Photography Show Explores the Artistry of the Darkroom | The Source Weekly - Bend, Oregon

Photography Show Explores the Artistry of the Darkroom

Photography Show Explores the Artistry of the Darkroom
Rhonda Dalrymple
A dozen students will display work at COCC's gallery through November.

In an ever-growing world of technology that brings new mediums and tools for artists to explore, Central Oregon Community College is still displaying interest in the archival process of photography. Next week, a new exhibit of student work titled "Shake That Shadow" will open at the Pence Pinckney Gallery, showcasing the work of 12 student photographers.

Instructor Paula Bullwinkel has been teaching the class for nine years at COCC and says that the interest in learning this process never really dies down. Students even take her class for several terms in order to grow their skills and continue to explore the process of developing and printing their own work in black and white. Students work with traditional black and white film, printing in a dark room on silver gelatin paper.

The work is wide-ranging, representing the different areas of photography including landscape, cityscapes and still life. Most are created through special processes with toning and experimenting with chemistry to explore the results of different techniques.

When Bullwinkel first started teaching this class, the classes were small, but over time more interest grew. Now with full classes and often a waiting list, Bullwinkel finds her students are excited to learn this medium and explore what they can do with it. "It's different than digital—it has its own special thing. The students seemed really on board and engaged and intrigued by the art form—which is an art form in itself. People don't realize that it is still being done and how personal it is. In the darkroom there is all this artistry going on beyond just taking the photo," Bullwinkel said.

Shake That Shadow – COCC student photography exhibit
Thurs., Nov. 8-Fri. Dec. 7
Central Oregon Community College
Pence Pinckney Gallery
2600 NW College Way, Bend
cocc.edu

Teafly Peterson

For the last 20 years, I have been working as an artist and an educator. Some days I am better at one than the other. The good days are when I am excellent at both simultaneously. I love those days. I teach a variety of mediums– painting, drawing, photography, writing, film making. Mostly what I teach is how to...
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