Art Reception “Beauty in Black and White” Photography by Joan Bowers and DeAnna Foran

Gallery North announces the opening of “Beauty in Black and White” an exhibit of both film and digital photography by Joan Bowers and DeAnna Foran.

Both photographers use vintage cameras. Images by Bowers in this exhibit show trees “in the nude,” photographed on the Olympic peninsula and the Oregon coast, as well as selected photographs from winter urban environments. Foran features her photographs of Fort Casey on Whidbey Island, demonstrating her interest in the many designs and textures that occur in weathered wood and the distressed concrete of the bunkers.

The photographs of Bowers and Foran are contemporary examples of Pictorialism, an approach which emphasizes the beauty of the subject matter, rich and subtle tonality, soft focus, strong composition, and attention to process. The Pictorialism movement began in the late 19th century in opposition to Industrial Age demands for sharply-focused and impersonal pictures. It demonstrated that a photograph could be much more than just a scientific record of reality. Pictorialism established photography as a respected form of art and raised the role of the photographer from technician to craftsman.

Through the use of silver gelatin prints by Bowers and archival digital prints by Foran, these photographers demonstrate many of the historical processes that emerged in the early nineteenth century and how they continue to evolve with new technology. From the wet chemistry darkroom to today’s digital darkroom, there is great beauty to be found in black and white photography.

Meet the artists and enjoy refreshments on October 10. A drawing for a free print will be held at 3PM. The artists will be present again at the Edmonds Art Walk on Thursday, October 15 from 5-8PM. This exhibit is open 7 days a week through October 31, 2015.