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Abstraction
Prints of most of these images are available for purchase. Please inquire.
All photographs are the copyright of the individual artists and may not be reproduced without their permission.
Juror's Statement
I find abstraction to be one of the most deceptively complex genres of photographic art, so it was with great excitement but also a touch of nervousness that I accepted the invitation to serve as juror for this exhibition. It has been said with tongue in cheek, that if you look at a photograph and say, “What is it?” it’s an abstract photograph. But in a compelling abstract, the artist is going beyond mere unrecognizability into territory that evokes wonder and mystery. I think of abstraction as a form of invention – the artist is looking beyond the real and creating something new from what exists unseen in front of most people’s eyes. This requires vision and intention. In the most successful abstracts, the viewer is drawn by a spark, but photographs that go beyond the initial “wow” moment evoke an emotional connection and draw the viewer back in repeatedly. The magic of abstraction lies in a sense of discovery – by the artist and the viewer.
The submissions for this exhibition varied widely, from more straightforward “found” abstracts to complex, layered digital creations. Some images are pure abstracts; others employ abstract approaches while still retaining connections to reality. It is challenging but also inspiring to review such a disparate group of work. I sought images that display not only technical excellence and compelling composition, but also the more elusive qualities of mood, harmony, and illusion. Many of these selections drew me in upon repeated viewing, some with stimulating depth of texture, others with harmonious color and form, and still others with Zenlike minimalism.
The Juror’s Award selection, Jacqui Turner's Between the Lines, a low-key monochromatic composition, immediately struck me with its organic forms and subtle positive/negative space relationships, and the connection drew stronger upon each successive viewing. The Director’s Award, Peter Jeschke's Frost On My Window 1, is a striking detail of crystalline forms that reveals more subtle layers upon revisiting. I would happily add each of those prints to my collection.
Keeping in mind that this is a gallery exhibition and not a photo competition, I wanted the final selections to retain a point of view while reflecting the broadness of the category. I hope I have achieved that goal and that viewers enjoy the results.
Many thanks to PhotoPlace Gallery, and to all who submitted to “Abstraction.” I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to review such a varied and exciting collection of images.
— Janet Jeffers
Call for Entries
Abstract images combine shapes, color, pattern, texture and imagination to create an image that is largely independent of visual reality. For this exhibition we seek abstract lens-based images made and modified in whatever way you choose.
We are very pleased that Janet Jeffers will jury the exhibit. She will select approximately 35 images for exhibition in the Middlebury gallery, and 40 for our Online gallery. All 75 selected images will be promoted on social media, reproduced in the exhibition print catalog, and remain permanently on our website, with links to photographer’s URL.
Banner image: Nanci LaBret EInstein
Thumbnail: Lawrence Matthews
Information about our printing service and free matting and framing here.
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About the juror
Janet Jeffers is a visual artist using photography to explore intimate and abstract details in the natural and built worlds. Her photography process is based on a practice of mindful exploration and discovery.
Jeffers received her BA from Towson University and MA in Publications Design from University of Baltimore; she worked in the fields of graphic design, interior design, and broadcasting, before committing to a full-time photography career.
Her work has been featured in solo exhibitions, including the Baltimore World Trade Center, the Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower, and the Hoffberger Gallery, as well as numerous group exhibitions including Manor Mill Gallery in Monkton, MD; PhotoPlace Gallery in Burlington, Vermont; Maryland Hall for the Arts; Jo Fleming Contemporary in Annapolis, Maryland; and Y:Art in Baltimore, Maryland. She has been featured in print and online publications, including Lenscratch, Décor Magazine and UpstArt Magazine. Permanent installations of her work include large-scale site-specific wall and window murals, and are displayed in organizations such as Pharmaceutics International, Inc., University of Maryland Medical Systems, and Catholic University.
In addition, Jeffers is a juror and presenter for numerous photography outlets. She works from a studio in the historic Bromo Seltzer Arts Tower in Baltimore, and lives near Annapolis, Maryland. She is currently represented by Jo Fleming Contemporary in Annapolis.