Wallace Merritt

I met Wallace in New Orleans, and was completely entranced by his beautifully crafted black + white prints.
His gorgeous portraits have such sincerity, passion and connection, I couldn't stop looking at them. It's his connection with his subjects, the openness and honesty that captures my attention. All shot in his courtyard in New Orleans, the lush background makes a perfect compliment to the storied emotional visions he puts before us.

Jennifer Shaw

The Storm.

For those of us so remote as to witness it by MSNBC and CNN, it was horrifying enough. To know people there, share their concern, and watch their way of life change irrevocably is mind numbing.
I don't know about you , but it is still something I have a hard time wrapping my head around.
Jennifer Shaw's Hurricane Story is one of those stories I will never forget, her color images rich and creative. Her use of toys, and a toy camera make the story engaging in a way that journalistic images cannot.

Jennifer has done a number of beautiful bodies of work, but her images from this portfolio just really stick with me.


The story -
I was nine months pregnant and due in less than a week when Hurricane Katrina blew into the Gulf. In the early hours of August 28, 2005 my husband and I loaded up our small truck with two cats, two dogs, two crates full of negatives, all our important papers and a few changes of clothes.

We evacuated to a motel in southern Alabama and tried not to watch the news. Monday, August 29 brought the convergence of two major life changing events; the destruction of New Orleans and the birth of our son. It was two long months and 6000 miles on the road before we were able to return home.

Hurricane Story is a depiction of our family’s evacuation experience - the birth, the travels and the return. These photographs represent various elements of our ordeal. The project began as a cathartic way to process some of the lingering anger and anxiety over that bittersweet journey. It grew into a narrative series of self-portraits in toys that illustrate my experiences and emotional state during our time in exile.

collectible on capitol hill - 25 February

Remember that snowy night in Seattle last December that caused massive amounts of chaos and gridlock? Yeah, that night? well we had a fabulous reception planned for that night.

collectible on Capitol Hill.

Tara McDermott, Beaches

Nicola Dill, Waterways, No.2

Well, City Catering has created another opportunity for an evening of tasty food and easy to go down beverages, good company and great art. How can you possibly miss out?

John Chakeres, Painted Wall

Please join us at City Catering Company on Capitol Hill on the 25th of February.

Michael Gordon, Calligraphy

For more information contact the gallery or City Catering.

Aline Smithson, Enquirer

don't sit at home and miss out, then read about it later!

Kisa Kavass

Kisa's work is really beautiful.

While the object of her affection and talent in the images is less than palatable, the care and love, as well as the graphic nature of the work is truly stunning. Mouse Musings is still life in it's finest form.

I met her in New Orleans at PhotoNOLA, and found her charming, thoughtful and talented. She was showing two series, but I was mesmerized by the little mouse.

Scott Dalton

In New Orleans, I met Scott Dalton and was so excited to see his work - Macondo. Vibrant, full of life, the work was really beautiful to look at, and its connection to Marquez's Columbia was a great way to showcase what is going right there, instead of what we look at as the seamy underbelly of the country.



Macondo: Journeys in Garcia Marquez's Colombia is a series of photos that explores the region of Colombia that produced Gabriel Garcia Marquez, the renowned author and Nobel laureate. Garcia Marquez drew from his youth in Colombia's Caribbean coastal region to create the fictional community of Macondo, the centerpiece of "One Hundred Years of Solitude," his best-known novel. Macondo, with its whimsy and charm, has come to symbolize for Colombians everything good and special about their country-- a welcome relief from the stereotypes of drug-trafficking and violence that so mark it. Eccentric and eclectic, timeless and earthy, vibrant and lush, a place where truth and fiction, myth and reality merge, Macondo is as much a state of mind as a place, an enchanted reality that still exists... if you know where to look.

New Directions - Of a Photographic Nature Weekend happenings

New Directions 2009 has been on our walls for a few weeks, and this week we have the pleasure of George Slade at the gallery to talk about his vision and ideas, not only for New Directions, but also what's next in photography and contemporary art.

Here is the schedule of events coming up this first week of February - if you could attend, we look forward to seeing you there!

We are looking for your input - a people's choice as it were. Let us know your picks, either the artist or the image/s and we'll post your thoughts on the blog here at the end of the week. email us with your choices - we can't wait to hear what you have to say.

Thursday night - First Thursday 5 February from 6-8pm.
Artist's Reception with George Slade.
George will have an informal discussion about the artwork, and artists at 7pm.


Maja Georgiou - Barataria Marsh, Vanishing Trees



Friday night - 6 February from 5 - 6.30pm
Reception for Mr. Slade at City Catering Company before the lecture at Photographic Center Northwest

We will have an informal reception for Mr. Slade at City Catering (1318 East Pine) for more information or location, please contact the gallery or city at 206.721.0334


Lane Collins - Volition





Join us at 7pm for a lecture by Mr. Slade at PCNW.
Contemporary Photography Now, Or Today is so Yesterday


Christa Bowden - Dragonfly 19th Century




On Saturday is one of the best opportunities to meet the local community -

Saturday 7 February from 10am -3pm
FotoRevu at Photographic Center Northwest


Priya Kambli - Me ( Golden Dibiya)


So join us next week for a big week! we look forward to seeing you!

FotoRevu at Photographic Center Northwest

We are so excited to be part of this great photographic community here in Seattle.


Part of that community, Photographic Center Northwest, has an upcoming portfolio review. Join us on Saturday 7 February in participating in FotoRevu.

FotoRevu is a gathering of photographers, regional gallery directors, museum curators and professionals in the fine art photography business who can give you feedback and opinions about your work. The reviewers can give you editing opinions or critique. They are a great source for networking and may have advice on a good fit for your work & projects. All levels of photographers are welcome. In addition to the reviews there will be a portfolio walk during the lunch break where the reviewers will have a chance to browse and see your work. A reception for everyone will follow the event and an organized PRINT SWAP, for those who wish to participate and trade their work. You can go home with a new piece of art!

Experiencing Foto Revu is an excellent stepping stone to participating in the international review events such as Fotofest, Review LA, Photolucida, PhotoNOLA and Review Santa Fe.

I will be there, as will George Slade, our juror for New Directions.
Here is a list of reviewers - a really great and diverse group.

Elizabeth Brown, Henry Art Gallery
Rebecca Cummins, Artist & Educator, U of WA
Nichole DeMent, Rock/DeMent, Arts West & PCNW
Heather Dwyer, 4 Culture
Gail Gibson, G. Gibson Gallery
Howard Giske, MOHAI
Jen Graves, The Stranger
Gary Halpern, PhotoMedia
Barbara Kinney, Artist & Photojournalist
Spike Mafford, Artist
Anne Mathern, Artist & Crawl Space Gallery Artist Board
Fred Nelson, Seattle Times
Rosanne Olson, Artist & PCNW
Shawn Records, Artist & Photolucida
David Robbins, Artist & Editorial Photographer & Himalayan Odyssey
Marisa Sanchez, Seattle Art Museum
Jennifer Stoots, Fine Art Appraisal & Consultation
Carol Sund, Sund & Associates
Guy Swanson, Photographic Image Group
Alejandro Tomas, Artist & Educator, SCCC
David Ulrich, Chair of Art Dept. Cornish College of the Arts
Annie Van Avery, Artist & Executive Director PCNW
Adam Weintraub, Artist & Blue Earth Alliance

for more information, please log onto Photo Center's website.

See you there.

(and the image, you ask? Charlotte Watts, a talented local artist. Her image was part of our collectible showcase. She also was part of Bird Studies in October 2008 at PCNW.)