Call and Response
Works by the Photographer’s Workroom
Copley Studio Gallery
November 8th - January 15th, 2022
We were six months into a global pandemic that appeared to have no end. One planned exhibit had been postponed and postponed and postponed again. There was no sense of what our new landscape would be.
Like the rest of the world, we’d found a way to continue to meet virtually. We’d even learned to love it. In many ways our Tuesday mornings together became a weekly ritual of gathering…sharing….creating.
The question of how we might maintain our creating while connecting kept playing out in my head. While mostly confined to the boundaries of our homes – how might we expand and grow while our worlds were shrinking?
And thus – this project of ‘call and response’ was born. I knew of others who’d done similar. I wasn’t at all sure how it might unfold for us – a group of eight photo-based artists – each with our own unique perspective and voice.
It was a simple plan. We’d pair-up. One would put out the first call, the second would respond. We’d continue these back-and-forth visual conversations throughout the week until we’d meet again.
The project provided us an outlet for creative focus. Knowing that our partner was waiting, forced us to show up. If not for ourselves, we’d do it for the other. Without any place to be, we dug deep into our photographic archives in search of that image – any image - to which the other would then have to find one of their own. We let go of perfection. We chose connection. We worked with color and shape and line and light. We found humor and joy. We explored new places and spaces. But most important - we found one another within the endless days of life apart.
We’re forever grateful to River Arts for the opportunity to share these with the community. We do hope that you get in to see it and discover the joy and connection for yourself.
-Marcie Scudder, Facilitator
Photographers Workroom is a group of 8 photographic artists:
Marcie Scudder
Nancy Banks
Christie Carter
Kent Shaw
Rosalind Daniels
Peggy Smith
Lisa Dimondstein
Shapleigh Smith
Now in it’s 4th year together, Photographers Workroom is a group of 8 photographic artists who use our cameras as our means of creative expression. With the intention of keeping ourselves creating and connected during the months of social isolation, we began a visual exchange of 'call and response'.
The guidelines and expectations were simple. One put out a call…begging for another to respond. Lines…shapes…colors and forms became ongoing conversations. Much like the call and response of birds mating - our dialogues were sometimes amicable….inviting and complimentary. Other times - the dialogues were more controversial and oppositional. The surprise was seeing our images reflected back at us thru another’s eyes. Our small worlds and lives became richer and more expansive.
Exhibition Reception and Artist Talk
Thursday, November 11th
5:30pm to 7:30pm