January 2010: Christian Arrecis

Setting the Planets Into Motion
2007
10" x 15"

The SFCC Photography Gallery is presenting the work of Chicago Artist Christian Arrecis. Christian received his MFA in 2008 and teaches at Northern Illinois University.

Artist Statement

Phaenomena Naturalis is a series of photographs through which I attempt to navigate and understand the natural world; it is an attempt at understanding some of life's universal and enduring questions. Light and shadow function on a symbolic level—the revelation of truth. Books and their time-worn pages, bits of text and images, and found objects all serve as a vehicl Phaenomena Naturalis is a series of photographs through which I attempt to navigate and understand the natural world; it is an attempt at understanding some of life's universal and enduring questions. Light and shadow function on a symbolic level—the revelation of truth. Books and their time-worn pages, bits of text and images, and found objects all serve as a vehicle to suggest a figurative voyage, that the mysteries of the world can be unlocked and revealed.

I am interested in an exploration of the world through referencing legend, through the intersection between science and magic and where superstition meets history. As such, an intimation of the arcane, the mythological and the mysterious informs these photographs.e to suggest a figurative voyage, that the mysteries of the world can be unlocked and revealed.

I am interested in an exploration of the world through referencing legend, through the intersection between science and magic and where superstition meets history. As such, an intimation of the arcane, the mythological and the mysterious informs these photographs.

To see more of Christian's work online visit: http://christianarrecis.com

November 2009: Jamie Tucker

Jamie Tucker received her MFA in Photography from Indiana State University in 2006 and currently teaches at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa Idaho.

About the Prints:

All prints are Silver Gelatin, hand printed by the photographer on Ilford fiber and resin coated papers. The images were taken with Diana and Holga cameras using Ilford and Arista films in May 2008 and were printed in 2008-09. Most of the images are single exposures but for a few Jamie has made multiple exposures while onlyt advancing the film part way which creates a dreamlike quality.

Artist Statement:

Initially drawn to the beauty and mystery of place, travel is many times a part of my photographic interest. In this series I have combined place with the telling of story through image. Chinglish combines place with portraiture.

The English and de la Paz families welcomed my camera into their lives as they taught English in Xian and Beijing, China.

China is a place full of movement, mystery and tradition.

I am drawn to and love the way plastic toy cameras record life. These images are dreamlike and mysterious. They are felt, rather than viewed. Detailed precision is absent, while fuzzy recollections of pugnant aromas, curious textures and aching emotions are present.

These images are a testament to the reality of these people and places.

March 2009: Melissa Rackham

Melissa Rackham received her MFA from the University of Memphis and recently moved back to Spokane. During her undergrad coursework she studied photography with Shelly Murney at Eastern Washington University. This exhibit is a collage of images from recent portfolios that are woven together around the idea of place.

Melissa will be teaching a non credit photography course at SFCC during the Spring 2009 quarter. This course will focus on alternative process techniques such as cyano and van dyke brown as well as combining digital photography with historic processes.

January 2009: Rodger Hartman

Faculty member Rodger Hartman is exhibiting a collection of his work along with images from his private collection including photographs by Christopher Burkett, George Lepp, and Jerry Uelsmann. Rodger has been teaching at SFCC for over 30 years and has a vast library of nature and landscape images.

He is currently working on a portfolio of Alaskan bear images that he will present later in the Spring.

October & November 2008: Ira Gardner

Gornergrat Glacier, Zermatt Switzerland 20x20 Print 2008

Faculty member Ira Gardner is exhibiting for the first time here at SFCC a show entitled "Places I have known" which is a collection of landscape photos taken recently in Switzerland and the Canadian Rockies. Ira started mountain climbing in the Canadian Rockies 20 years ago and now enjoys leisurely hikes with his wife and son.

The images were all photographed on traditional black and white film, scanned and and manipulated for tonal values, and then printed back onto traditional black and white silver paper.

September 2008: R.L. Dietz

R.L. Dietz is presenting a selection of new images from his project : "Uber-Wide Vision"

Pictured here is the home made camera and
and one R.L.'s circular prints. Note the size difference
between the 35mm roll of film and the yellow box of 5"x7" film

R.L. is exhibiting a collection of new landscape photographs. These circular photographs represent a full frame image taken on 5"x7" film with a camera he built himself. By combining a 50mm wide angle lens on a large sheet of film he is capturing all of the light that passes through the lens and in doing so is revealing the true nature of vision. Our eyes see a circle of light instead of the rectangular shapes we've grown accustomed to seeing in the photographic print.

R.L. reminds us how simple photography can be by building a home made light tight box and cutting out an opening for a lens. The scenes he captures may be familiar, but when presented in his wide angle circle format, we learn to appreciate the act of "seeing" all over again.

June 2008: Graduate Show

Photo of Angie Azar by: Caroline Hunton

This year's graduating class includes:
Caroline Hunton
Heather Freeman
Heather Etherton
Chris Thompson
Angie Azar
Tony Roche
Vanessa Hadford
Tyra Williams
Carlena Hockersmith
Sarah Lufkin
Gail Guy
Keyra Elder
Lawrence Long
Jesse Wanskasmith
Melissa Lindsey
Erica Martinez

Good Luck Class of 2008!