Exhibition

With similar interests in the colors of the sky, and the shapes formed through the meeting of trees, clouds, and other objects, Nicole Welch and Joseph Labate's work captures a moment in time, as something changes: the wind blows, or an airplane's contrails suddenly appear.  Their process, however, are different, as Welch's works are the result of a layering of images, while Labate's resemble “staight photography,” though upon close inspection a viewer realizes that each image is instead a combination of digital photography, digital drawing, and artificial color.  

 

Of her work, Welch writes that she is focused on exploring the intersection of sky and land.  By juxtaposing images of clouds, power lines, and multiple horizons  she creates an image that you can look into not just at.   Welch was born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1977 and currently resides in Raleigh.  She received a BFA in studio art with concentrations in painting and papermaking from James Madison University in 1999.  Welch currently works as curator of education for CAM (Contemporary Art Museum) which is part of the College of Design at NC State University.  She has exhibited at the former Bickett Gallery, and has previously curated an exhibition at Rebus Works. 

 

Labate describes his work as a landscape series, combining digital photography with other digital elements: vector drawing and artificial color.   This combination of techniques is vital to the tension of the images, between the organic description created by the lens and the artificiality of the digital elements.  Treading the boundary between traditional photography and new technology, Labate seeks to explore and examine the landscape of his life.  Labate lives and works in Tucson, Arizona, where he is the Chair of the Photography Division in the School, and his teaching focuses on the use of digital technology as applied in photograhy.  He has a B.S. in engineering from Clarkson University, a B.F.A. in photography from Massachusetts College of Art, and an M.F.A. in photography from the University of Arizona.  He has exhibited and taught photography nationally and internationally.  

 

Contributing additonal photographs are Shane Darwent of Penland, NC; Elizabeth Galecke of Raleigh, NC; John Wall of Raleigh, NC; and Geoff Wood of Raleigh, NC. Darwent just completed the Core Fellowship at the Penland School of Crafts, and is contributing gum bichomate prints.  Galecke, Raleigh photographer who usually works in portraiture, is exhibiting Poloroid transfer prints. Wall, a Raleigh photographer and educator is contributing black and white prints.  Woods is presenting Holga-made prints.