art beat / By Katherine Almy

Two Photographers, Two Visions

Don’s images show a knack for capturing interesting moments in a stranger’s life, or at least making them look interesting. They bring to mind a term first coined by Baudelaire, who said that “The flâneur is a witness, not a participant; he is in, but not of the place he walks.” A camera gives an artist the unique ability to capture an image quickly and stealthily. A truly candid image was really not possible before photography came about, and when it did, many artists were taken with the effect of the unposed figure. Don uses the camera and his own sense of color and lighting to get the viewer wondering about the people in the scenes.

So there you have the work of two photographers, one who uses the human figure and one devoid of humanity. I can see a place in the world for both approaches. Their work will be on display at Mad River Hospital through the month of November. The Corridor Gallery is just inside the main door and you don’t need to wait until you need lab work or major surgery done to go and see the show.

A bit of news for local art connoisseurs — we may be losing a valued venue. The owners of Gallery Dog have announced that they will no longer be able to keep their doors open.

“Although it has been a great thrill to be owners of such a respected business, this year has also been a very sad one,” say Launa Robinson and Brian Olson. Apparently a series of personal tragedies made it impossible for them to put the amount of dedication into the business that they feel artists deserve. When I spoke to Launa, she emphasized that she and Brian share a deep appreciation for the support shown by the community and the artists during the last year.

While the market does not look promising at this time, they are hoping to sell the business to “someone with the love of art and ambition for a small business [who] will step forward and continue to support the Gallery Dog vision of Art for Everyone and Every Budget.” This may be an opportunity for an individual or perhaps an artists’ co-op in the style of Arcata Artisans. If you’re interested, you can contact Scott Pesch at Coldwell Banker, 442-2222. Even if you can’t take on the ownership, do stop by and say goodbye to this unique establishment.

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