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Reviewing the Elements through a Collective Lense

"Earth, Air, Fire, Water," a collaborative art exhibition by The Clarksville Friends of Photography, displays the movement and grandeur of the life cycle: from a baby's foot planted solidly on the ground to a face in a tree's trunk, from reflections on the water droplets of a spiderweb to a sailboat on the open ocean, from clouds stretched out like a strand of cotton candy to feathers falling into a child's hand, from flames licking the edges of space to a woman's shadow illumined by candlelight. The artists focus on both regional and international images.
Capturing images of the Southeastern United States, Theresa Daley's photographs "Sweet Gum" and "Bubble" allow the timeless texture of the sweet gum to prickle beside a bubble that holds the swirling hues of blue, pink, yellow, and purple. In the silver gelatin prints "Water", "Fire", "Earth", and "Wind", Maijaliisa Burkert focuses on objects discovered in fields and forests. Tree roots search for nourishment during a drought in "Water". The lines of wrinkled tobacco drying in a barn window reflect the age of a dying regional culture in "Fire". In "Earth", a tree grows through the windows of an inverted, rusted car, enveloping it in the changes of nature. The skeleton of a barn with feather-like timbers shows the strength of timeless constructions, as well as the photographs that have newly-captured them, in "Wind".
The contrast of these images can be seen in Richard Pugh's vivid, bold, color photographs "Warm Autumn Fire" and "Hot Summer Earth" in which the viewer can sense the comfort of a camp and blasts of red earth heat, alongside his "Cold Winter Air" and "Cool Water in Springtime."
The exhibition communicates timeless movement with images like Julie-Anna's small but lively photos "American Indian Dancer" and "Greek Dancer", Stacy Segovia's triptych "Fire", as well as Mitzi Cross' "Mother Earth" photograph, swollen with a pregnant mother's stomach. Heidi Hopkins' work introduces the ageless, surreal world of photography, emitting a dreamy quality into the exhibition with images like "Smoke" that shows the ghostly breath of pollution from the smokestack of a building and "Hope" that captures the shining green grass upon which stands a Shaker wearing a long green gardener's dress and bonnet who is turning to look into the entrance of a cemetary.
An art viewer can also follow the delicacy of poetry unfurling underneath ferns in Malcolm Glass' silver gelatin and mixed media images "Riversedge" and "Sinklake". Winnie Bagley's "Breathe the Air" places the intimate details of various noses into a collage of color photographs.
The collective message is one of birth, growth, and the strength of creation. The exhibition features a variety of both Mother Earth style photographs in black and white as well as the illumined faces of buildings and ripples of flames.
The exhibition "Earth, Air, Fire, Water" will be on display at the Downtown Artist's Co-Op on Franklin Street in downtown Clarksville, TN, from now through Feb. 16. A gallery talk by the artists will be Thurs., Feb. 7 at 5:30 p.m. The Gallery hours are Wed.-Sat. noon-6 p.m. More information at http://www.clarksvilleartists.org/
Participating Artists: Theresa Daley, Jenny Gilman, Mitzi Cross, Julie-Anna, Maijaliisa Burkert, Christy O. Curtis, Jim Hancock, Malcolm Glass, Tammy Dohner, Heidi Hopkins, Winnie Bagley, Mark Griggs, Alicia Archuleta, Connie Rosson, Shana Thornton-Morris, C.J. Powers, Lisa Wise, Richard Pugh, Hilary Bock, Stacy Segovia, Teri Schultz.

 

August 2005 FOP Meeting Minutes

Friends of Photography – August 11, 2005

Meeting Notes by Tammy Dohner

NEXT MEETING – Thursday, September 8 – 7 pm – at APSU unless notified otherwise.

ATTENDANCE: Winnie, Tony, Yvonne, Mitzi, Tammy C., Tammy D., Jenny, Malcolm, Heidi, Rebecca and Kerrie.

ABSENT: Alicia, David, Marjory, Ruth, Mark, Jim, Donna, Becky, Shane, Beverly, Larry, and Greg.

Meeting led by V.P. Mitzi in Greg’s absence.

BUSINESS:

1) FINANCES: Newly elected Treasurer Jenny reports the bank balance is $789.31.

2) SHOW AT L&N: “Shadowlands,” our all black and white show will be hung August 27 at L&N Train Station. Based on the number of rods and hooks at the facility, it will be one image per member. Reminder: L&N gets a 10% commission on works sold while on exhibit there.

ACTION:

MOTION made to offer a 10% discount on works sold at the reception.

VOTE: In favor of 10% discount on work sold night of reception only.

EXHIBIT ACTION LIST:

- Deliver ONE image to L&N Train Station (10th and Commerce) on Saturday, August 27 between 10:30 and 11:30.

- Image must be black and white – and presented in a white matt with black frame.

- Work must be wired and ready to hang on the wall. For the repeat offenders -- those horrible little el cheapo saw-tooth hangers do not work with the museum style rods and hooks and we cannot put nails into the walls at L&N.

RECEPTION ACTION LIST:

- Malcolm is contacting the L&N coordinator about reception dates. Reception date TBA.

- Jenny is designing an invitation for the reception.

- Kerrie is organizing the reception food – members will prepare food for the reception.

3) MEMBERSHIP I: Nita Smith has been on the waiting list for the last several rounds of membership increases – and for unexplained reasons her application kept getting lost.

ACTION:

MOTION made to invite Nita to join group to fill slot created by Amber’s departure.

VOTE in favor of admitting Nita.

4) MEMBERSHIP II: Discussion on further expansion of membership. Topic introduced at the July meeting, discussion tabled until August. Vote will take place in September.

First, A CRASH COURSE ON NON PROFIT GROUPS:

For some reason, this was on the agenda for me to address. It was a surprise to me – sort of like a sudden smack in the back of the head. I don’t know if someone has suggested we become a formal 501(C) 3 nonprofit organization, (lemme know who it is, and I’ll change his or her mind or beat them into submission). Anyhow, here is what I know about 501 (C) 3 non-profit status from being a member of the board of directors of an arts group in town:

- It costs at least $500 to apply for this status and yearly fees to maintain it.

- There must be an elected board of directors and formal by-laws.

- It takes months to do the initial legwork/paperwork (6 months on the short end, 12-36 on the long end).

- There is a 3 year probationary period before achieving full 501 (C) 3 status.

- The primary reason groups want this designation is to apply for grants – (I can fill you in the excitement of the grant writing process anytime you like – call me when you have severe insomnia and an extra ream of paper).

- There are annual filings and fees required – and hefty fines and penalties for tardiness, missing schedules, etc.

**Note: We currently fall under the IRS definition of a “Social Group” which has specific limitations on membership and income.

Now, back to our FEATURE PRESENTATION:

Greg submitted the following points to note in the membership discussion:

- Average attendance at meetings is 12-14 people out of 25 members.

- As president, he receives emails from people interested in joining our group. While some writers seem primarily interested in blasting us for our limited membership rule, others actually want to join and participate in the group. He proposes we open membership to satisfy the increased interest.

- By adding dues-paying members we could increase the amount of our annual scholarship.

PAST REASONS FOR MEMBERSHIP CAP:

- Art House darkroom space and access was limited. We had a small darkroom there (it fit one body at a time) and used the personal equipment of a founding member.

- We had one major member show a year. Recently, we have had more opportunities for group shows.

- Members wanted to maintain a group size that fit comfortably in the existing meeting space and allowed for socializing and casual style meetings.

MEMBERSHIP POINTS/OPTIONS INTRODUCED IN DISCUSSION:

- FOP has already grown and will never again be the small, informal group it once was.

- Step up membership gradually – i.e. increments of 5 or 10.

- Create new levels of membership and dues – i.e. category for those not interested in exhibiting, but who still want to participate in meetings, workshops, critiques; category for full participation.

- Larger membership means we’ll need larger exhibit spaces – and we can’t count on places like the museum every year (Inside scoop – they book exhibits 2 years ahead – as far as we know, we aren’t on the schedule for the next 2 years. AND, there may be a rule against the same groups exhibiting in consecutive years – AND the new permanent sports gallery which begins construction this fall will permanently eliminate one gallery currently used for temporary shows – the Hand Gallery – where we had our “Relationships” show. But you didn’t hear this from me.).

- If we continue to limit membership, we must require strict enforcement of the attendance rule previously enacted. (The Rule: Miss six meetings in the time period September – August and you are history.)

- Change attendance rule.

- In past 6 months, we’ve had more critiques and work sharing meetings – these are unmanageable with a group larger than our current average attendance.

- Critiques work best with wall space to display the work (current meeting space works with current average attendance).

- Open our workshops to non-members – maintain email list for notification.

- Larger group means we’ll need to find a new, larger meeting place (with ample parking, display space for critiques, and seating for the meeting).

- More members means more dues income, which will eventually mean additional tax issues and paperwork.

- What is our agenda? What type and size of group do we want to be?

ACTION:

THE MEMBERSHIP ISSUE WILL BE VOTED ON IN THE SEPTEMBER MEETING. If you are not at the September meeting (Thurs Sept 8), please don’t complain about or question the outcome of the vote later.

5) ASSIGNMENTS & WORKSHOPS: Slips of paper were provided – attendees were asked to list 4 major topics for future workshops and 4 assignment ideas. Mitzi collected them and will compile and present results at a future meeting.

6) ASSIGNMENT FOR NEXT MEETING: Emulate a painting or photo by another artist. Bring in an image of the original and your version of it.

MEETING ADJOURNED.

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July 2005 FOP Meeting Minutes

Friends of Photography – July 10, 2005
Meeting Notes by Tammy Dohner

NEXT MEETING – Thursday, August 11 – 7 pm at APSU unless notified otherwise.

ATTENDANCE: Alicia, Winnie, David, Marjory, Tony, Yvonne, Tammy C., Tammy D., Ruth, Jenny, Jim, Donna, Heidi, Becky, Amber, Rebecca and Greg.

ABSENT: Mitzi, Malcolm, Mark, Shane, Beverly, Larry, and Kerrie.

ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1) Thanks, hugs and kisses to Becky for hosting our July picnic meeting!
2) Happy Anniversary (and congratulations on longevity) to FOP members David and Marjory – did I hear 25 years? Wow. And two years in a row we’ve thrown you a picnic on your anniversary! Happy Anniversary also to Prez Greg and his wife Denice – 27 years?!? None of you look anywhere near old enough for numbers like that. All y’all must have been born married!! And speaking of wedded bliss, congratulations to Rebecca on her recent (June) marriage.
3) Winnie has a show at Border’s Café. It hangs until the end of July. Support your fellow photographer. Go there. See it.
4) Amber, our web goddess, is moving at the end of the week due to her husband’s new job in Indiana. :( Our loss is Wabash, Indiana’s gain. We will certainly miss her and her photographic and webby talents. (Especially those of us who will try and fill her shoes on the website.)
5) Many thanks to Donna for hosting a photo shoot on her property on June 25th. Those who attended had a great time and got some great images.
6) Becky has a show with painter Cyndi McGrail opening at Downtown Artists Co-Op (a.k.a. “THE DAC”). The reception is Thursday, July 14 from 5-8. There is also a reception at the museum the same night for “Playing on Time Strings,” surrealistic works by Iraqi painter Muayad Muhsin (6-8 pm). You can easily visit both receptions. Start with Becky’s – it’s earlier.

BUSINESS:

1) CLUB SIZE -- Greg periodically receives emails from people interested in our group. The messages aren’t always nice. He shared one from a writer who was especially disheartened by our membership size restriction (called us “elitist” and supportive of the “exclusive” local arts atmosphere).

ACTION: Motion made to re-examine the membership cap. Discussion tabled until August meeting. Please think about the direction you want our club to move in, and the pros and cons of expanding our membership.

2) SHOW AT L&N: “Shadowlands,” our all black and white show approacheth! The hanging will be August 27 or sometime right after that date (the ARTZ show currently at the L&N comes down on August 27.) Right now it looks like one print per person. (Unless we want to crowd the work – but a show of around 25-30 pieces fills both rooms in the place, especially if there are larger works. If you saw the recent show “I’m Just a Girl,” featuring Mitzi and Tammy D with painters Terri Jordan and Christie Morris, you would have a good idea of the spacing limitations. If you didn’t see the show, what the heck were you doing all during May and June?!?!? Fuhgeddaboudit, I don’t really wanna know.)

3) WEBSITE: With Amber moving (Thursday, July 14), action needs to be taken on the website immediately. READ: We need people to learn Amber’s tasks. Attendees were told to speak with Amber if they could help. TICK TOCK, TICK TOCK, the clock is winding down.

4) OFFICER ELECTIONS: Greg announced the officer nominations received via email. Voting was conducted. Officers for 2005-06 are:

Treasurer: Jenny
Secretary: Tammy D.
Vice President / Programs: Mitzi
President: Greg

MEETING ADJOURNED. Eating commenced. (FINALLY! The sound of rumbling stomachs on the patio was deafening. Or maybe that was just mine.)

 

 

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