-
August 12, 2018
12:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Always great to see the PSNWA booth at the Benton County Fair, but all things come to an end, and fairs never seem to last long enough. It is time to take down the PSNWA booth, and that requires some help. Volunteers are very welcome. We will meet at the PSNWA booth in the Benton County Fair Exhibit hall to take down the display on Sunday, Aug 12 at 2:00 pm.
-
August 11, 2018 - August 12, 2018
5:30 pm - 9:00 am
Join us for a truly unique photography experience as we spend the night aboard the USS Razorback, a WWII submarine docked in Little Rock, AR at the Arkansas Inland Maritime Museum!
We will board the USS Razorback after the last tour around 5:30 p.m., and leaving the next morning by 9:00 a.m. This overnight stay aboard the submarine will offer time to photograph the submarine in a way not possible during normal tours including long exposures. This event will include models, a paranormal photography class, photographing the Little Rock Skyline from the deck of the submarine, and the experience of sleeping aboard a WWII submarine.
This fun event includes:
- A guided tour of the USS Razorback submarine.
- Pizza dinner on the evening of the 11th (Please email info@psnwa.org with any dietary restrictions)
- Donuts, juice, coffee on the morning of the 12th.
- Models in themed and fashion dress to photograph in the Submarine.
- A Paranormal Photography Class.
- Sunset/Sunrise skyline pictures of Little Rock from the Deck.
- Detailed pictures of the submarine using tripods.
The fine print:
- Places are limited, and registration will be closed at 25 photographers.
- There is a $50 non-refundable fee paid to PSNWA to cover costs.
- Gear is limited to what you can carry down a 12 foot ladder on entering the submarine.
- Constant LED lights will be provided by PSNWA for use during various photography sessions.
- Attendees will be sleeping in refurbished bunks in the crew’s quarters, and will need to bring sleeping bags and pillows.
- AIMM and PSNWA requires a waiver of liability and emergency contact form that EACH participant must bring signed and present prior to entering the submarine.
- Alcohol is not permitted aboard the USS Razorback or on the AIMM grounds.
-
August 5, 2018
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm
It is that time of the year again. Time to setup the PSNWA exhibit at the Benton County Fair Exhibit hall. The booth will feature the top 14 images from the PSNWA Fall Fair Competition. Interested in helping setup the booth? It takes a crew and your help is always appreciated.
Setup is 2:00 pm, Aug 5th. We will meet at the Benton County Fair Grounds Exhibit Hall.
-
July 31, 2018
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
PSNWA Presents: “Our Natural State” Exhibit of Photography, July 10 – August 17 at Art Center of the Ozarks, Springdale Arkansas. Discussion and opening on July 31st at 7:00 PM.
How do you define the mindset, culture and values of Arkansans? “Our Natural State” exhibit seeks to answer this question by exploring the historical and contemporary landscape of Arkansas residents – from recent transplants to generational Ozark families.
———————————————
Take for example a famous Arkansas photographer, who is also one of the state’s most curious personalities – Mike Disfarmer, born Mike Meyer. Changing his name to remove any association to farming and his family, Disfarmer became known as one of the world’s greatest portrait photographers. From Heber Springs, the photographer set off an international firestorm upon discovery of his work, posthumously. His images speak volumes about the social fabric of Arkansans, and the values they hold dear.
Photographers working decades after Disfarmer: Beverly Conley, Ron Evans, Don House, Jim Simmons, and Geoff Winningham – similarly trace traditions to life in the Ozarks. While Maxine Payne captures present day residents with an uncommon humanity, elevating rural people to heroic stature.
By contrast Rebecca Drolen focuses on “transplants”, those who have come to Arkansas to live. Likewise, Donna Pinckley chooses diversity and inclusion as her subject, observing resident reactions to interracial couples. Intolerance is too often a response to alternative lifestyle.
And the desire to escape responsibilities, to “head to the hills” is a mindset skillfully portrayed by Matthew Genitempo and Alec Soth. The exhibit will contain images from Genitempo’s upcoming book, “Jasper”. Similarly, Soth is an accomplished author, and one of the most celebrated artists today with images in many major museums.
Jim Dow and Tim Hursley capture places which people inhabit, yet these environments are temporarily vacant – sometimes permanently. Sabine Schmidt creates constructed houses, and then photographs them as a metaphor for her Arkansas home. And the concept of “place” is the subject of Gary Cawood and Kris Johnson, who often photograph at night.
One of the most fascinating depictions of social values and mindset is by Margaret LeJeune, who’s “Modern Day Diana” reverses roles in a classic Ozark motive, hunting.
In “Our Natural State” is an exhibit of nearly 80 images to convey the state’s vortex of transitioning values, told from the point of view of the artist and their subjects. From a game of dominoes in New Hope, to a portrait on interracial marriage in Jonesboro, and on to a funeral home in Malvern – these visual vignettes can only begin to describe the collective unconscious of Arkansas. As described by Matthew Genitempo, “I made my way through the capricious woods of the Ozarks, and the deeper I went, the closer I came to this spot…a spot equidistant from heaven and hell…I am indebted to this land and its people for letting me make this discovery.”
The photographers curated for the exhibit are among the best to ever photograph in the Natural State. Please join us and add to the discussion on the people of Arkansas. Bring your own definitions and help discover the spot where mindset, culture and values begin to define the experience of being an Arkansan.
———————————————
List of artists:
- Gary Cawood
- Beverly Conley
- Mike Disfarmer (exhibition prints from the Disfarmer Project)
- Jim Dow
- Rebecca Drolen
- Ron Evans
- Matthew Genitempo
- Don House
- Tim Hursley
- Kris Johnson
- Margaret LeJeune
- Maxine Payne
- Donna Pinckley
- Sabine Schmidt
- Jim Simmons (images on loan from Shiloh Museum)
- Alec Soth (images on loan from Steve LaFontaine)
- Geoff Winningham (images on loan from Special Collections, University of Arkansas)
-
July 21, 2018
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Night photography can produce some very interesting effects. The moon and stars aren’t the only things worth taking pictures of when the sun goes down. Join us for an evening model session by the lights of Dickson Street without using flash.
Using high ISOs on modern digital cameras, taking photographs at night by ambient street light is a lot simpler to achieve then one might think. The results can be very stunning and strange effects are easy to master. It is also possible to take top quality night images with just basic equipment.
There is a modest fee per member to assist with prop and wardrobe purchases. Participants are asked to upload a few images from the session to an online gallery shared with models and makeup artists participating in the session. A tip jar will also be available at the session to show appreciation for the volunteer models.