Inner Vashon, An Outer View

Gallery features Photographers of Vashon

July brings Photographers of Vashon (POV) into focus at Blue Heron Gallery. A group exhibition featuring 31 professional and emerging photographers, the juried group show offers varied perspectives on Island life. Exhibit co-curators, POV member Michael Elenko and Gallery Curator Janice Mallman, asked Island photographers to illustrate why they live and/or work on Vashon Island and the meaning of home. The opening, July 3, 6 to 9, will feature live jazz with Richard Person, horns, Jim Hobson, piano and George Heidorn, bass.

Pieces for the show were blind-juried by painter Brian Fisher, professional Seattle-based photographer Kevin Cruff and Janice Mallman. Subjects include landscapes, people, ferries, and animals in black and white, color, digital, classic film based photography and digitally post-processed film.

“I want people to walk in and be surrounded by these images and know that they’ve come home,” said Mallman.
POV, an informal organization comprised of more than 80 professional photographers, artists and advanced enthusiasts, promotes ongoing communication and artistic/technical skills development. Elenko (systems analyst for Starbuck’s by day) says POV offers workshops on software techniques and practices to insure and maintain fine art quality in photography. “More people can pursue photography due to the tools available now. Although many members have come full circle from film to digital and back to film,” he says.

In existence for five years, the entirely voluntary group meets monthly at Heritage Museum. “We’re about professional education, the business and art of photography.” Twice a year members do a portfolio evaluation of one another’s work.
“I’m most gratified by the public forums we held since January 2009, with this show in mind. About 20 percent of the works in this show came from that process,” adds Elenko.