APS 2010

April 18th, 2010

The Alameda Photographic Society celebrates their 70th year with their annual exhibition at the Alameda Historical Museum. With sixty-three pieces by sixteen photographers there is a wide range of styles, genres, and themes represented.   

John Goyer contributes four photos. Two of them–“Yosemite Falls” and “Winter in Japan”–are landscapes, and the latter is perhaps the finest in the show. The scene is so flawless and crisp that it looks unreal, as though one is viewing a diorama at a natural history museum. He also exhibits two solid portraits, “Amanda” and “Nettie.” Linda Wang is another artist with excellent work in multiple genres. Two of her complementary pieces–“Red Door” and “Motor Bike”–hang together. “Motor Bike” plays off the incongruence of a moped parked in front of a yellow wall bearing bold Chinese characters painted in black. I couldn’t translate it, but my money’s on “No Parking.” She also provides a shot of little girls at a wedding, “Whispering,” exhibited alongside Goyer’s portraits.   

"Winter in Japan" by John Goyer

Steve Stuckey has one of the best overall series in the exhibit. Although the style differs in each of his four photos, they are tied together thematically around an idealized rural setting. They run the gamut from the stark “Bristle Cones Pines” landscape to the endearing “Girl Writing.” His time-lapse “Old House”–similar to Linda Connor’s “Petroglyph and Star Trails” (1991)–is intriguing and ties the swirling stars nicely into the composition without being gimmicky.  

"Ballet" by Linda Brown

Another excellent series comprised three pieces by Linda Brown. “Jelly Fish” was straightforward and well-done, and provided a context for the viewer to compare her others, “Bubble World” and “Ballet.” Are they close-ups of jellies, or is she finding similar patterns in nature or crafting them herself? They work regardless.  

Two highlights of the exhibit are the work of Barbara James and Andrea Dimiceli. James provides four photos of the Disney Center in Los Angeles. “Floating” is a simple but spectacular shot of the structure. The other three are details of various faces of the building, exploring the reflective surface. Despite gratuitous color effects in “Patchwork Quilt” they are all quite beautiful.

"Spiral" by Andrea Dimiceli

Dimiceli’s was the most consistently excellent work in the exhibit. Whether she’s captured a doorway in Spain or the Rosie the Riveter shipyard in Richmond, California, they are infused with a diffuse glow and have a haunting yet welcoming quality. Each of the four photos is a winner, and they work well together.

The Alameda Photographic Society exhibit continues at the Alameda Museum, 2324 Alameda Avenue, through April 29. Call (510) 521-1233 for museum hours.  

Michael Singman-Aste
Postdiluvian Photo

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One response to “APS 2010”

  1. Linda Brown says:

    Just wanted to thank you for such a warm review of our club’s annual show. You gave a very thoughtful and insightful review.

    I don’t have a websight, but if you want to follow any of us…please check out the APS link through N4C.org.

    I personally will be having another show (along with Terry Toomey) at the Java Rama coffee shop, just on the corner down from the Alameda Historical Museum from July 10-August 10, 2010.

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