WAAM Media Annual: Photographic Currents

Melissa Dvozenja-Thomas, Executive Director, Arts Mid-Hudson

The new year brings the promise of fresh beginnings, following a period spent with family and friends, filled with numerous gatherings. It is also a time for reflection on past years, often inspired by browsing through photographs, while planning future adventures. Though photography feels widely accessible thanks to technological advances, it still allows artists to push the boundaries of thought through experimentation. The Woodstock Artists Association & Museum (WAAM) has announced its third WAAM Media Annual: Photographic Currents, which will be on display from January 17 through March 9, 2025, in the Main Gallery in Woodstock, New York.

Founded in 1919, the Woodstock Artists Association & Museum (WAAM) has long been dedicated to exhibiting, collecting, and supporting artists and art education, while upholding Woodstock’s tradition as a “Colony of the Arts.” This juried exhibition features artists residing within a 50-mile radius of Woodstock, showcasing works created within the past decade. The pieces explore the diverse possibilities of photography, ranging from traditional and digital methods to innovative approaches that incorporate experimental techniques, mixed media, and alternative processes.

Brian Wallis, the exhibition juror and Executive Director of the Center for Photography at Woodstock (CPW), states, “The photographs selected for this exhibition testify to the extraordinary creativity of visual artists throughout the Hudson Valley. It is also a testament to the ongoing partnership between WAAM and CPW, now located in Kingston.”

John Verner’s “The Morning Paper” reflects his journey to India. The photograph, vibrant with color and positive energy, depicts four men sitting together in the early morning. Verner aims to capture the magic of life he experienced in this remarkable country. In contrast, Henry Neimark employs the interplay of light and darkness in his piece “The Storm Approaches.” This black- and-white photograph captures an individual strolling along the beach with their dog, illuminated by light. Conversely, the other half of the image reveals a dark storm looming ominously over the distant houses. The beauty and grandeur of the approaching storm are powerfully conveyed in this work.

Viktorsha Uliyanova’s work investigates the themes of impermanence and the notions of home by combining alternative processes with fiber, video, and archival research to reimagine histories. “Through layering, dyeing, stitching, and fragmenting, I point to the blind spots in history and examine ways the present and the future are reflected in the past,” Uliyanova explains. “My experience of growing up in the Soviet Union forms the visual dialogue around cultural rootlessness and the search for belonging.”

Other exhibiting artists include Gail Albert, Joan Barker, Onaje Benjamin, Lucille Colin, Linda Edwards, Jill Enfield, Amy Fenton, Gail Giles, Dan Goldman, Rob Goldman, Chris Gould, Devon Hunt, Michael Hunt, Suzy Jeffers, Ryan Johnson, Jerry Kalmus, Kay Kenny, Diane King, Chad Kleitsch, Ryan Kraus, Nansi Lent, Maureen Lohan-Bremer, Kathleen MacKenzie, Dorothea Marcus, Dan McCormack, Kate McGloughlin, Meryl Meisler, Will Nixon, Susan Phillips, Archil Pichkhadze, Regina Quinn, Seth David Rubin, Bill Rybak, Adina Scherer, Gregg Ury, Alison Wedd, Bruce Wolford.

“The artists featured in this exhibition demonstrate how photography continues to evolve, pushing the boundaries of the medium and inspiring new ways of seeing the world,” states WAAM Executive Director Nicole Goldberg. “We invite everyone to join us for this exciting exploration of contemporary photography, from traditional techniques to experimental practices, all deeply rooted in our shared regional landscape.”

If you go:
WAAM Media Annual: Photographic Currents
Woodstock Artists Association & Museum, 28 Tinker Street, Woodstock, NY 12498
Dates: January 17 – March 9, 2025
Opening Reception: Saturday, January 18 from 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Hours: Thursday – Sunday 12:00 – 5:00pm
Contact: (845) 679-2940
www.woodstockart.org