Embracing the Light

It gives me great pleasure to announce that an ‘Exhibition of Photography’ is being displayed by a collective of members from the Rangiora Photographic Society and friends at the Brick Mill Gallery in Waikuku.

Over 100 images will be on display at the exhibition which is designed to not only show case the work of the individual photographers but to announce a ‘coming of age’ of photography as a creative art form in the Waimakariri area.

“Embracing the Light” clearly has obvious connections to photography but in the sense of this exhibition it is also reflective of a long journey into the light. An exciting voyage of discovery experienced by the collective of photographers to find the creative style and genre that best fits their personality and to transfer that to a printed image that challenges, wows, excites and inspires the viewer.

There is great risk with holding such an exhibition of works from photographers who are largely unknown on a national level. Do people consider photography an art form and will they come to this exhibition? Exhibiting works is after all only of value if people view those works.

The question – should the risks be allowed to outweigh the opportunity?

A recent viewing of images on display in Rangiora has attracted considerable attention and praise from those who have viewed it and has been described as ‘settling the spirits’. Substantial praise for as yet ‘nationally unknown photographers’.

Accepting this risk and the challenge of a much larger exhibition, the collective looks to a future where the exhibition becomes a regular feature in the North Canterbury calendar and draws people into the area.

For this reason the decision was made to utilise the rustic and art centric venue of the Brick Mill Gallery in Waikuku.

The exhibition will feature Tony Bridge FPSNZ, digital artist, photo educator, writer and one of New Zealand’s leading landscape photographers. Tony’s work draws heavily upon his Maori and European heritage and his ongoing studies into a broad range of spiritual and mystical traditions.

Come and enjoy the challenge of the photography; have your ‘spirits settled’ as you roam the gallery and find those works that fit with your own sense of self. Who knows, you may even find a work that you wish to bring home and display in your living space.

Catherine Boyd
Exhibition Coordinator