October Issue 1999
CDS Photo Group Mounts First Exhibit at Center for Documentary Studies
Less than a year ago, a handful of North Carolina photographers started meeting monthly at the Center for Documentary Studies (CDS), in Durham, NC, drawn together by their desire for greater camaraderie around the camera. Their mission and their projects have expanded quickly. Through Oct. 15 members of the growing group will share selections of their work with the public, some for the first time with an exhibit entitled, Off Center.
The exhibit includes a mix of styles and content. "You'll see anything from Bill Wagner's documentation of 'Spiritual Jobs' to Russell Walls's building exteriors to Elva Bishop's Central American potters. It's a diverse group," says Julie Stovall, photography curriculum coordinator at CDS.
Photographers with works included in the exhibit are: Peter Armenia, Chapel Hill; Elva Bishop, Chapel Hill; Carson Boone, Raleigh; Ruth Clark, Raleigh; John Cowan, Durham; Steven Crell, Raleigh; Maria Darlington, Efland; Laura Drey, Durham; Adrian Halpern, Chapel Hill; Titus Heagins, Durham; Catherine Jirlds, Durham Rebecca Johnson, Greensboro; Janice Nelson, Raleigh; Bill Pope, Durham; Andrew Ross, Chapel Hill; Bill Wagner, Chapel Hill; Roberta Wallace, Durham; Russell Walls, Clayton; Cindy Waszak, Chapel Hill; Laena Marie Wilder, Pittsboro; Ann Williams, Durham; and York Wilson, Durham.
The CDS began hosting the group's meetings in Oct. 1998, a result of Stovall's recognition of her own needs as a photographer. "I felt the Center needed to offer something more tangible, accessible, and lasting to photographers seeking community," she says. "I wanted to see, share, and discuss work and ideas, and I knew there were others in the area seeking the same. "
The numbers grew from eight to 15 people during the first few months to 42 who are on the current roster. Each month the participants examine a published or exhibited body of work by someone outside the group. "This allows us to delve into touchy subjects and freely discuss and disagree without someone present feeling personally attacked," says Stovall. "This doesn't mean people m the group don't get feedback on their own work. it's just a tactic to free expression and keep us learning."
"Sometimes we have intense discussions about what 'documentary' is and isn't, or how to approach projects," she adds. "Good ideas have been exchanged, and we've maintained a mutual respect for one another, even in our disagreeing .
The group meets the first Wednesday of each month from 7 - 8:30pm Meetings are open to anyone interested in photography.
This exhibition is made possible by support from the Lyndhurst Foundation and is co-sponsored by the Independent Weekly.
For further information check our NC Institutional Gallery listings or call the center at 919/660-3663 or visit the CDS website at (http://cds.aas.duke.edu).
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