The exhibit, first shown at Pioneer Memorial Theatre's Loge Gallery in February, 1999, consists of 15 giclée prints. All of the images were created as photographs by the artist, who then used a combination of software and printing techniques to achieve the final image result.

Giclée prints are printed using an ultra-fine spray of ink. (The French word "giclée" means "to spray on".) All of the images in this exhibit are printed on Arches watercolor paper, using the most archival inks available. The tonality of the prints, somewhat resembling a photographic platinum print, is a result of a collaboration between the artist and the printer. All images were printed by Mark Weiler at Image Quest Arts, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

The prints were exhibited at the Aperture Gallery in Salt Lake City from April 16 to May 13, 1999.

About the images...

The Artist's Statement...

I have always been drawn to the abstract, the overlooked, the splash of light on a wall. The intimate and unseen landscapes that surround us are the treasures that I bring to the viewer. By exposing these both to film and the viewer, the small details of everyday existence take on a new life.

When a person begins to notice how the light plays on a surface, bringing out the textures, shadow-shapes, the color of reflected light - all the details that make up the environment surrounding us - s/he can begin to delight in the ordinary. The sum of the parts truly becomes greater than the whole.

For myself, digital imaging has become another tool to use. Most of my digital images begin as traditional photographs. By digitizing the images, the computer then becomes an electronic darkroom - free of traditional chemicals, but still an environment where experimentation and fine-tuning occur. Photographs have always been manipulated by photographers - the "darkroom" I choose to use makes the difference with my images. It is a part of my art-making process to determine how an image should be approached. Perhaps a traditional method is what the image calls for, perhaps the abilities available in the digital realm will make the image truly sing. The digital method does not supplant the traditional - with care, each will enhance the other's attributes.

For this particular exhibit, I wanted to expand on the strengths of the giclée process (also known as Iris printing). The use of Arches watercolor paper as the image support material is not a standard choice for photographs, but the giclée process makes this choice possible. By changing the edges of the image from the traditional photographic hard edge to a softer, more interesting combination of textures and shapes, I alter the way the viewer interacts with the image. The texture of the paper also comes into play, changing the resulting image into a more tactile experience for the viewer. These altered edges enhance the overall emotion of the image.

...and brief bio:

I have been a photographer for over 20 years. In my current professional life, I am the webmaster for Outreach and Continuing Education at the University of Utah, where I continue to use my design skills. I have shown my work in numerous venues, including those juried by well-known photographers such as Eliot Porter, Philip Hyde, Freeman Patterson, Bruce Barnbaum, and others. I teach for the Internet Communications Certificate program at the University of Utah, as well as digital imaging at the Salt Lake Art Center.

For more information or purchase inquiries, please contact:

Judy Kiel
email: jkiel@aoce.utah.edu

Thanks for visiting - ci vediamo subito!

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