[alt-photo] Re: Malin's map/Raleigh

[Diana Bloomfield]

Hi Trevor,

Wow-- small world.  I live in downtown Raleigh-- though not the truly  
(and increasingly) hip part of downtown.

Well, as I said, alt process photographers seem to be scattered  
throughout the state who do some really interesting alt process work,  
but not sure you can see a lot of it in the Triangle area--  on a  
"regular basis."   But, what the heck-- I'll just start by shamefully  
self-promoting.  My own work is always on exhibit (and in a flat file)  
at Adam Cave Fine Art, which is in downtown Raleigh on Hargett  
Street.  I'm the only alt process photographer up there.  And  
depending on when you're visiting, I will also be having a show at  
Ravenscroft School's Visiting Artist Portfolio Gallery, located in  
North Raleigh, and that work will will be mostly gum bichromate and  
gum over platinum prints (also mostly made with pinhole and/or toy  
cameras).  That exhibit starts in February and runs through early  
March, I think.  You can also check out Artspace in downtown Raleigh,  
on E. Davie Street (an art collective-- with mixed media artists);  
there is at least one guy (Bruce Melkowits) doing alt prints there  
(mostly kallitypes), and I think he always has something on exhibit.    
Flanders Gallery, also in downtown Raleigh (West Street), doesn't show  
much photography.  They represent a ~dozen photographers, but they  
don't seem to actually have a lot of photography exhibits-- though  
they did recently (a year ago) show the beautiful wet plate collodion  
portraits of Kelly Anderson-Staley.  I think they now represent her,  
so they should have her work on file that you could ask to see, I'm  
sure. That was a group exhibit where I saw her work, and-- by far--  
hers was the only work that was truly worth viewing in my opinion. (I  
think they should have made it a solo show.) The portraits she up  
there were stunning, though every portrait I see done in wet-plate  
seems stunning and mesmerizing to me (and everyone has beautiful  
eyes), so I've come to the conclusion that it's the process, not the  
photographer.  :)  But definitely stop by there, because I would think  
they have some of her work on file.

I also know several photographers in Raleigh who don't exhibit  
anywhere "regularly," but whose work is really beautiful-- David  
Hyman, a good friend of mine, does these exquisitely beautiful  
platinum prints.  He was, some years ago, represented by the John  
Stevenson Gallery, until he was told his work was "too small" (ie, 4x5  
and 8x10).  But he has a great studio at his home, so you could see  
his work there.

In nearby Durham, downtown (East Chapel Hill Street), you could check  
out the gallery, Through this Lens.  The owner always offers some  
interesting shows (Jerry Uelsmann is having an exhibit there starting  
in mid-April through July, I think).  But not too long ago, he showed  
some wonderful daguerreotypes by Jonanthan Danforth.  I think his work  
is truly spectacular. I've never met Danforth, but I think he actually  
lives in Durham.  I'm not sure if he shows at that gallery, or  
another, on a regular basis, but I suspect Roylee (the owner of  
Through this Lens) might have some of his work on file there.  I don't  
often see Danforth's work exhibited, but maybe I just don't go to the  
right places, or maybe he just exhibits out-of-state.  Craven Gallery,  
also in downtown Durham (Broad Street) shows the work of another  
excellent platinum printer (Caroline Vaughn) who also lives in  
Durham.  That's sort of a very crowded "gallery," and unless it's  
changed in the last couple of years, you have to sort of fight your  
way through a maze of work-- but it's worth a visit, and I'm sure her  
work will be hanging on the wall, or on the floor-- leaning against a  
bookcase, or a piece of pottery,  or . .

And depending on when you might be here, a retrospective is coming up  
at East Carolina's Gray Gallery, in Greenville, of John Scarlata's  
work.  That's about an hour and a half drive from Raleigh, but I  
suspect it will be worth the trip.  I think they'll have over 135  
works of John's, spanning over 3 decades.  While all of it certainly  
won't be alt process work, there will be definitely be some --  
probably gum prints and cyanotypes-- not sure what else.  But that  
show starts January 11 and runs through~ February 15, I think.

Well, that's all I can think of for now--though I'm sure I'm missing  
something.  I didn't include links to all these places, but if you  
want them, I can send off-list..   Do let me know when you're next in  
Raleigh, Trevor.  Would love to meet you and am happy to lead you all  
on a tour of these galleries and/or studios.

Diana


On Jan 6, 2010, at 1:02 AM, Trevor Cunningham wrote:

> Interesting. I'd like to know where I can regularly see alt work in  
> the triangle area. My parents live in Raleigh and we'll be visiting  
> for a month. Would be nice to get out and see some culture.
>