Gallery 12 Opening Reception for Featured Gallery Member Photographer Bob Benson. The title of the exhibition is: "Spare N Square"

Artist Statement: My photography presents uncomplicated art images. I strive to give viewers a lens into a scene that they can relate to, can imagine themselves there, and that simplifies the scene for them into its most straightforward essence.

Recently I have emphasized simplicity, spareness, in my images. This often means little or no foregrounds and minimal backgrounds; this also means little breadth on either side. I work for a focus on the image object, often coming to a minimalist result. Even in landscape and urban settings I work towards these goals.

Mostly, in my history, I have been a print film guy. Beginning with black-and-white nearly 70 years ago I often work with low-contrast rather than high-contrast images. When film was the only available color medium, I chose to work in color print because, in my view, the effect of transparency film was to over-emphasize intensity and contrast in color rather than a portrayal of simple uncomplicated images. Today in the digital age I continue to do some work in print film, but also now I work mostly in relatively low-intensity digital images. I do some digital image processing to adjust perspective and sharpening and the color saturation adjustment when necessary … and most recently, software filters that give an oil painting look to the image. I prefer to display black/white and color in large images, mostly 30x30 and larger square prints which emphasize the “spareness” and simplicity noted above.

Also exhibiting will be Glassworks Artist Scott Garrelts.

The Opening Reception is on First Friday August 4th from 5 to 9 pm. The exhibition will be on display till August 26th. Normal gallery hours are Tuesdays to Saturdays from noon to 6 pm.

Gallery 12 was established in 1977 and is Wichita's most successful Artist Cooperative Fine Arts Gallery. We exhibit works by over 20 Local 2-D Artists and 30 Local 3-D Artists. This includes: oil, acrylic and watercolor paintings; hand pulled prints; photography, pastel art; works on fabric, pottery, ceramics, sculptures, jewelry, and enamel art.

All artworks are for sale and Gallery 12 offers a free layaway program for its customers and clients