July 2007 - Exchange Gallery

Every month VAE highlights the work of four exemplary VAE artists in its Exchange Gallery. This highly visible retail space in the front windows of VAE's City Market Gallery is excellent exposure for artists and a favorite shopping spot of patrons. Artists are juried into the space annually. For more information contact Rachel Herrick at 919.828.7834 or rachel@visualartexchange.org.

Featured this month:

• Mary Kay Kennedy
• Eric Saunders
• Joe Sloane
• DeShelia A. Spann

Mary Kay Kennedy
See more of Mary Kay's work

Photography is a unique medium. Everyone is familiar with the photograph. From family snapshots to photojournalism the world believes that photographs tell the truth. I believe that photographs lie. The photographer chooses the moment, the place, what to include and what to omit. The uniqueness of the photographic medium allows an artist to show beauty in everyday life the extraordinary in the ordinary. A photographer can challenge the viewer to look a little closer and question what they see.

Eric Saunders
See more of Eric's work

I became interested in photography as fine art around 1982 and am mostly self-taught. My favorite subject matter is nature. My work is oriented to "seeing" effective abstract compositions, and communicating these compositions through precise technical control.

All work is 35mm using a NIKON 6006 and NIKON lenses (with a tripod most of the time), and printed on paper archival to at least 100 years. I prefer to make a scan from the negative, and then print from the resulting file using an inkjet printer, and archival inks and paper.

Joe Sloane
See more of Joe's work

I take photographs of that which catches my eye. These range from industrial sites to landscapes and abstracts. My primary purpose s to draw the viewer into the photograph and attempt to make the viewer ask questions, even if it is just to ask "Why did he take that picture?" I try to produce photographs that are visually appealing, even though all may not be "pretty" in a conventional sense.

DeShelia A. Spann
See more of DeShelia's work

Documentary photography is the focal point of my work. Causing time to stand still - capturing a moment, a feeling or an experience connects me with my photographs and subjects. As a photographer, I am always looking for the story that lives through the lens.

The images in my work are diverse; however, my true passion is capturing the essence of people. Taking the "dramatic portrait" allows me to create an image that lets the viewer see past the obvious and into the soul of my subject. This approach challenges me to interpret the way I see light and shadow, using those elements to tell a story, with no words. When photographing, I strive to capture the spirit of each person, occasion and moment using a photojournalistic style to create strong, emotive images that are intimate but unobtrusive.

DeShelia is a recipient of the 2006-2007 United Arts Council Regional Artist Grant as well as a 2007-2008 Visual Arts Exchange of Raleigh~ Exchange Gallery Artist.