NEW ORLEANS – November 20, 2017
December 7, 2017 to February 4, 2018, in partnership with the New Orleans Photo Alliance (NOPA) and PhotoNOLA (Dec. 7-10), the Ogden Museum of Southern Art will showcase CURRENTS 2017. CURRENTS is an annual exhibition which highlights the diverse photographic work being created by NOPA members. CURRENTS 2017 was juried by Richard McCabe, Curator of Photography at the Ogden Museum.
CURRENTS 2017 will feature work by 17 artists: David Emitt Adams, Suzi Altman, Sesthasak Boonchai, Lee Deigaard, Ben Depp, Norm Diamond, Jen Ervin, Preston Gannaway, Ashley Gates, Frank Hamrick, Molly McCall, Cheryl Medow, Maxine Payne, Betty Press, Carson Sanders, Aline Smithson and Eric Whitaker.
“When I was asked to jury CURRENTS, I decided to curate an exhibition based on a series of themes that seemed to resonate strongly from the work submitted by the 167 photographers,” explains Richard. “Those themes were Transformation, Collaboration and Place.”
Transformation: The transformation of the photographic image/process and transformation of the physical/psychological landscape.
Collaboration: Collaboration between the photographer and subject/medium.
Place: Utilizing the camera as a tool to explore and understand a specific place.
Featuring four to five images by each selected artist, the show gives viewers a deeper insight into each photographer’s vision and reflects an overview of contemporary photographic practices.
The Ogden Museum will host the following events in conjunction with PhotoNOLA:
PhotoNOLA CURRENTS 2017 Opening Reception
Dec. 8, 5-7 p.m. (free and open to the public)
This reception celebrates the opening of PhotoNOLA CURRENTS 2017. The reception will feature a juror’s talk by Richard McCabe.
PhotoNOLA PhotoWALK
Dec. 8, 7-9 p.m. (free and open to the public)
Over 70 PhotoNOLA Review participants will display their work for an evening portfolio review in the Ogden Museum’s Patrick F. Taylor Library.
During the portfolio viewing in the library, there will be a book signing with Richard McCabe, featuring his book LAND STAR, his first monograph containing images from the American South. The book, published by AINT – BAD, was recently released this fall.
About PhotoNOLA:
PhotoNOLA is an annual celebration of photography in New Orleans, produced by the New Orleans Photo Alliance in partnership with museums, galleries and alternative venues citywide. Showcasing work by photographers near and far, the festival includes exhibitions, workshops, lectures, a portfolio review, gala and more. PhotoNOLA draws hundreds of photography professionals to the city to partake in a variety of educational programs, and reaches broadly into the local community with exhibitions and events that are largely free and open to the public.
PhotoNOLA’s broad range of programming connects and inspires our community through photography. Each December, New Orleans shines as a prime destination for photography collectors, enthusiasts, and professionals in the field.
Established in 2006, PhotoNOLA was conceived during the formative stages of the New Orleans Photo Alliance (NOPA). In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Don Marshall of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation initiated a series of brainstorming sessions with different segments of the arts community, shaping groups and programs to spur cultural rebuilding. Under Marshall’s guidance, photographers created NOPA to serve the needs of the Gulf Coast photographic community. PhotoNOLA was created to highlight the photographic arts and to stimulate economic recovery in New Orleans.
The PhotoNOLA Portfolio Review began in 2007. It has quickly grown to attract a national gathering of accomplished photographers who convene to share work with esteemed curators, editors, publishers and gallery owners from throughout the U.S. and abroad. By fostering the exchange of art and ideas, it supports the work of emerging and established photographers. The PhotoNOLA Review Prize honors three outstanding portfolios each year. In addition, the Saturday night PhotoWALK serves to educate the general public by offering the opportunity to view portfolios and interact directly with participating photographers.
Broad ranging photography exhibitions are on view throughout the month of December, spotlighting diverse applications of the medium. A series of workshops, lectures and panel discussions further the educational goals of PhotoNOLA. Additionally, the annual PhotoGALA Benefit Party & Auction raises funds to support NOPA’s year round programming initiatives.
About the Ogden Museum:
Located in the vibrant Warehouse Arts District of downtown New Orleans, Louisiana, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art holds the largest collection of Southern art and is recognized for its original exhibitions, public events, and educational programs which examine the development of visual art alongside Southern traditions of music, literature, and culinary heritage to provide a comprehensive story of the South. Established in 1999 and in Stephen Goldring Hall since 2003, the Museum welcomes almost 80,000 visitors annually, and attracts diverse audiences through its broad range of programming including exhibitions, lectures, film screenings, and concerts which are all part of its mission to broaden the knowledge, understanding, interpretation, and appreciation of the visual arts and culture of the American South.
The Ogden Museum is open daily from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. with extended hours on Thursdays from 6-8 p.m. for Ogden After Hours. Admission is free to Museum Members and $13.50 for adults, $11 for seniors 65 and older, $7.25 for children ages 5-17 and free for children under 5.
The Ogden Museum is free to Louisiana Residents on Thursdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. courtesy of The Helis Foundation. The Helis Foundation is a Louisiana private foundation, established by the William Helis Family. The Art Funds of the Helis Foundation advance access to the arts for the community through contributions that sustain operations for, provide free admission to, acquire works of art and underwrite major exhibitions and projects of institutions within the Greater New Orleans area.
The Museum is closed Martin Luther King Day, Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras, July 4th, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Years Day.
The Museum is located at 925 Camp Street, New Orleans Louisiana 70130. For more information visit ogdenmuseum.org or call 504-539-9650.