Grapevine
Willie Anne Wright,
Lensless Images (1972-2002)
1708 Gallery,
319 West Broad Street
Richmond, VA / 804-643-1708
11am-5 pm Tues to Fri., 1pm-5pm Sat.
Runs through September 27
Gallery Talk: September 14th, 3:00pm
Willie Anne Wright Lenseless Images (1972-2002), a major retrospective of the work of the Richmond based photographer, opened with a reception at the 1708 Gallery on Friday, September 5th. Wright creates images using the primitive photographic methods of pinhole photographs and photograms. These processes, which have roots in the optical principles pondered by such thinkers as Da Vinci and V e r m e e r , came of age with the development of permanent photosensitive materials in the 1830's. Wright utilizes these antique methods to tackle complex subjects of the Victorian and Edwardian past such as Civil War re-enactments and ideals of femininity.
Pinhole photography is a very low-tech approach to creating an image. Using an ordinary box with a hole drilled through one end, natural light exposes photosensitive material placed in the box at a very slow rate and renders a haunting image. The photogram process involves creating a pho-tograph without a camera in any traditional sense. Wright creates her photograms by placing objects of varying opacity on a light sensitive surface and exposing the surface to light, then developing the print. This technique, used for some of the earliest photographic reproductions, is used by Wright to study the very fabric of the periods she is so enlivened by.
Wright is currently working on three open ended projects: the Left Behind series that involves imaging vintage clothing as photo grams, Southland series that depicts images of remnants of the past extant in southern landscape, and Pregnant Women, portraits of contemporary expectant mothers.
"Willie Anne Wright is a folklorist," says Deborah McLeod, Curator and Richmond Arts Writer. " Her pinhole photographs apprehend the secrets of self image and the importance of physical connection to the past. In her photos, the delicate, ephemeral items, far from being props, ignite memories, act as surrogates, and haunt through vacancy. They advance Wright's mission, throughout her numerous studies, to capture our awaiting, faithful souls in a small dark box and save them for us."
Etta Edwards, Chuck Scalin and Alan Entin were all included in the juried Bay Days Show at the Charles Taylor Fine Arts Center in Hampton. Margot Blank, winner of last year’s show, had a one person show there.
Herb Hill exhibited black and white photographs from a portfolio titled: “The Torture Ball” during the mont of August at Shockoe Espresso in Richmond.
Susan B. Bidwell has been busy. She won a Qualex award at the Photography and Digital Image Biennial Exhibition at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC. The juror was Robert Fichter from Florida State University in Tallahassee. She won the Roanoke Arts Commission Award at the Roanoke City Art Show, which was held at the Art Museum of Western Virginia in Roanoke. Carla Hanzal, Curator of Contemporary Art at the Mint Museum in Charlotte, North Carolina was the juror. Bidwell received Second Place in Photography from William White, Professor of Art at Hollins University in Roanoke for Expressions 2003 at the Piedmont Arts Association in Martinsville. At the Sidewalk Art Show in Roanoke she received a Photography Honorable Mention from Anthea Smith, an artist and author from Baltimore. Bidwell also had work accepted at the Hampton Bay Days Art Show, National 2003 in Cooperstown, NY, and the Lynchburg Area Juried Photography Show.
