UC Davis Review

[The President]

Well... the UC Davis review or our exhibit is out. While it is a
"nice" review, I find it unimaginative and short sighted. To quote
the author, "Most of the photographs present straightforward images
that do not evoke provocative, political or controversial messages
that might be seen in the 'cutting edge' voice of many contemporary
art exhibitions." It is the very fact that it is not provocative or
political or controversial that is refreshing about the works that are
displayed. I remember the days when I was a college student and I
felt like everything had to protest the war or pollution and I grew
out of that. After all what has really changed in all those years,
college students today protest the war, pollution and politics. In
the provocative atmosphere of the UC Davis campus there is a small
island of peace and quite where one does not have to rap their brain
around some odd visual corner to see what one person was trying to
say. I'm not sure where the author is looking for their "cutting
edge" view but it is not the "cutting edge" fine art photography that
I've seen. Me thinks she has missed the point of fine art. What do
you think?

[kare...@msn.com]

And yet, the reviewer continues with the following:

"That said, the photographs certainly elicit meaning and emotions in a
clear and uncomplicated manner.

On one exhibition label, Ed Beier poses a question: 'Can an image help
us understand part of the chaos around us?' In many ways, this
exhibition presents inspired and lyrical answers to this question. "

That sounds pretty good to me!

On May 18, 8:21 am, The President <tehamacountyphotoc...@gmail.com>
wrote:

[Bob Grace]

I think the review is both honest and fair.

Having seen the "'cutting edge' voice of many contemporary art
exhibitions," I would have to agree that our exhibit doesn't represent
that voice very much. On the other hand, "the photographs certainly

elicit meaning and emotions in a clear and uncomplicated manner."

At this point in my photographic journey, I really have no desire to
be on the cutting edge of art. I'm too old and settled for all that.
What I do hope to accomplish is to offer viewers a glimpse of some of
the beauty that exists all around us. If that makes them slow down for
a few seconds to appreciate the image, I'm happy.

Whether it's on the "cutting edge" or not, I think that the Davis
exhibit is, as Bob says, "a small island of peace" in a troubled
world. Surely there's nothing wrong with that and I'm proud to be a
part of it.