In Pursuit Of Beauty

(c) Fred Zafran

What do beauty, art, Alfred Stieglitz, and MEG have to do with each other? Tom Beck, chief curator at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and the juror of MEG's current exhibit, explains:

Many think that the beauty of a photograph is a result of having a camera with an exceptionally fine lens or special powers over subject matter.   In his 1923 essay (“How I Came to Photograph Clouds”) Alfred Stieglitz said: “I wanted to photograph clouds to find out what I had learned in 40 years…Through clouds to put down my philosophy of life—to show that my photographs were not due to subject matter—not special trees, or faces, or
interiors, to special privileges—clouds were there for everyone.”  He wanted people to be excited by his creations, not the technique or technology that made them.  The photographs that I judged for the exhibition, indeed call attention to the artfulness of the imagery and not the mechanics, a virtue in our technology dominated era.   

The success of the imagery selected for this exhibition reveals that beauty is necessary to the photographers.  The pursuit of beauty is their way of making images that are true to themselves as artists.  “Beauty is the universal seen,” said Alfred Stieglitz.  He was defining his approach to making, understanding, and appreciating photographs, and, in a sense, setting a standard for making art photography in the future.  The images in this exhibition compare favorably to Stieglitz’s standard.  It has been my pleasure to judge this exhibition and discover the beauty in these photographs.

(c) Five Cherries

An opening reception will be held Thursday, November 14th, from 6pm-8pm, in Studio 312 at the Torpedo Factory Art Center. Exhibit end date: November 24, 2013.

Find Us At Fotoweek DC

                        © Grace Taylor

You know about MEG's demos for FotoWeek DC, but wait there's more! From a group show at Multiple Exposures to member participation in other FotoWeek DC activities, there's a lot going on. Join us for the demos and stop by the events below during FotoWeek to see new work by MEG members:

• Everything Is Alternative.  MEG members showcase their talents with alternative processes in this all-member show juried by Sara Yousefnejad of the Arlington Arts Center. Show dates: November 8 - December 4, 2011. Multiple Exposures Gallery, Suite 312, Torpedo Factory Arts Center, Alexandria, VA. 
• Effective Immediately (Later On). Join MEG member Michael Borek on Saturday, November 5th from 5:30-8:30 pm at Glen Echo Photoworks for a reception to kick off exhibits by the three winners of Photoworks 2010 Photo Slam. Michael's show, Effective Immediately (Later On)  contains photographs from his Scranton Lace project, including some that have not previously been exhibited. Show dates: November 5-December 4, 2011. Photoworks Gallery at Glen Echo Park, Glen Echo, MD. 
• Capitol Pecha Kucha Night. Michael Borek will also be one of the presenters during Capitol Pecha Kucha Night. The event will be held on November 8,  7:30-11:00 pm at FotoWeek DC Central (1800 L St., NW). Michael will share the story of his Scranton Lace factory photographs.
• Through Time. MEG member Maureen Minehan is participating in Through Time, an exhibit by the F11 Women's Photography Collective at the Morrison House in Old Town Alexandria. The show focuses on abandoned structures and the ravages of time. An opening reception will be held on November 9 from 7-9 pm. Show dates: November 5 - November 27, 2011. 
• Danny Conant. MEG member Danny Conant will have nine gelatin transfer prints on display at the NIH Clinical Center Galleries November 6, 2011-January 7, 2012.



                   © Maureen Minehan

• Celebration of Alternative Process Symposium. MEG member emeritus Grace Taylor will be part of a symposium on alternative processes held at Photoworks at Glen Echo on Sunday, November 6th from 11-4 pm. Grace will discuss the "Van Dyke Brown" printing process. 
• Dynamic Environments. MEG member Karen Keating will be exhibiting work as part of a show at The Popcorn Gallery at Glen Echo Park. Karen's images can be seen through November 16th on weekends, 12pm-6pm.

FotoWeek DC at Multiple Exposures Gallery: Technique Demonstrations

Planning your FotoWeek DC schedule? Mark November 10th as a night to visit the Torpedo Factory Arts Center in Old Town Alexandria for demonstrations of two fantastic alternative photography processes by members of Multiple Exposures Gallery (MEG). 

Danny Conant and Colleen Henderson kick things off on November 10th at 7:15 in the Target Gallery with image transfers using DASS Super Sauce. At 8:15, the action moves upstairs to MEG's space on the third floor where Sandy LeBrun-Evans and Louise Noakes will give a lesson on image transfers using Purell hand sanitizer.

While your calendars are out, mark one more date. On November 17th at 7:30 p.m., join MEG member Janet Matthews at Multiple Exposures Gallery for a demonstration of making cyanotypes, a 19th century process that's still used today to make unique photographic prints.

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Demonstration Schedule: 
          November 10
                 Image Transfers Using DASS Super Sauce
                 7:15 pm, Target Gallery at the Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA
                Image Transfers Using Purell Hand Sanitizer
                8:15 pm, MEG, Studio 312, Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA
         November 17
                19th Century Processes: Making Cyanotypes
                7:30 pm, MEG, Studio 312, Torpedo Factory, Alexandria, VA

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Demonstration Descriptions:

Image Transfers using DASS Super Sauce

Using DASS Super Sauce solution, Danny Conant and Colleen Henderson will demonstrate how, using your own digital photo files, you can easily and simply make unique image transfers onto an assortment of receptor surfaces, including artist papers, wood panels, and a specialty paper called "DASS Stone Paper."

DASS stone paper (made from limestone and resin) allows you to create image transfer effects that are very similar to the Polaroid emulsions transfers which were popular prior to the demise of Polaroid film products.  

 

Image Transfers Using Purell Hand Sanitizer

Learn how to transfer your images onto beautiful printmaking papers and fabrics. You won't believe what a little hand sanitizer can do to produce this very unique visual effect.

19th Century Processes: Making Cyanotypes

The cyanotype process, also known as the blueprint process, was one of the early methods used to make photographic images. It was invented in 1842 by astronomer John Herschel in an attempt to create a method for copying his notes.

Cyanotype printing is one of the easiest and safest ways to make photographs by hand. Just a few ingredients, paper, two chemicals, ultraviolet light (such as the sun) and water, are needed to create unique photographic prints. We will demonstrate the process and look at some contemporary approaches used with this historic process.