EXHIBIT Closed on July 16th 2017

Juror: Blue Mitchell


Juror's Choice: Standard Size #7791
by Andy Mattern
Stillwater, OK USA

Abstraction in art and photography is defined as the use of a visual language of color, shape, form, and line to create an image that may exist with an independence from visual references in the real world. 

Exhibit Calendar (Subject to Change)
Exhibit Opens:22 June 17
Artists' Reception:8 July 17 16:00
Exhibit Closes:16 July 17
Abstraction
Exhibit Catalog now available at PrestoPhoto

The Darkroom Gallery Difference

The concept of abstract art goes back as far as Plato, who stated “Straight lines and circles are not only beautiful, but eternally beautiful”. While abstract art itself may have existed since before recorded time, it did not become formalized until the modern era. As the technology of photography paralleled the trends in art, so abstraction became part of the photographic idiom. Almost everyone who’s used a camera seriously has produced an abstract image, if only by accident.

For this exhibition, we’re seeking photos in which color, form, design, and shape take the place of a representation of reality. Think of peeling paint, ripples on water, pat-terns in concrete or asphalt. This is an opportunity to let your imagination off its leash.

Juror’s Statement:

"If I choose abstraction over reality, it is because I consider it the lesser chaos." ~Robert Brault

Often with abstract photography the viewer is being asked to fabricate an understanding of what is being depicted. It gives them the opportunity to recall on their own experiences and sensibilities to  contextualize the work. Sometimes abstract is a challenging task for both viewers and photographers alike. It raises questions like “How am I supposed to interpret this?”, “Why do I like it so much (or not)?” and sometimes “Is this even photography?” and furthermore “does it matter?”.

Abstraction was one of the reasons I was drawn to photography, inspired by it’s history. I look to work like Harry Callahan’s multiple exposure street style images, Man Ray’s photograms or Aaron Siskind’s found natural abstracts and see how diverse photography, abstraction specifically, has always been.

I feel like we take photography for granted, it’s so accessible and consumed in the digital age. Millions of people are engaged with it in some form everyday. Abstraction breaks the monotony. The images I’m drawn to the most, have some hints to the medium itself. I’m a Photoromantic, so to me the answer to the last question at least is “it does matter!”.

Blue Mitchell

Juror: Blue Mitchell

Blue Mitchell is an independent publisher, curator, educator, and photographer. Based in Portland, OR, he has been involved with many facets of the photographic arts. He is the founder of One Twelve Publishing which originates photography based pro-jects in both print and online gallery formats. One Twelve published their first monograph, a book of large-format photography. 

In 2008 One Twelve launched a photo-graphic print magazine, Diffusion, (https://onetwelvepublishing.com/diffusion/) a contributor- and reader-supported annual that celebrates unconventional and artfully- crafted photography. One Twelve also runs the online photo gallery Plates to Pixels, which bridges the gap between antiquated and contemporary photographic processes.

Mitchell has curated and juried many exhibi-tions. He has been a juror for Critical Mass and a reviewer for photo festivals across the country. He teaches workshops and pre-sents lectures and panel discussions on hand-crafted photography.
http://bluemitchell.com/

  • All selected entries are exhibited in our gallery and included in a full color exhibit catalog;
  • Juror's Choice receives a 30x48" vinyl exhibit banner featuring their image, free entry into a future exhibition, a free exhibition catalog;
  • Honorable Mentions receive free exhibition catalogs and free entry in a future exhibition. 
  • People's Choice gains free entry into a future exhibit.
  • We offer free matting and framing of accepted entries for the duration of each of our exhibition, subject to standard sizes. Photographers set their own prices if they wish to sell their work and retain all rights to their photographs.