Written by Ben Cox – The Brownwood Art Association honored two members of their photographic artists last night, each winning Photographer of The Year.
[adrotate group=”8″]
Jim Blake is this years Photographer of the year, and his exhibit “Churches of Texas” is on display now until the end of the month at the Art Center on Fisk Avenue downtown.
Blake shares the title with the Honorary Photographer of the Year, Fred Spencer, who passed away earlier this year. Spencer is credited by Blake for getting him involved with photography again after many years. “It’s all Fred’s fault” jokes Blake.
Blake recalls his childhood experiences with cameras and taking pictures for fun. “I remember shooting a roll of film and having to wait a week or so to get it back. Now with digital photography I can see instantly just how many pictures I screwed up!”
Blake recalls times during college where he and a few friends would visit the local paper, check out a camera, “load up as much film as we could carry and drive around town, burning up film. Then we’d go back to the darkroom and process it. It was a great way to spend a weekend and learn some stuff.”
As happens, childhood pursuits got pushed to the side as responsibilities arose. “I kinda fell out of it in the 80’s. Got married, career, transfers, kids, it falls by the wayside. It was 2004 when I met Fred Spencer, and he got me back interested in it, so I went and bought a digital camera and the rest is history.”
The exhibit features creative and unusual pictures of churches in all states of use across the state of Texas. From completely abandoned and falling in, to ornate and vibrant with care and loving use, each church is highlighted differently according to the feeling evoked by the structure.
Shooting since 2010, Blake says he does it because it’s “relaxing, it’s therapeutic. I do it for me, because I like it. If other people like it that’s also great.”
He says Brownwood has more than it’s fair share of artists, either in photography or other mediums. “We’d have shows where students would show their stuff, and it’s amazing, these kids are students and some fo their stuff is world class.”
All prints are available for purchase. Contact the Brownwood Art Association by calling 325-641-2916, or visit their Facebook page for details.
(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});