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The 3rd Annual Women's Photography Show
on exhibit in Laramie at Night Heron Books, 107 E. Ivinson Ave.
With 22 participating photographers, the 3rd Annual Women's Photography Exhibit is the most successful to date. Participants include: Joann Hillman, Carolyn Gordon, Deborah Kratzer-Reid, Enja Borgemann, Bonnie Johnson, Ginnie Madsen, Carol Ostrom, Beth Buskirk, Doreen Granke, Michelle Stark, Mary Williams, Heather Hamilton, Joyce Nelson, Sigrid Mayer, Nicole Lucas, Sheanna Steingass, Sandy Tracy, Angela Campbell, Gail Otto, Susan Davis, and Polina Nobikov. "Terry, Thank you so much for sponsoring [the Women's Photography
Show]. I was so inspired by seeing the other photographs I dug out my SLR, which
I haven't used since I've been here, and started working with it again."
Sandy Tracy Northern Front and Night Heron Books in Laramie wishes to thank everyone who made this year's show such a success! Thank you to all who helped with the reception. And to all who could not make it to the opening, we missed you. Let's keep the show going next year. The more we do it, the more it becomes a tradition. If you have ideas, suggestions or any thoughts on how to improve the exhibition please let me know. Critiques are welcome. If anyone is interested in forming more of a formal group of women photographers in our region, NorthernFront would be happy to stand behind such an organization. I look forward to seeing you and your work next year! Some Background Info on the Annual Women's Photo Show in Laramie and it participants: There is a wide range of work and a diversity of style that is every exciting to see. Each photographer has a number of photos in the exhibit and each provides a statement to go with her work. A short bio to tell viewers about herself, explains each participant's unique photographic philosophy, why she takes pictures, what it means to be a woman photographer, or something about the challenges she faces as a woman photographer, if indeed she sees it that way. Certainly, if there's one thing to be learned from this exhibit, it is that subject and technique aren't gender specific. And yet, tho' one woman, responding to the request for a statement, expressed dismay about the wordage "…the challenges you face as a woman photographer…" saying there is no ‘struggle’, there does seem to be some real life challenges for our photograpahers, tho' they can be said to be universal Real life Challenges: …[there are challenges for women artists & photogs…] Some expressed Financial concerns…some have full time jobs, there are working mothers, single mothers…Our photographers come from around the region--young and old, our participants range from Amateur to Professional, from hobbyists to very serious minded practitioner. We have those with little to no practical experience to some with 40 plus years of experience, who have been educated in photography and have taken pictures as a career endeavor.
The objective of the photography exhibit is to give creative women recognition of their work, to offer an opportunity to local ®ional women photographers no matter the level, be it professional or novice, to show their work publicly; to provide a space for public exhibit and a timely showing for the public to meet these photographers; to draw on and revel in the creative energy and photographic vision of a wide range of women in our area; and, by doing so, to present a small part of the human vision that we know often goes underserved and unseen. Guidelines: · Free to enter. All work must be ready-to-hang. Cut-off date for new work: all work must be delivered to the gallery by the last week of April. Important: Pick up your work during the last week in June. · [Depending on the availability of space, you may submit up to three actual works ... if you have large size photos in frames, please limit to 1 or 2. Also, please do provide a statement to accompany the work and labels with title, cost, contact info etc. · Format may be Traditional or digital media; multi media is ok, but photography must be a major element of the design. Please provide a short statement/ bio to accompany the work. Let it say something about yourself, explaining your photographic philosophy, why you take pictures, what in particular does it mean to you to be a woman photographer, or something about the challenges you face as a woman photographer.
o
w/
variations: digitally altered, trad photog/ multimedia pcs. where photog is
central element/ even visual art which uses photo techniques ·
Some w/incredible studios,
darkrooms, computer set-ups…others get by with less a division between the participants 1]
“Photograher” who is pursuing her
creative vision; 2] the “Snapshot”, who takes pics because she likes to, of people, places, & things & isn’t
too
concerned a/ the art or techniq…; 3]
the “Neophyte” who is just starting to discover a real
interest in photog; and 4]
the “Eye-opener” who has something almost journalistic to
say, like Marce Dziekinski who takes undersea images… There’s
a rich array of works in the show. Some give us very trad
photos: ·
landscapes, flowers, wildlife;
portraits, weddings, journalistic quality images · others things we take for granted, like different cultures, rural and urban visions, local views,
nighttime scenery; vintage cars, wrecks, machinery, dilapidated buildings,
graffiti, factories, · some are sedate, others are more wild… Some past participants that are featured on NorthernFront: T.D. Granke | Beth Buskirk | Deborah Kratzer-Reid The
Challenges: I’m not sure that the show answers the Q: What it means to be a woman photographer…? While they all see things a little diff, each looks for just the perfect shot that expresses the right emotion. Spending time lining things up, dealing w/ settings, light, exposure…they say they want to help peo to see things the way they do, or in new ways [Like Susan Davis: to get peo to see “movement in static, see what is surreal in ordinary places…]. Having learned to “see” the way the camera sees, all share a unique vision.…some do it with an eye for art, others [like Diana
Kopulos, w/30 yrs exper.] say that thru photog, they’re experiencing life,
experimenting, or that they never
stop learning, [esp true now w/ Digital cameras & digital techniques…] And happily these diverse ‘visions’
all happen to women in to
meet and see for yourselves…and ask that question for yourselves. The
Conflict between Digital and Traditional… For younger photographers, digital is just the way to go…older photogs who grew up with mechanical technology are reluctant to give up their cameras for the computer… [Deborah, Diana…] they talk of the joy they experienced developing film, making prints… but many are beginning to see the new tech as ‘cleaner’, more environmentally responsible and safer, citing
the long hours in the darkroom surrounded by toxic chemicals.
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The show ran throughout
the months of May and June, 2008.
The opening
reception was held on June 6th, 6-8PM, during the first Friday Gallery Walk.
Photos Credit: Michelle
Stark, taken on the evening of the opening.