| | Issue #19.47 :: 06/18/2008 - 06/24/2008 | Augusta Photography Festival
Summer Solstice Stroll offers photographic arts that cross boundaries of time and emotion, plus trips to the Miller Theatre and Lamar Building penthouse
Cover Photo by Roi J. Tankin
| BY TOM GRANT
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AUGUSTA, GA - Scott Matyjaszek has taken photography into the third dimension, giving his works physical depth. Stephen Lawson shoots in the fourth dimension, using photography to display time. Photographers such as Elizabeth Benson have taken their works into the dimension of human emotion.
Downtown visitors will be able to travel to each of those dimensions during the Summer Solstice Stroll, from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, June 20. As it turns out, the largest public event of the Augusta Photography Festival will be held on the longest day of the year. All events are free.
More than a dozen photographers will have their work on display. The Augusta Museum of History will open the James Brown exhibit for an evening viewing of the life of the Godfather of Soul. U.S. Congressman Paul Broun will host a showing in the penthouse of the Lamar Building of Michael E. Johnson’s photographic exhibit, taking people inside the world of a United States lawmaker.
Matyjaszek calls his work “photo-reliefs.” In a phone interview from his home in Rochester, N.Y., he explained that each work starts with a strong photograph, generally one with an architectural theme.
One piece, a shot of the Duomo of Florence, Italy, was taken at night from an angle that shows the basilica in the background behind two other buildings.
“They light the buildings at night,” Matyjaszek said, pointing out the luminous, otherworldly color of the photo. “That’s why they have the glows of various colors throughout the scene.”
He enhances the color digitally but subtly. “The colors that you see actually exist,” he said.
“The only thing I’ve done is soften the image digitally.”
Then he prints the image two or three times and takes an Exacto knife to his work. After carefully cutting out parts of the photo, he attaches them in layers on the base photograph. The result is an image up to an inch in thickness, with parts of the image at various levels —
literally three-dimensional.
Matyjaszek has been creating photo-art this way for 20 years. His work is growing in popularity.
“A lot of people are ultra responsive to it,” he said. “When they see the pieces, they just become like little kids.”
In fact, he celebrates the criticism of child-like eyes. After he spoke to a group in middle school, many of the students proved to be quite introspective, he noted.
“One girl wrote, ‘How can you get rainbow from rust?’” Matyjaszek said. “She’s saying the beauty of the rainbow. The kids were comprehending to some degree the beauty in the work.”
Matyjaszek’s work will be on display at Art on Broad, 1028 Broad St.
Stephen Lawson (See “Photographing Time,” page 30) has created special cameras that allow him to capture not only space, but time. While most cameras capture a single instant, Lawson’s capture a range of instants.
It may be multiple slices of time. It may be a short-moving span. For instance, one shot by Lawson may show the passage of a day at a particular location. Or it may show not just the bus passing, but also the entire passage of the bus. His photos are like something out of Kurt Vonnegut’s “Slaughterhouse 5,” where time has become unstuck.
Lawson’s show will open at the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art on Thursday, June 19, and he will lecture at the Morris Museum of Art at 6 p.m. on Friday, June 20, on the night of the Summer Solstice Stroll.
Harvey Maisel of Augusta will display a show he calls “Cente Fiore,” which in Italian means “100 flowers.”
Lara Plocha of Blue Magnolia, where his show will hang, said Maisel moved to Augusta from New York. According to his Web site, Maisel’s interest in photography began at the same time he began his teaching career. He later became a photo lab technician at a major news magazine.
The show features his 100 favorite flower photos. Maisel will be joined at Blue Magnolia by Sarah Thompson of Sarah T Photography in Augusta. Thompson is a graduate of Augusta State University who has developed unique mounting techniques.
Plocha pointed out that Thompson prints on huge canvases then hand-stretches them across rebar frames, also created by a local artist. “It amazes me the resolution they can get,” Plocha said.
Michael E. Johnson, the Metro Spirit Sightings photographer, has given a photojournalist edge to the photography festival. Johnson spent much of this year following around Congressman Paul Broun.
Not only do Johnson’s photographs capture the expected life of a congressman — meetings, hearings and constituent services — they show the deep religious convictions in Broun’s life.
Congressman Broun will join Johnson for a special reception and showing in the penthouse of the Lamar Building.
Gabi Hutchison, whose work will be showing at The Book Tavern, doesn’t even call herself a photographer. However, she has a wonderful eye for light and shadow, and viewers will find her images unusual even when the subjects are mundane.
Forrest Roberts became serious about photography when he began to take photographs of the artwork of his wife, Carol Sue, in 2003. Then he began to study with top photographers and ultimately become an exquisite photographer of nature and wildlife. His work will be on display at Gallery on the Row.
Andy Donnan will present a show called “Urban Hammocking” at the Zimmerman Gallery. Many of his images examine downtown Augusta, where they show the grit and decay in beautiful ways. Donnan is an Augusta photographer who shoots everything from weddings to music to portraits, but also has a tremendously artistic eye.
David Kernaghan, 35, will show “Bodyscapes” at Tire City Potters. Born and raised in Augusta, he’s a musician and father as well as a photographer. Kernaghan’s work is abstract, yet sensual. He works with long exposures and creative lighting.
“I got serious with photography about three years ago, doing mostly artistic photography and getting away from portraits. I shoot mostly with slide film, both 35mm and 6X7cm medium format. The bodyscape series that I have for the show is done in both film formats,” he said via e-mail.
“The prints are a rare format called ilfochrome. Ilfochrome is a dye destruction positive- to-positive photographic process used for the reproduction of slides on photographic paper.
The series is an exploration of the female body. Showing the body from a point of view normally overlooked. I attempt to emphasize the beauty of the curves and lines of the body using strong shadows and back lighting that confuses the eyes, making you question what you see.”
Ben Riche, whom you may know as the man who wants to bring pedicabs to downtown Augusta, will show his work at Vintage 965.
Elizabeth Benson will also have a display there. She captures personal moments that would last only an instant if not for her photography. One of her photos was a finalist in the Augusta Photography Festival competition.
The Miller Theatre will show a photographic history of Augusta, with shots from the 1930s to the 1950s. The photos are provided courtesy of the Summerville Photo Lab. Many show downtown Augusta during its prime.
Popcorn and soda will be available, and Friends of the Miller will also offer mini-tours of the historic theater.
Artistic Perceptions will show the work of J. Roy Davenport, whose photography explores “Sights In and Around Augusta.”
The Metro Spirit Gallery will also be open with a showing of work by the organizers of the Augusta Photography Festival, including Johnson, Frank Christian, D.K. Bhaskar, Ed Belinski, Frank Lazenby, Dwain Shaw, Tricia Hughes and Rebecca Rogers.
Schedule of Events
Wednesday, June 18
Photo Festival Prelude Reception
6-8 p.m.
Partridge Inn
Selected works by William Anderson (also showing at Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History) and other festival exhibitions at a wine and heavy hors d’oeuvres reception
$30
Thursday, June 19
Festival Opening
6:30 p.m.
Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art (GHIA)
Reception/Exhibition Preview and Artist Talk, “Time Scene” by Stephen Lawson
Free
Friday, June 20
Workshop: Beginning Photography
10-11:30 a.m.
GHIA
Workshop and portfolio review, beginning photography skills. To obtain feedback on your work, bring 3-5 photos for review. Instructors Rosanne Stutts and Mary Steketee
$10 (Limit 15)
Gallery Talk on Photography of A. Aubrey Bodine
10:30-11:30 a.m.
Morris Museum of Art
Kevin Grogan, MMA director, provides insights on work of Bodine, a mid-20th century pictoralist and photojournalist, now showing at the museum
Free
Art at Lunch
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Morris Museum of Art
“Should I Throw Out My Camera? The Future of Photography in the Digital World”
Jay Williams, MMA curator, on how digital cameras have changed photographic methods and values
$10 (includes lunch), reservation required
Workshop: Intermediate Photography
2-3:30 p.m.
GHIA
Intermediate photography instruction and portfolio review. To receive feedback, bring 3 photos for review. Instructors Rosanne Stutts and Mary Steketee.
$10 (Limit 15 seats)
Lecture by Stephen Lawson
6-7 p.m.
Morris Museum of Art
Illustrated lecture by photographer Stephen Lawson, whose show “Time Scene” is on display at GHIA
Free
Summer Solstice Stroll
6-9 p.m.
Augusta Artists Row/Broad St.
Various artists and venues presented by DA Squared and Blue Magolia; view and buy work, meet the photographers
Free
Steering Committee Exhibition
6-9 p.m.
Metro Spirit, Broad and 7th
Reception for artists on the Augusta Photo Festival Steering Committee, including Frank Christian, D.K. Bhaskar, Ed Belinski, Michael E. Johnson, Dwain Shaw, Frank Lazenby, Tricia Hughes and Rebecca Rogers
Saturday, June 21
Field Workshop: Canal Photo Cruise
7-8:30 a.m.
Augusta Canal Interpretive Center’s
Reggie Frasier and Rebecca Rogers provide an early morning cruise on the Augusta Canal and instruction on capturing photographs of nature and the historic area
$10 (Limit 15)
Field Workshop: Sports Photography
7-9 a.m.
River Golf Club, North Augusta
Introduction to golf and sports photography with former Augusta National photographer Frank Christian and international photographer D.K. Bhaskar
$10 (Limit 15)
Competition winners announced
10-10:45 a.m.
Columbia County Library
Exhibition of finalists from festival competition, coffee reception and announcement of competition winners and finalists.
Free
Workshop: Out of the Box to the Click of the Shutter
10:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Columbia County Library
Introduction to digital photography and portfolio review for beginning photographers. Instructor Dwain Shaw.
$10 (Limit 15)
Workshop: Out of the Camera and Into the Printer
2-4 p.m.
Columbia County Library
Introduction to image preparation, the “five minute digital darkroom” and portfolio review. Instructor Dwain Shaw.
$10 (Limit 15)
Field Workshop: Painting With Light
7-11 p.m.
Old Richmond Academy on Telfair Street
Learn and practice a digital technique using bright light on a dark night to turn your camera lens into a paintbrush. Instructor Dwain Shaw.
$10 (Limit 20)
Sunday, June 22
Field Workshop: Swamp at Sunrise
6-8 a.m.
Phinizy Swamp Nature Park’s
“Swamp at Sunrise-Nature Awakens” workshop with instructor Ed Belinski. Photograph wildlife at dawn, including birds, insects and flora with an experienced swamp photographer.
$10 (Limit 20)
‘Our World’ reception
Noon-1:30 p.m.
Morris Museum of Art
Show and reception for the students in Communities in Schools project “Our World,” a five-month photography effort sponsored by Nikon and Solicitor Harold Jones.
Free
Closing lecture/gallery talk
2-3 p.m.
Morris Museum of Art
Featured speaker Angela West
Free
Ongoing Exhbitions
‘Lest We Forget,’ William Anderson
Lucy Craft Laney Museum of Black History
50 years of Anderson’s black and white photography
$5 adult
‘A. Aubrey Bodine: Baltimore Pictoralist’
Morris Museum of Art
A photographer in the pictoralist style, Bodine worked for the Baltimore Sun for 50 years in the mid-20th century.
Free to MMA members, $5 adult
Sundays free
‘Created Moods,’ Frank Lazenby
MCG Children’s Medical Center
Retired from MCG in 2000, Lazenby shows 20 framed photographs of art-photography he pursued after retirement. Located in Second Floor Radiology exhibition space hallway between MCG and Children’s Medical Center.
Free
‘Time Scene,’ Stephen Lawson
Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art
Images created using “radically altered” cameras, incrementally recording scenes through time, showing changes in subject, light and weather. Lawson’s cameras will also be on view.
Donation
Photo Festival Steering Committee
Exhibition, including works of D.K. Bhaskar, Dwain Shaw, Michael Johnson, Rebecca Rogers, Ed Belinsky, Tricia Hughes, Frank Christian and Frank Lazenby
Metro Spirit Gallery | |
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