Low Tide Landscapes - Juried Exhibit in Coos Bay /  by John Ritchie

Bicycle Returning To the Sea

My "Bicycles Returning To the Sea," above, was selected by juror Julia Bradshaw, associate professor of art at Oregon State University, for an exhibit by the Willamette Valley PhotoArts Guild at the Coos Art Museum in Coos Bay, Oregon.  The exhibit explores the unusual and often alien terrain exposed along the Oregon Coast during low tides, particularly during extreme minus tides that occur in the spring and summer.  I chose this opportunity to focus on unusual activity rather than terrain because, although I love the coast at low tide, I believe that humans add a high degree of interesting alien-ness to any landscape, and that's what I like to photograph.

The exhibit runs from December 9th to February 11th, 2017, with an opening reception on Friday, December 9th from 5-7pm.

The Coos Art Museum is located at 235 Anderson Ave., Coos Bay, Oregon.  Its hours are Tues-Fri 10am to 4pm, Saturday 1-4pm.

Night Photography: Dusk to Dawn - PhotoPlace Gallery /  by John Ritchie

Three images from my Night's Quiet Light collection were juried into an exhibition in Vermont.

Fog Bow Tree

I'm very pleased that three of my images were selected by Juror Lance Keimig into the "Night Photography: Dusk to Dawn" exhibit.

The gallery exhibition will be from November 30th to December 29th, 2016 in the PhotoPlace Gallery at 3 Park Street in Middlebury, Vermont.

The exhibition consists of physical and online exhibit components. "Fog Bow Tree" (above) was selected for the physical gallery exhibition, while "Back Alley Staircase" and "Transpiration" were placed in the online exhibit.  Both exhibits are available online here, and contain many fine night photographs.

PhotoZone Annual Juried Show /  by John Ritchie

"Dog Nappers" and "The Evolution of Surfing" from Their World, Our World were juried into the PhotoZone Annual Juried Show at the Emerald Art Center in Springfield, Oregon.

The exhibit will run from June 29th to July 29th with an artist's reception on Friday, July 8th from 5-8PM.  The Emerald Art Center is located at 500 Main Street in Springfield.  Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11-4.

Their World, Our World /  by John Ritchie

I've published a new body of work entitled "Their World, Our World."

Dog Nappers

Dog Nappers

People do fascinating things in the world we share.  Self-engaged, they are puzzling, amusing, and energizing.  We imagine ourselves in what we see others do, in the way they interact with their environment.  We learn about ourselves from the way they move in their world, which is our world.

I photograph people's moments in their world so we can share them, to study them, to learn about our shared world.

Low Tide Landscapes /  by John Ritchie

I'll be showing five photographs as part of the Low Tide Landscapes exhibit on display at the Chessman Gallery in Lincoln City, Oregon from May 13th to June 6th, 2016.  The show is a collection of photographs taken of low tide areas on the Oregon coast by 7 members of the Willamette Valley PhotoArts Guild.

There will be an opening reception on Friday, May 13th from 5 to 7 PM at the gallery, located in the Lincoln City Cultural Center - 540 NE Hwy. 101, Lincoln City.

Night's Quiet Light: August 2015 /  by John Ritchie

NightsQuietLight_Ritchie_sm.jpg

During the month of August I have a solo exhibit of night photography at the Oregon State University MU Concourse Gallery.  The exhibit features 24 color and black-and-white photographs of stillness, solitude and peaceful light found in the night world.  The show includes lots of new work as well as some old favorites.

The exhibit runs from August 1st to September 10th, 2015.  The gallery is located in the Memorial Union on the OSU campus and hours are 8-5 Monday through Friday.  http://mu.oregonstate.edu/art-gallery/

June 2015: Exhibit Month /  by John Ritchie

After not much action over the winter, suddenly I have three exhibits at once!

Moon Wash

Low Tide Landscapes

In collaboration with seven other members of the Willamette Valley PhotoArts Guild, we have a show called "Low Tide Landscapes" on display at the Unitarian Fellowship in Corvallis OR.  I have three photographs in the show, including "Moon Wash," a 30-second exposure under the full moon.

The show is on exhibit from May 20th to June 30th.  There is a reception on Friday, June 12th 2015 from 5:30 - 7 PM.

The Poet

A Life in Art

In another collaboration, eight writers from Linn Benton Community College teamed up with eight photographers to interview eight elders - people ranging in age from 82 to 102 - to produce a combined written and photographic portrait for each subject.

My subject was Dick Weinman, a local retired professor, radio personality, and fascinating individual.  Dick produces a blog entitled "The Thin Edge of Dignity" about life in an assisted living facility, viewable here: http://states.aarp.org/tag/dick-weinman/

Over the course of a month, "my" writer (Denzel Barrie) and I interviewed Dick a number of times, scheduled several photo shoots, and produced a framed piece.  This piece is on display with the other seven at the Linn Benton Benton Center in Corvallis.  The exhibit runs through the month of June.

This has been a fantastic project and I've really enjoyed working with both Denzel and Dick.

Couch Drunks

Street Couches

I've been juried into the Corrine Woodman Gallery in the Arts Center in Corvallis for a display of artistic couch photographs.  I've taken an interest in the photographic possibilities of the "Couch Season" - the end of the university year, when students flee town, leaving their old couches at the curbside for the city to take care of.  I will have nine couch photographs on display until June 27th.  Also on display will be Alexis Spakoski's ceramic tiles.  We will give a shared gallery talk at noon on Thursday, June 11th. 

Visit the Arts Center for more information: http://theartscenter.net/exhibit/story-behind-john-ritchie-alexis-spakoski/

UPDATE: The local newspaper, the Corvallis Gazette Times, interviewed me about this show and published a front-page article on it! The article can be read here: http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/couch-patrol-finds-competition-at-the-arts-center/article_b52c3fa5-4693-5704-8514-cacd25505384.html

Ekphrasis III /  by John Ritchie

Matea

My photograph "Matea" inspired poet Timothy Black to write a poem as part of the Ekphrasis III exhibition.

The exhibit is an annual collaboration between the Willamette Valley PhotoArts Guild and the poetry club at Linn Benton Community College.  PAG members submit candidate photographs to the poetry club members, each of whom selects one photograph that inpires a poem.  The resulting collection of poetry and photographs is exhibited on the LBCC campus.  A catalog of the assembled works is published as a small booklet.

I'm happy to have "Matea" selected and exhibited because she's an extraordinary girl and a delight to work with.  My brief photo shoot with her was one of the most fun I've had and it makes me glad to share the outcome of it.  I'm pleased that Matea's photograph was selected for the back cover of the exhibit catalog as well.

The exhibit is on display at the South Santiam Hall on the Albany LBCC campus. It runs from February 2nd to 27th.

The exhibit catalog is available for preview and purchase from Blurb: http://www.blurb.com/b/5940053-ekphrasis-iii