By ROBIN CAUDELL
A Point of View Gallery's new exhibition, "Something Bold!," revs the senses.
In any medium, artists were challenged to create whatever along the open show's theme. Peter Russom, associate professor of art at Plattsburgh State, served as juror.
"It's fun to see the other people's work and meet the other artists," said Jane Lammers of Canton. She submitted "Blue Lilies," a photograph, which was awarded "Best in Show."
"I knew that was a good piece," Lammers said. "I was very happy with the way it was presented. When my husband and I arrived at the gallery, I was looking around to see if my piece got a good location. I saw the little ribbon. I said, 'What's that?'"
DIGITALLY ENHANCED
Michael Ringer's "Spring Flow," an acrylic, received first place. Ann Hanrahan's "Victory Party," mixed media, placed second. Elizabeth Grades's "Fissure," oil, received Honorable Mention, as did Michael Hart's "Remote Consequences," a mixed media.
"Blue Lilies" pulsates in an on-acid-kind-of-Georgia-O'Keeffe way. Lammers photographed the flowers last summer in a friend's garden. She digitally enhanced the image.
"The enhancement of the photo was basically trying to do something very different, designed for the 'Something Bold!'"
She used a variety of digital techniques.
"The most important part was the form of the lily — so intricate," she said. "The process used really highlighted the form, the detail of the lily's anthers."
Lammers studied biology and botany at Carleton College in Minnesota and Cornell University. She is a sustaining member of the Missouri Botanical Garden.
"I'm familiar with flowers and their structure," she said. "In my work, I try to use natural shapes and gradients in color and form to come up with interesting, strong design elements. If your original has good composition, form and color, you can experiment with digital enhancement and come up with something pretty unusual and spectacular."
ESPECIALLY FLOWERS
Photography has been Lammers's business for the past two years after leaving the corporate world.
"This is a real change for me. I've met some interesting and wonderful people. It's been the most enjoyable part of it."
She and her husband have traveled extensively in the continental United States and Hawaiian islands to fuel her lifelong interest in the natural world, the visual arts and architecture.
Lammers doesn't do people. Floral, fauna, landscapes and studio work are her thing.
"I especially love photographing flowers. It's been great fun for me," she said. "Since a child, I've always been interested in botanical works and art, so it came together in my work."
E-mail Robin Caudell at: rcaudell@pressrepublican.com
