smell of fixer out of her nose and mouth and off her skin she decided it was time to switch careers. She began teaching art and dabbling in other fields. Fast forward to 1999, Kris entered the Graduate Program at Fresno State where she earned a Masters degree – in Sculpture. Even though Kris is now primarily focused on the 3D aspect of Fine Arts, photography is always looking over her shoulder. With the advent of digital photography Kris has enjoyed being able to take unlimited images without being restricted to rolls of film and processing time and expense. As an avid traveler many of her images have been taken in various places such as Italy, Norway, and Spain. Often the photos she takes serve as ‘memory joggers’ though many are compositions of place, texture, and detail. Struck by how many images in her archives dealt with the idea of fenestration, she felt a theme based on windows and reflection would be a good choice for her upcoming exhibit at Spectrum Gallery. Kris is retired from Fresno State after over 20 years of adjunct teaching in the Art Department. She spends most of her time in her studio, working on remodeling projects and traveling, all the while a camera close at hand.

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

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

40th Anniversary Art Auction — Spectrum Art Gallery’s Online Silent Auction June 3 through July 15, 2021!

Please visit our online auction website to view the auction items and bid!
https://www.accelevents.com/e/SpectrumArtGallery40thAnniversaryArtAuction

In honor of its 40th Anniversary and ongoing mission to support photographic art and education in the greater central valley, Spectrum Art Gallery has been the grateful recipient of magnificent contributions by world renown and regional photographic artists. In addition, philanthropic donors have contributed works by prominent artists who are no longer with us. Their legacy will continue to reach all of us through your generous donations, which are featured in this online catalog including the Edward Weston 50th Anniversary Portfolio offered in our upcoming Auction 2020.

Edward Weston “Fiftieth Anniversary Portfolio: 1902-1952

Edward Weston (American, 1886-1958), “Fiftieth Anniversary Portfolio: 1902-1952,” circa 1952, Carmel, California, 1951, a complete portfolio of all 12 gelatin silver prints, from an edition of 100, printed by Brett Weston under Edward Weston’s supervision, each mounted and dated with the photographer’s initials in pencil on the mount, each stamped in ink with the print number on the reverse of the mount; with colophon, introduction by Edward Weston, a plate list, contained in folio, white cloth with flaps and black letterpress title, bound by Perry G. Davis, San Francisco, typography by the Grabhorn Press, The portfolio consists of these plates: Cabbage Leaf, 1931, Eel River, 1937, David H. McAlpin, New York, 1941, Eroded Rock, Point Lobos, 1930, Nude, 1936, Wall Scrawls, Hornitos, 1940, Guadalupe, Mexico, 1925, Church Door, Hornitos, 1940, North Dome, Point Lobos, 1946, William Edmondson, sculptor, Nashville, 1941, “Willie,” New Orleans, 1941, and Dunes, Oceano, 1936, photos each on artist mounted 16″ x 13.75″. All prints are in excellent condition overall. Two have been framed to museum standard for viewing in this exhibition. The included original portfolio case 16.5″ x 14″ x .75″ has warpage; so, all prints not on display have been stored in a separate, 100% archival portfolio box. This entire portfolio has been authenticated and appraised by Christian/Reilly registered by The Appraisers Association of America, Inc.

Spectrum Art Gallery considers the safety of the community and members our top priority.  For that reason, we have decided to offer an online silent art auction instead of our usual live event.

 

More about the Edward Weston Prints we are auctioning:

In honor of its 40th Anniversary and its ongoing mission to support photographic art and education in the greater central valley, Spectrum Art Gallery has been the grateful recipient of magnificent contributions by world renown and regional photographic artists. In addition, philanthropic donors have contributed works by prominent artists who are no longer with us. Their legacy will continue to reach all of us through these generous donations, which are featured in this catalog and the following pages displaying the Edward Weston 50th Anniversary Portfolio offered in our Auction.

Edward Weston “Fiftieth Anniversary Portfolio: 1902-1952”

Edward Weston (American, 1886-1958), “Fiftieth Anniversary Portfolio: 1902-1952,” Carmel, California, a complete portfolio of all 12 gelatin silver prints, from an edition of 100, printed by Brett Weston under Edward Weston’s supervision, each mounted and dated with the photographer’s initials in pencil on the mount, each stamped in ink with the print number on the reverse of the mount; with colophon, introduction by Edward Weston, a plate list, contained in folio, white cloth with flaps and black letterpress title, bound by Perry G. Davis, San Francisco, typography by the Grabhorn Press.

The portfolio consists of these plates:

● Cabbage Leaf, 1931

● Eel River, 1937

● David H. McAlpin, New York, 1941

● Eroded Rock, Point Lobos, 1930

● Nude, 1936

● Wall Scrawls, Hornitos, 1940

● Guadalupe, Mexico, 1925

● Church Door, Hornitos, 1940

● North Dome, Point Lobos, 1946

● William Edmondson, sculptor, Nashville, 1941

● “Willie,” New Orleans, 1941

● Dunes, Oceano, 1936

Each photo is on 16″ x 13.75” mount board by the artist. All prints are in excellent condition overall. Two have been framed to museum standards for viewing in this exhibition. The included original portfolio case 16.5″ x 14″ x .75″ has warpage; so, all prints not on display have been stored in a separate, 100% archival portfolio box. This entire portfolio has been authenticated and appraised by Christian|Reilly, registered by The Appraisers Association of America, Inc.

 

 

“Hope” Online Exhibition

Second in a series of strictly online exhibitions, this virtual exhibition features member artworks exposed, edited, or symbolic of Hope.

Even in the face of danger, disease, and unrest, we have seen some of the most beautiful (and some of the ugliest) of humanity in the last year. And art certainly comments on the state of affairs in our everyday life.  It is amazing how our art imitates life and what we are going through.  And sometimes, it seems to not even be impacted, although I think many therapists may disagree! 

In any case, it is no disagreement that this last year has not been the most delightful time for anyone.  However, there is light at the end of the tunnel!  So whether you are impacted directly by this pandemic, or if you are experiencing your own personal isolation beyond sheltering in place, we are all excited (and a bit impatient) about restrictions easing and normalcy soon returning.  And this again brings to light, as it has throughout history;

When the darkness comes, there still remains hope.

For more information on any of these presented artworks or to purchase, please email Jesse Merrell at curator@spectrumphotogallery.org

Hope Online Exhibition

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Hope Online Exhibition

“Stay @ Home” Online Exhibition

First in a series of strictly online exhibitions, this virtual exhibition features member artworks exposed, edited, or symbolic of sheltering in place. These images were made close to home, catching up with image editing, or interacting with recent social and physical environments.

For more information on any of these presented artworks or to purchase, please email Jesse Merrell at curator@spectrumphotogallery.org

"Stay @ Home" Online Exhibition

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"Stay @ Home" Online Exhibition