Published: April 27, 2007 04:35 am      

Photo exhibit reveals the ‘Discoveries’ of local artist

Special to The Leader



Richard Ashmore, a national award-winning photographer from Orange, will present a solo exhibition of his work, entitled “Explorations and Discoveries,” today through May 31 at several locations.

The gallery opening and reception will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at Pinehurst Gallery, with all the exhibit’s artwork on display.

Following the opening reception, part of the exhibit will be on display from Saturday through May 31 at the Lamar State College Orange library, with the remaining portion of the exhibit on display from May 15 through the end of May at Orange Savings Bank. A closing reception for the exhibit will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. May 31 at the Lamar State College–Orange library.

The public is invited to attend both opening and closing receptions and view the artwork at all venues during the run of the exhibit. Admission is free.

“I am really pleased to have an opportunity to exhibit work in my hometown,” Ashmore said. “It’s nice to give the community I grew up with the chance to see photographs they only have heard, seen and read about in the media over the past several months.”

Ashmore, who lives in Ransom Canyon and is a doctorial student in Biology at Texas Tech University, has had several exhibits in the past year across the state, including participation in national juried exhibits. He most recently had several works on display in the national juried photography exhibit “‘Illuminance 2007” at the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, where his work “Javelina Draw – Black and White, 2005” received a Juror Award, equivalent to a best-in-show award.

Currently, a photograph from Ashmore’s Hurricane Rita series is on display in another national juried exhibit, “Texas National 2007” at The Art Center at The Old Opera House in Nacogdoches through May 20.

Photography exhibited in “Explorations and Discoveries” consists of work taken by Ashmore over the past several years and will include both fine art and documentary photographs.

Most notable of Ashmore’s work are his digital composite panoramic photographs, which have been described by Cliff Deal, museum director of the Louisiana State Museum-Baton Rouge, as “masterpieces of technical photography.” His panoramic images are composed of several photographs seamlessly stitched together producing very large, high-resolution, prints. Many of the photographs span five feet across.

“Deciding on a title for the show was challenging,” Ashmore said, “since there is such a large range of styles and topics represented.” I soon realized that the show is really a depiction of my explorations into the different facets of my interests and their application to fine art and documentary photography and the discoveries I have made about myself along the way. The title, ‘Explorations and Discoveries’, then seemed obvious.”

The exhibit will showcase work taken from the Southern and Southwestern United States, including areas throughout Texas. Featured in the show will be award winning and nationally recognized photographs “Javelina Draw – Black and White, 2005,” “Windsor Ruins, 2002,” and images from Ashmore’s Hurricane Rita series, among others. Photographs from the Orange area and the debut of new work will also be included in the exhibit.

Ashmore is represented by Pinehurst Gallery in Orange and The Spirit of the West Gallery in Alpine. In the past year, he has presented work in 12 exhibits, including three national juried exhibitions, and one solo exhibition at The Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in Lubbock, entitled: “West Texas Essays in Shadow and Ligh.” Photographs included in “Explorations and Discoveries,” as well as other work, can be viewed at Ashmore’s website: www.richardallenashmore.com.