Happy New Year!!!

I am so optimistic about the future - I hope you are as well. I can't wait to see whats in store for all of us as we move forward.

we are looking forward to showcasing new artists and new work in 2009 and beyond.

I wish everyone the best in the new year.
Here's to good health and continued creativity!

Loren Nelson - 17200 Corridor Ct, Beaverton, OR

The envelope please....

I want to thank Mr. Slade for an amazing effort, culling and working with all of our submissions to create a compelling and cohesive show.

Showing in our New Directions 2009 exhibition will be -

Katharyn Addcox
Christa Bowden
Shawne Brown
Lane Collins
Rachelle Fox
Priya Kambli
Maja Georgiou
David Ondrik
Dalton Rooney
Christy Speakman
Zach Stadel
Bill Vaccaro
Bahar Yurukoglu

we will have more information in the upcoming days, as well as a selection of images in the show.

I want to thank everyone who submitted and for those of you lucky to participate, I am looking forward to the show being a great success.

collectible on capitol hill

Just a reminder - don't miss an opportunity for really amazing food, good company and great art!

we are celebrating the holidays on Capitol Hill at City Catering, and bringing the collectible show with us!

Thursday night 18 December | 5.30-7.30pm
City Catering Company
1318 E. Pine St.
Seattle
206/721.0334
get there this way

eat. drink. be merry. buy photographs.
sounds great to me. but lets face it, I am biased. I am so proud of the artists, and the work - I think it is something everyone should own.

see you there!

here is a small selection of the tremendous work in the show -


Natalie Young's Georgia & Sabine, #12


Nicola Dill, Waterway's #2


Charles Grogg, Fern Curls


Tara McDermott, Shoreline, Beach #6

Holding our collective breath.

The clock is ticking, and we are all awaiting Mr. Slade's choices for New Directions 2009.

As soon as I have the results, and we hope that is soon, we will start notifying everyone as to the choices, and I will post a list here on the blog.

After perusing the submissions myself, George has some really difficult decisions to make, I don't envy him. I am sure he will put together a great show for us.

I can't wait. (I know, neither can you....)


Chloe by Polly Chandler, one of 2008's participants

Critical Mass results are in!

Well - The top 50 of Critical Mass have been announced, and I am excited to say that we are working with some of them.

As a juror in the first and second round - I just want to let all of you know, it was a lot of hard choices. There was a truckload of really good work. I am always excited to see great work, and this group was no exception. Was there a group that didn't make it that I wish had? Yeah, just off the top of my head would be Susan Burnstine, Mitch Dobrowner, Lydia Panas and Aline Smithson. My vote was only one of a couple hundred. Next time I'll campaign, send out flyers, sky writers, whoever I can get to listen to be sure my choices get all the way to the top. I will do my best to showcase a number of people who should have made it, but did not.

Here is the list for those of you who haven't seen it yet, and we are so excited to represent or work with some of this tremendously talented group.

Jeffrey Aaronson














Angela Bacon-Kidwell - is currently in our Collectible show
Cara Barer
David Paul Bayles
Damion Berger
Rita Bernstein
Pelle Cass


















Tom Chambers - We are so honored to represent Tom's incredible work.
Alejandro Chaskielberg
Céline Clanet
Ian van Coller
Livia Corona
Katrina d'Autremont
Matt Eich
Jeffris Elliott
Andy Freeberg
Amanda Friedman
Joy Goldkind
Cig Harvey
Jessica Hines
Thomas Holton
Dave Jordano
Priya Kambli
Jim Kazanjian
Jaime Kowal
Ferit Kuyas
Pablo Lopez Luz
David Leventi
Alison Malone
Rania Matar
Graham Miller
Lucas Oleniuk
Louie Palu
Eric Percher
Cara Phillips
Reiner Riedler
Christina Seely
Brian Shumway













Sarah Small - also in our Collectible show up now thru the end of December
Tema Stauffer
Will Steacy
Marcela Taboada
Daniel Traub
Antonio Turok
Carlo Van de Roer
Manuel Vazquez
Lori Waselchuk
Lisa Wiltse
















Natalie Young - yup. another artist we are excited about here at the gallery. Natalie was part of our On Location show this summer, and is currently in our Collectible exhibition.
Mi Zhou

Times up. Now the waiting begins.

Thank you to everyone who submitted for New Directions.
We had over 200 entries, so George has almost 1,000 images to look at.




We will have decisions to everyone as soon as we hear from our very esteemed juror, who will be very busy going over so many fabulous entries. I will be highlighting some here after the judging comes back - I don't want to skew the process with my selections just yet.

The show will open in January - mark your calendars. Mr. Slade will be in the gallery and up at PhotoCenter during the weekend.

6 January - 7 February, 2009
Artist Reception with Mr. Slade, 5 February, 6-8pm
Lecture by Mr. Slade in conjunction with Photographic Center Northwest-

Contemporary Photography Now, or, Today is So Yesterday

Location: PCNW Auditorium, Tickets: $6 regular, $4 Members & Students

Given the proliferation of venues for contemporary photographic artists how do viewers and makers navigate the flow of images and assimilate the dialogue surrounding them? Mr. Slade examines the new wave of photographic practice from the perspective of a curator, consultant, and writer currently caught in that wave, trying to historicize, interpret, and articulate while simultaneously just staying afloat.

and for those of you who want more input into your work - Photographic Center Northwest will be having their annual PhotoRevu that same weekend, and George will be one of the many reviewers available to talk to, learn from and have see your portfolio.

The FOTO REVU is a unique opportunity for members to receive one-on-one professional critiques by some of the Northwest's most respected people in the field of photography including gallery owners, museum curators, publishers, artists & educators. In the last decade photo review events have become the primary venue for fine art photographers to network & show their work to people that can make a difference in their future. 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. There is a lottery system before the sessions begin to select your reviewers and to assure fairness. A reception with the reviewers and photographers will follow the event in the gallery. $150 per session: (morning session - 5 twenty minute reviews) (afternoon session - 5 twenty minute reviews) (late afternoon session - 5 twenty minute reviews)...(Full Day = 15 reviews for $$450). Contact PCNW front desk to register. Stay tuned for a list reviewers.

New Directions 2009 submissions

image by Shauna Doyle Hammond, participant of New Directions 2008

wow.

I am so excited about the submissions pouring into the gallery for the juried show!

Mr. Slade will be thrilled and overwhelmed at the response we have gotten from some top notch photographers, and I am excited to sit down soon with a beverage and go through the work myself with the help of my highly talented assistants.
But I can't yet - I have to get everything together for our juror.

If you are perusing our pages tonight and see that it is the last night for submissions, you are in luck. We are extending the deadline until Monday at 6pm pst. I am trying to catch up with everyone who has submitted so far, and since I am still processing information, if you can get it to us by Monday at 6pm, your in!

Thank you to everyone who has submitted, and we wish you the best of luck!

Nicole Dextras

Nicole Dextras photographs filter into my mind on these days with ugly grey skies, rain and darkness, and in viewing her images, I get a sense of beauty in all that grey that I may not find just looking out my window... I think her work is beautiful. I came across the work at the 23 Sandy Gallery, run by the fabulous Laura Russell. I have been haunted by the work since. The series I find most serene and beautiful is Iceworks. Her decision to encase clothing in ice, then watch them degrade over time and document the shift, is stunning in her muted color palette, choice of landscapes, and connection to the surrounding environments.

what do you think?

New Directions Deadline coming up!

We are coming up on our deadline for New Directions!



image by Jennifer Greenburg, another ND participant.

get those entries ready, you have 18 days left (which if you are like me, seems like tomorrow.)

For those of you who are looking for a theme - the theme is you, your work and your vision.

and as extra incentive - all of the submissions for the show are seen by me, and considered submissions for the gallery. While I won't put in my 2 cents to affect George's vision for the final selection, just know I am looking at them too. Some of the new artists we have found from the last 3 years are


Joseph O. Holmes, last seen in 20x200 today



Joelle Jensen



Cynthia Grieg.

New Directions 2009

curated by George Slade

6 January - 7 February, 2009

Artist Reception 5 February, 2008

Lecture with George Slade - 6 February, 2008 6-8pm; in conjunction with Photographic Center Northwest.

We are currently accepting submissions for our third annual juried show - New Directions.

Curated and Juried by George Slade

About Mr. Slade

Photography Curator, Historian, Writer and Advisor

George Slade is an historian of photography and a native Minnesotan. He became the artistic director and chief curator of the Minnesota Center for Photography (MCP in 2003 after serving as a curator, editor, writer, and advisor to the organization since 1992. His position at MCP ended when the organization closed at the end of July of this year. He has also directed the McKnight Foundation Artist Fellowships for Photographers Program since 1998.

He has served as a juror for for CoPA in Milwaukee, IRevelar in Atlanta (organized by Naomi Silva Gallery) with Clint Willour and Rick Perez. Mr. Slade is a reviewer for Critical Mass 2008, and will also be in New Orleans at PhotoNola in December of this year.

Rules:

1. Your entry (via mail with CD or on-line) must reach the gallery by 15 November 2008.
2. A maximum of 5 images may be submitted
3. Traditional or Digital Images may be submitted
4. Submission fee is $35USD. If mailing entry, enclose payment. If submitting on-line, we will call you within 48 hours for payment.
5. Image selections will be made and artists notified 13 December 2008.
6. Selected images must be delivered to the gallery framed and ready for exhibition between 26 December 2008 and 6 January 2009.
7. Framed exhibition prints must not exceed 20x24.

see the gallery website to enter online or for our mail in form

Critical Mass 2008

wow.

over 600 entries, almost 6,000 images...and we had 2 weeks to get through them. As one of the lucky pre-screeners, I was honored to be part of this great opportunity to see what a great community of photographers we have.

I want to thank everyone who submitted images, and put themselves out there. There was alot of really good work. I had a really hard time narrowing down my choices.

I have to say I am really proud of my artists who made the cut -

Susan Burnstine, and her luscious, soft focus, memory images.



Tom Chambers, with his newest work, Improbable Dreams



Mitch Dobrowner, with his incredible landscapes

with her deeply emotional and riveting portraits, Lydia Panas,

and Aline Smithson, who showcased a new series of books that I think it is really creative.



and I will be highlighting artists I thought were really stellar over the next few posts. stay tuned.

Annie Leibovitz is in Seattle - November 19, 2008

Mark your calendars  for 19 November at 7.30pm - 

Annie Leibovitz is coming to town, courtesy Seattle Arts & Lectures. Discussing her new book, Annie Leibovitz at Work, she will open up about her process, covering the technical as well as the creative. 

Give the group a call at 206.621.2230 or log onto the website to purchase your tickets. 

Here is Annie on Annie -

“When I’m asked about my work, I try to explain that there is no mystery involved. It is work. But things happen all the time that are unexpected, uncontrolled, unexplainable, even magical. The work prepares you for that moment. Suddenly the clouds roll in and the soft light you longed for appears.” —Annie Leibovitz

Shameless Self Promotion - November

So many things, so many going on right now either at the gallery, or with my very talented group of artists. I am so excited for them, and feel so proud to represent them and their incredible work.

Take a look -

Susan Burnstine - Within Shadows, a solo show at Gallerie BMG
- Bridge To Nowhere won two 2008 Black & White Spider Awards; third place in the Fine Art Category and second place in the Silhouette category.

Tom Chambers - Tom is going to Bogata, Columbia next May.
FOTOGRÁFICA BOGOTÁ 2009 sponsored by the National Museum of Photography in Bogotá.

Cynthia Greig - Cynthia's showing her Representations series at Ute Noll's UNO Art Space in Stuttgart, Germany. 8 November 2008 - 8 February 2009

Keith Johnson - Panopticon Gallery in Boston and also through 31 October at Valpariso University in Indiana

Lydia Panas - Lydia's work is included in the exhibition "Humanscape"  in Korea in December, and Dean Jensen Gallery in Milwaukee.

Joelle Jensen - is in the newly released Flash Forward 2008

Mitch Dobrowner - is in LensWork coming up in the December issue.

Jeri Eisenberg

I have had the pleasure of working with the talented Jeri Eisenberg for the last two years to showcase her work during our group shows, and am so pleased to see her work, along with Jahnavi Barnes at Benham Gallery in Seattle this month. If you get a chance to go by, please do. It is a beautiful show, a very calming influence in these really difficult times.



About Jeri's work -

By photographing the treed landscape with a purposefully oversized pinhole or a radically defocused lens, however, I capture it as it is not often seen. The images are
firmly grounded in the natural world, a particular place, a particular season, a particular time. But by obscuring detail, only the strongest brush strokes emerge: the images become sketches with light, literally and figuratively.

The work is unabashedly retinal. But it is also as much object as it is image. The pieces are translucent, reflective and tactile - as a result of the infusion of encaustic into and on the surface of the Japanese Kozo paper. The pieces float off the wall, and move with air current in a room. And, if you are close enough, the scent of the bees’ wax in the encaustic is clearly detectable.

The work is intended to speak directly to the senses: to bypass, on some level, the rational brain. I am happiest when it sits on the balance point between the concrete and the abstract, perception and memory, the there and the not there.

Jenny Gummersall now at wall space

I couldn't help myself - Jenny's work brought me back to my days living in the west, in southern Utah and Jackson, Wyoming. Her rich details of the west hooked me. Oh, those clouds and that sky! Then there is a series called Horse Dreams, abstract, thoughtful and humorous all at the same time. I found it clever and unique.

It is with great pleasure we add Jenny to our group of artists and adding her stunning vision of the west to the gallery. For more information about her work, to see a portfolio please contact us.


Horse Abstracts - Annie's Mane & Abstract 0866




From Horse Dreams - Red with Black Stripe, Blue Fence & Peeling Paint



From Clouds - August Fencing & Tunnel Road

Collectible - Bill Finger

We are so excited to promote and showcase Bill Finger's work.
We are also thrilled to have him on the roster for our upcoming Collectible show.

I have been watching Bill's work over the last two years, and was excited to see Clint Willour select him for our New Directions 2008 showcase of emerging photographers. His body of work, Paramnesia, is a visionary treat, a complex web of ins and outs, of place and memory. All of his stories are interesting, creative and often intense.
Take a look and let us know what you think.




about the series -

Using my childhood as a touchstone I set out to recreate
places from my past as well as their photographic referents.
The process involves recalling a place which is then
transcribed into a series of rough sketches. These sketches
then serve as a form of blueprint from which the place is
recreated in miniature. The miniature serves as a stand in for
my memory which can then be photographed. Once
photographed, the miniature is then dismantled leaving only
the photograph and the original memory.

By using the constructed image it is my hope that on closer
inspection that the viewer discovers the fabrication. With such
a discovery the veracity of both photograph and memory can
be called into question.

Decode Books - Jesse Burke, Doug Keyes and John Jenkins III

We are pleased to be support a new fine art publisher here in the Seattle area, Decode Books. They have created 4 volumes so far, and I think the work is beautiful, insightful and creative. We are featuring the 3 Photo based books here.

Jesse Burke, recently featured in a series of Flak Photo installments, takes a look at our vision of masculinity.



"In his photographs in Intertidal, Burke explores the complexity of masculine identity, which is in many ways analogous to the intertidal zone. His images capture those moments "in between," with the idealized notion of manhood on the one side and actually being male on the other. His photographs of men and their landscapes hint at sweetness, but they also embrace the heroic idea of masculinity. Burke is drawn to the tension of vulnerability (be it a rupture or physical / emotional / metaphorical wound) and grit ("no pain / no gain"); to the space between strength and tenderness. Sometimes these images capture the fleeting moment between events. Sometimes they capture the concrete event itself. Always, the photographs are working in the ambiguous space of the intertidal zone."

Doug Keyes, locally represented by G. Gibson Gallery, has created Collective Memory.



"Keyes's photographs investigate the ways that knowledge stacks upon itself over time, leaving an impression or "collective memory." In his first monograph, Collective Memory, Keyes’s luminous color images of books literally reveal—and sometimes conceal—this stacking by capturing through multiple exposure the experience of reading the book. The resulting single image is a condensed document of the experience, the ideas contained within, and the physical identity of the book itself. The books Keyes chooses to photograph—from art books and works of fiction, to poetry books and books on scientific theory—hold personal meaning or remembrance for him and become sites to revisit. Keyes's photographs in fact make visible the pleasure of leafing through a text and the memory of that experience."

and John Jenkins III has published his work, Peripheral Vision.

"The lush color photographs of John Jenkins III freeze the moments that often happen in the corner of one's eye in peripheral vision. By using selective focus, Jenkins captures the color and light of a fleeting moment, the fuzzy areas of shadow and light that move just outside our direct vision. While the collection of photographs in Peripheral Visions are of the familiar and the everyday, these images show what is happening on the edges of the known and become impressions, moments of time and place, meditations of dreams and memories"

for more information about how to purchase these great books,or to request more information about their design and print services, please contact Decode or the gallery

Charles Grogg

Charles submitted a portfolio to us this summer, and I have really enjoyed his beautiful, rich palladium prints, and the scientist in me loves the very field study like way he has captured the texture and richness of his subject.



listen to his words on the subject -

I’m struck by how we observe flowers with anthropomorphic interest. The swelling bud, the exposed pistils, the gleaming corolla are all biological mechanisms of attraction, and strangely we are moved by the same elegance that moves bees and butterflies and caterpillars. The real romance of flowers is not in their cool detachment from the fangs of life. The graphic beauty in images of flowers has the power to carry generational weight, to transport longing across ages. I’m looking for the light I remember unconsciously, a reminder that the slow transmutation of flora reflects the sameness of our generations across centuries, even millenia.

Jay Tyrrell

We are excited to announce our representation of Jay Tyrrell.

I have been a fan of his work, Wind Army, and have shown one of the images (Assembly Point) in our New Directions show this year. The work is clever, creative and beautiful. Using wind farms and turbines, Jay creates a narrative of a band of brothers and the obstacles they face. Take a look.


heat rays


assembly point


the generals

His new body of work - Weather, is a gorgeous four season look at British Columbia's Howe Sound.


spring tuesday 10.01am


summer tuesday 5.21am


fall sunday 4.14pm


winter monday 7.19am

Prints are available, and Jay has created a series of Diptychs to showcase the exquisite beauty and peace he finds in his viewfinder. We are also excited to announce this work as a limited edition, cloth bound, clam-shell book with an accompanying special edition print. The book also contains essays by Ulrich Schaffer and Karen Sinsheimer, Curator of Photography at the Santa Barbara Museum of Art. Quantities on this special edition book are very limited (edition of 90), and I think will be a great addition to any collectors portfolio. For those who miss out on the opportunity of getting their hands on one of the limited editions, we will have a trade edition available as well. The book is due to be released this November. Please contact us at the gallery for details on how to get your copy of Jay's extraordinary book.

in Jay's words -

Over the last six years I have watched Mother Nature paint with weather on the landscape of this fjord. These creations are ephemeral, sometimes lasting only seconds. A little like scenes from a Cinerama movie that fade into each other. These scenes are for me are about the feeling of wonder that is generated by the beauty of light interacting with weather and the landscape, creating spellbinding colors and conveying moods. I participated in these moments, watching as islands danced through rain squalls, a clear warm day so rare that it is as rain to the desert, amazing fogs of colors I had never expected. It has been a magical and evolving experience to align myself with the seasonal rhythms of this landscape, to slow my pace and to let beauty be the reason for action.