500 Main St. Springfield, OR 97477
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Wednesday through Saturday 11- 4 pm
ART HAPPENS HERE.
Showing November 7th to December 1st, 2023
The Emerald Art Center presents a Fifty Year Retrospective from Oregon photographer and teacher, Kurt Norlin.
Long-time Oregon photographer and teacher Kurt Norlin celebrates a half century devoted to photography with a retrospective exhibition spanning his multifaceted career, from the 1970s to the present, at the Emerald Art Center in November. A resident of Albany, the 84-year-old Norlin has been on the forefront of several alternative approaches and processes in the field—from hand-colored silver prints and photo-collages in his early years; to toy camera, panorama and pinhole photography in mid-career; and most recently intentional camera movement (ICM) images made with his phone.
“While the landscape has always been at the core of my work, the images are more about an impression or dream remembered, rather than pure descriptive fact,” he said. “Over the years I have become more interested in the essence of a place than the pure description.”
Four collections of his work have been compiled in self-published books, including “Some Twenty Odd Images” in 2009; “Desert Dance” in 2010; “Memories, Metaphors, Manifestations” in 2012; and “Illuminations” in 2013. His books can be seen at blurb.com, and a selection will be available for perusal and purchase at the reception on Nov. 10 from 5-7:30pm and gallery talk on Nov. 19 at 3pm.
Also showing are featured members Deborah Weese and Donna Sue Jacobi.
“Sentimental Friends“ by Deborah Weese celebrates the enduring whimsy and humor of animals through a Victorian-inspired lens. While Parkinson's disease has impacted her fine motor skills, she has embraced digital tools that allow her to continue creating art that uplifts and heals.
Each piece begins with a vision, a detailed written description of an idea that becomes one or several AI-generated black and white line drawings that she carefully selects and composes. Images are painted, composited, layered and digitally hand-colored…each element bringing vibrancy and emotion to the frame. Her impressions of each animal's personality inform the colors and mood. She enhances the compositions and add finishing touches in Procreate and Photoshop.
AI image creation or “hybrid image making” is evolving at light speed. It is key to focus on a creative vision, passion, and artistic perspective. Technique is secondary to the emotions and ideas you want to express. The detailed digital painting and compositing process enables her to infuse her imagination and optimism into nostalgic scenes.
Hybrid image making tools are simply that - tools. Like photography, digital art software, or synthesizers in music, they expand possibilities rather than diminish human creativity.
Artists still must sift through, select, edit and enhance AI outputs. This requires taste, judgment and an artistic eye. The technology is assisting in the process, not replacing the artist-helping to find meaning, imagination and impact for the viewer.
Printed on archival paper these works showcase how artists can integrate
new technologies into their practice.
She finds joy and inspiration in art making, and hope these works evoke humor
and perhaps brighten your day.
Donna Sue Jacobi will be showing hand-colored silver-gelatin photographic prints.
Paws-ing in the Rain - Deborah Weese
Feline Impressions - Deborah Weese
