Photo Slam

Oklahoma Photographers Showcased at Photo Slam

The public is invited to get a quick glimpse into the workings of twelve Oklahoma photographers during the upcoming Photo Slam on April 2, 2008. To be held at the Noble Theater at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, this is not your typical artist lecture.

Each of the twelve participating photographers will get five minutes to share what they do using a variety of tools – slides, digital projections, printed samples or other means. The speakers will have to be careful not go into overtime or they will get the gong! Presenting photographers are: Josh Buss, Moore; Candace Coker, Shawnee; Marty Coleman, Glenpool; Bryan Dahlvang, Tuttle; Clinton Dean, Oklahoma City; Beth Downing, Tulsa; Allison Fonder, Tulsa; Robert Gurfinkel, Yukon; Matt Jarvis, Pawhuska; Romy Owens, Oklahoma City; Don Risi, Oklahoma City; and Cynthia Wolf, Oklahoma City.

The photographers were selected from a pool of applicants by Todd Stewart, Assistant Professor of Photography and Digital Imaging at the University of Oklahoma. Stewart received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University in 2004.

The Photo Slam will begin at 7 pm in the Noble Theatre at Oklahoma City Museum of Art, 415 Couch Dr. It is presented in conjunction with the Brett Weston: Out of the Shadow exhibit, the first major retrospective of Brett Weston’s work in over 30 years, to be exhibited at OKCMOA March 20-May 18.

Photo Slam attendees are invited to a cash-bar reception before the event with special after-hours viewing of the Brett Weston exhibit at 6 pm. The event is open to the public, however, reservations are required in advance. Please call 405-236-3100 ext. 213 or email reservations@okcmoa.com. Admission to the event is included in the price of Museum admission; $9 adults, $7 students/seniors, and free to Museum members and members of OVAC and IPHF.

Photo Slam is presented by Oklahoma City Museum of Art, International Photography Hall of Fame & Museum and Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition. For more information, please visit www.okcmoa.com or www.ovac-ok.org.

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Photo Slam Participating Photographers

	Josh Buss Josh Buss grew up in an extended family of artisans. Working in his parents’ woodshop and traveling to art festivals gave him a deep appreciation for the creative life. During college Josh supported himself by selling books door to door in the summer. After graduating and spending a few years in sales and management positions, Josh decided to pursue art as a career. He attended some workshops and classes but is mostly self taught. Josh has spent the last two years making photographs and selling them at the top fine art festivals in the U.S.
	Candace Coker Candace Coker received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma. Her work is primarily composed of black and white images produced in a traditional darkroom. Her work seeks to defy convention and embrace life’s imperfections as true beauty. She is currently experimenting with the Holga toy camera and exploring its unpredictable nature and simplistic beauty.
	Marty Coleman Marty Coleman holds a BA and MFA in printmaking, drawing and photography. He taught drawing, design and art appreciation at the college level for 9 years. Currently, he is working on a series of photo-collages titled “Truths and Things I Made Up About These Women.”
	Bryan Dahlvang Currently a graphic designer for the Federal Aviation Administration, Bryan enjoys working in a multi-media department. He serves as the Mike Monroney Aeronautical Center’s photographer and enjoys assisting the video production team with special effects and camera work. His love for photography began while in the Air Force, documenting his travels to such places as Germany, England and Turkey. An Oklahoma resident since 1994, many of his photographs capture the simple beauty of being in Oklahoma. He enjoys preserving moments of light and color, coupled with subject matter rich in sentiment.
	Clinton Dean Clinton Dean will graduate from Oklahoma City University with a BFA in photography. He has already been included in many group shows and has more in progress. His work relates heavily to his need to express personal and societal issues and to provoke a dialogue visually.
	Beth Downing Elizabeth Downing’s photographs document the textures of urbanity and elements of aging. She has had five solo exhibitions in Tulsa and Oklahoma City over the last 4 years, and participates in a variety of group shows. Her work has been selected for the OVAC 2007 Biennial, as well as IAO’s traveling 24 Works on Paper exhibition. Elizabeth was born in Texas and moved to Vermont to attend Middlebury College in 1997. During this time, she was drawn to the conspicuous minimalism of snowy winters, and began photographing her environment. Today, Elizabeth lives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she works in black and white, as well as backlit photographs.
	Allison Fonder Allison Fonder is an artist working in painting, photography, writing, drawing and other creative expressions. Her photos are from a recent trip to China where she lived with a Chinese family and explored the sights and ancient culture of China.
	Robert Gurfinkel Robert Gurfinkel was born in Cuba and immigrated to the U.S. in 1961. His degree is in Mathematics and he has worked as a photographer professionally off and on. An enthusiast of large format photography for many years, he has lately devoted his work to digital photography.
	Matt Jarvis Matt Jarvis is a photographer living in Pawhuska, OK. His current series of photographs is called “Poetics” containing images that are meant to say more to intellect through symbolism.
	Romy Owens Romy Owens earned a Masters in Photography from Oklahoma City University in 2005. Since then, she has been in more than 40 group shows and two duo shows. She currently serves as curator at the Oklahoma Heritage Museum and her artwork is represented at Istvan Gallery in Oklahoma City.
	Don Risi Don Risi began taking photos in 1965. He recently began working with digital cameras. Currently, he teaches Performing Arts Management in the Ann Lacy School of American Dance and Arts Management at Oklahoma City University.
	Cynthia Wolf Cynthia Wolf, a visual and performing artist from Texas, moved to Oklahoma City in 2003 and opened Adelante! Gallery in the Historic Paseo Arts District with co-owner Jo Vanden. Creating photo images and emulsion transfers on watercolor paper and silk has evolved into small and large scale mixed media works of emulsion lifts on handmade, textured tiles laid on fabric, framed or placed in hand painted boxes. She teaches workshops on Polaroid transfers nationally. She also offers mixed media photography classes at the Oklahoma City Museum of Art.