The Seven State Juried Photography Exhibit

University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Union
Porter Butts and Class of 1925 Galleries, 2nd Floor
800 Langdon Street, Madison, WI
September 14 - October 30, 2012

An opening reception with juror Sam Abell will take place on Friday, September 14, 2012, from 7-9 PM in the Main Lounge of the Memorial Union.

Sam Abell

Sam Abell is a documentary photographer, instructor and mentor. Working for National Geographic during the 1970s and 80s, Abell describes how he “treated assignments like fellowships (and) operated as an independent spirit” seeking the “art of photography.” He resisted the pressure for ever-more impactful photography and found a niche by “mak(ing) my quiet photographs more compelling.”

Sam Abell's work for National Geographic is featured in his fine art book, Stay This Moment (1990). Other books include Seeing Gardens (2000), The Photographic Life (2002), and The Life of a Photograph (2008). Sam Abell teaches photography with the Sante Fe Workshops and became a charter member of their Mentor Program in 2009. Extensive outtakes of a 2002 interview with Abell can be found at The Digital Journalist.

 

Entries were accepted from persons residing in the states of Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan and Missouri. All photographs -- black and white, color, non-silver, and computer manipulated, as well as mixed media photography-based work -- were eligible for entry.

A total of 439 images by 109 photographers were entered for the exhibition. Artists from all eligible states except Missouri were represented. Most entries of course were from Wisconsin, with 373 images submitted by 91 photographers from the Badger state.

Juror Sam Abell selected 49 images from 39 photographers for this exhibit. Out of the six states that participated, all except Indiana had at least one artist's work accepted.  A total of 30 Wisconsin artists had 38 images selected for the exhibit.

Copies of the selected images can be seen online at Seven State Exhibit Selections.

The Seven State Juried Photography Exhibit is sponsored by The Center for Photography at Madison, The Wisconsin Union Directorate Art Committee, and Nik Software, Inc.