Imagine: New Work by Peg Hess
February 4-26, 2022
Imagine: New Work by Peg Hess
Opening reception: Friday, February 4, 5:00-9:00 PM
Gallery hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM and Saturday, 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Peg Hess’s inaugural exhibition at the Emporium includes images from eight countries and five US states. Her photographs including striking as well as tranquil landscapes, water, and the bright light of the sun.
Growing up as a fifth generation East Tennesseean in the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, I often heard my father’s voice encouraging me to “look” at something intricate, beautiful, or unusual. Pausing, seeing, reflecting on, and taking in the wonder or puzzle of a moment or image became second nature to me. It is the foundation for my passion for photography.
I am energized by being in solitude, particularly outdoors and in sacred spaces. For me, as for many others, “When the eyes see what they have never seen before [which in my experience often occurs in traveling to new places] the heart feels what it has never felt” (Baltasar Gracian, a Spanish Jesuit scholar). Seeing with my camera yields an even richer experience, including noticing the sources of light and the mystery in shadows; magical, even otherworldly, reflections; intersecting angles and echoing shapes; contrasts in light, color, and textures; energy and movement; remarkably subtle color shifts; and natural and designed symmetry. Focused seeing creates options for compositions that highlight what has drawn me to the scene.
Some photographs invite contemplation, others pull us in and we become immersed in making sense of what we see. Others evoke feelings — laughter, awe, a wish to become part of the moment depicted. As a photographer, I seek to create such photos to share with others.
For the photos that I selected for this exhibition, I explored a variety of printing options. Previously, most of my photos have used a matte fine art paper that yields profound depth in color and clear details or a hybrid premium rigid canvas Durawrap using a UV cured ink direct print process. The beautiful, durable canvas finish often resembles a painting. I consulted with Tim Emerson, an acclaimed expert and innovator in photographic printing, who curated the exhibit photos and crafted them using several media types: matte paper print and direct print canvas (bin prints, ready to frame); direct print canvas durawrap; fine art archival canvas giclee; and dye sublimation aluminum ((also known as an infused metal print). The variety of products is a reflection of the best fit in color, depth, and finish to convey each photo’s mood and tone. Each photo’s print option is identified with its name and price.
Many photos in this exhibit are infused metal prints, which for me as an artist has been a new and very exciting experience. In addition to the stunning ways this process may bring a photo to life, it offers a premium finish suitable for indoor or outdoor display. The exterior coating creates a durable surface that is UV resistant, water protected, and scratch resistant. I love the expanded presentation options in this exhibit and am pleased to offer them to you.