Visitors will see stunning examples of experimental photography in this exhibition that features about 30 photographs by mid-20th century American photographers. In the Light: Photographs from the Sikkema Collection opens next week on Saturday September 13, 2008 and runs to January 4, 2009. The exhibition will be open during regular Figge hours and included with general admission.
As a preview to the exhibition, on Friday, September 12 at 10:30 am Figge is hosting a question and answer period with Brent Sikkema as he is interviewed by Bruce Carter, the host of the local Art Talks radio program. Mr. Sikkema donated 84 photographs from his extensive collection to the Figge. Selected photographs from this gift will be exhibited during this exhibition. The interview will be held in Figge's auditorium and is free with paid admission or membership; and free for college students, professors, and members.
Featured Experimental Photographers
Harold Edgerton, the inventor stroboscope photography used this technology to capture an image at the split second a bullet pierces an apple and deck of cards. Some of Edergton's photos show sports-related subject matter, while others are simpler like the image of a single droplet of milk creating a coronet pattern. Barbara Morgan captured the kinetic energy of modern dance in her photographs through experimenting with double exposure and creating photomontages. Eliot Porter, an early experimenter in dye transfer color photography, was renowned for taking photographs that were ecologically and culturally significant. Olivia Parker focused on the simple and abstract beauty of still-lifes through special dark room techniques. Photographs by Carlotta Capron and György Kepes demonstrate their techniques in abstraction, light, or exposure.
In late September, Figge will also launch a new interactive area that offers families and children hands-on activities that correspond to special exhibitions. This new area is also ideal for school groups. The debut theme for the interactive area is photography. At the activity centers, visitors will be able experiment with light, texture, angle of view, and have an opportunity to recreate their own version of some of the photos from the In the Light exhibition. Digital cameras are encouraged in the interactive center, but are not permitted the galleries.
Additional in-depth gallery talks that are included with general admission or free to members are also scheduled for the duration of the exhibition, including "Focus on Eliot Porter and Olivia Parker" at 1:30 pm on Sunday, September 28; "Focus on Harold Edgerton and György Kepes"1:30 pm on Sunday, October 19. An in-depth 5-week teacher workshop course that is also open to the public, "Twentieth Century Photography" will be offered from September 30 - October 28. Teachers may earn 10 CPDUs for this course. The cost for the course is $65; $55 Figge members.
About Brent Sikkema
Growing up on a farm in Morrison, Illinois, Brent Sikkema's journey began by taking a bus to the Art Institute in Chicago. In the 1970s and 1980s he worked with almost every major living photographer. Today Mr. Sikkema is the principal at Sikkema-Jenkins Gallery in NYC, which represents painters, videographers, sculptors, installation artists and the like.
Figge Hours/Admission
Figge's hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday (10 a.m.-9 p.m. Thursday). Admission is $7; $6 for ages 60 and up and students with ID; $4 for ages 3-12. Call (563) 326-7804 for details. For more information and updates on tours and programs for the In the Light: Photographs from the Sikkema Collection exhibition visit www.figgeartmusuem.org.
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