Black and White Photography Exhibit Showcases Local Talent

The current exhibit in the main galleries of the puts the focus on photographs without Kodachrome.

Black & White Photography opened Aug. 5 and runs through Sept. 16 at the Foundry. The photography exhibit fills Galleries I and II while Gallery III features the works of previous Foundry award winners Jennifer Flores, of Edwardsville, IL, Patricia Rehkemper, of New Baden, IL., and Manda Remmen, of Glen Carbon, IL.

The Ameristar Gallery's Emerging Artist Series features the works of Gil Scullion of Middletown, CN.

"This is a show we do every two years. Photography is so approachable anyone with a camera can dabble in it," said Foundry Director Laura Helling. "It's always a nice show."

The black and white exhibit features 43 pieces by 23 photographers, most of them from the area. Richard A. Johnson served as juror for the show, determining which submissions would be selected to hang in the hall. 

"Our galleries have showcased work of 45 states and 14 countries," Helling said. "This particular exhibit is unusual in that we received work from all over but the majority of pieces chosen were from Missouri and Illinois."

The top prize winner for the show was Matthew Goldsmith, of St. Louis, with Ruby Beach Mystique. Runners up were Roger McCarthy, of St. Charles, with 1936 Pierce-Arrow Coupe and Dark Angel; Shannon Dougherty, of St. Louis, with Untitled (Girl on Bed); and Benjamin Mudd, of Affton, IL., with Fire Down Below.

Mudd recently moved to Affton from St. Peters. "I got into photography in high school," he said. "I attended an arts high school in St. Louis on Grand. I liked the photography teacher and he talked me into taking a class. The immediacy of it (photography) caught my eye."

Fire Down Below was taken last October on a farm in Wentzville. "We were out there for a fall festival or Halloween. The area had been all done up. I saw that tree and it caught my eye." 

Mudd said he has no preference between color and black and white photography. "Some things pop more in black and white," he said. "I've always had a passion for black and white."

St. Charles photographer Roger McCarthy also expressed no preference between black and white and color work. "I enjoy both. I like some images in black and white. It simplifies the image," he said. "Sometimes it can create a greater impact."

McCarthy has been snapping photos for 20 years. "I didn't get serious until I joined the St. Louis Camera Club 10 years ago. That got my juices going," he said.

"I like the creative aspects -- taking a fleeting moment, capturing it, and doing something artistic with it."

Two of McCarthy's pieces were honored at the show. "That doesn't usually happen," Helling said.

1936 Pierce-Arrow Coupe offers a close-up view of a classic car. "I shot that at a museum in Michigan three-or-four years ago," he said.

His second piece, Dark Angel, is a more surreal piece combining an interior architectural shot of the Kansas City Art Museum and a photo of his daughter's eyes.

"That's a tough one to explain," McCarthy said. "It took a little work in Photoshop to create that." 

Admission to the Foundry is free, donations are accepted. For more information visit www.foundryartcentre.org.