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Juror's Statement

Anna Skillman

I want to thank the Atlanta Photography Group for asking me to juror The Selects exhibition this November. Honored to spend time with all of the talented photographers, I also enjoyed the challenge of curating a cohesive exhibition.

After viewing approximately 150 photographs, I was faced with the difficult decision of selecting 64 photographs from 49 photographers from a powerful and talented group of photographs. I based my selection on the following criteria: presentation; the framing, matting, how the size of the print complimented the image as well as the over-all visual effect; next I examined the print quality, digital vs. traditional means of printing. If it was printed in color, I looked at the saturation of color and when the print was digital, I looked to see if it was printed seamlessly. I also looked at the uniqueness of the subject matter. It was difficult to select the 64 photographs. My goal was to create an exhibition that worked visually and was thought provoking with a conceptual edge.

I wanted a show that flowed from one wall to another. As one enters the gallery space, the first wall that greets the viewer has a “dream-like southern-ness” quality that I find to be an important element to the overall show. The “horse” portrait is grand and mesmerizing both in its size and in imagery. It is flanked with other photographs that have same soft quality of the land, almost pictorial. Then one’s eye follows left to a documentary wall, which is a life narrative similar to early FSA photographers as well as the documentary element of the New York School and classics of the 40s, 50s and 60s. The back wall of the gallery transitions into abstraction with color and a more contemporary approach. From the back gallery, one follows to the side space to work that is straight documentation of structures in landscapes such as a disappearing gas station as well as dilapidate building with advertising signage, “Coco Cola”. The last walk speaks in a softer voice with nudes, painterly landscapes and abstract still lifes.

Every aspect of the show represents some kind of genre whether it is a landscape, a still life, a nude, an abstraction, or documentary photography. Together they carry a common thread, one of strong visual composition and form. I am impressed with the professionalism and quality of artwork submitted for this exhibition and want to commend APG for a continuing program of excellence.

 

Anna Walker Skillman