MEET THE MAKERS
Napa's creative community shines bright in Arts Council photography exhibition
By Christy Bors
PRESS PHOTOS
Photos for media only - photo credits required.
In its foundation, Napa Valley carries creative people who quietly illuminate their community. Often they work exclusively behind the lens, with roles varying from teacher to mother, musician to activist, and many roles in between. From October 6 - 31st, Arts Council Napa Valley (ACNV) will present portraits of a selection of Napa's creative "makers" in a photo exhibition, titled Meet the Makers, showing at Mumm Napa. Exhibition photographers Dona Kopol Bonick, Suzanne Becker Bronk, Kristine Cummins, and Chick Harrity offer the public a glimpse into the lives of over 60 creative locals, making a difference in the valley they call home.
Meet the Makers' reception on October 15th marks the start of Napa Valley ARTS 2010, ACNV's inaugural month-long celebration of arts and culture, with a tagline and philosophy of "Cultivating Creativity." In partnership with ACNV, Napa Valley's arts organizations, groups, galleries, wineries and schools will present over 100 arts and culture events in between October 15 - November 14th, with daily events posted on www.nvarts.org and in a print catalog available in early October.
Early on in the ARTS 2010 planning process, ACNV dreamt of presenting an art exhibition that would shine a light on the behind-the-scenes lives of Napa's creative community. "Instead of showing only the end result of the creative process (paintings, sculptures, textiles, etc.), I wanted to show the faces of the creators themselves," explains Kristina Young, ACNV acting executive director. "The galleries in Mumm Napa celebrate photography, so creating a show of photographic portraits seemed a natural fit."
Meet the Makers is truly a unique portraiture showcase. The subjects are a multigenerational collection of creative influences, ranging from high-school students at sweet-16, to 92 year-old arts pioneer Rene di Rosa. "Napa Valley is indeed full of characters, as well as character," explains exhibitor Chick Harrity. "Most of these characters love and appreciate living and creating in this Valley, and that's what makes it great."
The photos themselves are expressive, emotional, and surprisingly intimate--- most give the viewer the feeling of being brought in on a secret--- and one can only imagine the stories held in the hearts of these Napa greats.
The four photographers' varying perspectives on portraiture round out the exhibition---and what varied perspectives the subjects bring. Harrity brings a photography career surpassing fifty years, with past photojournalist assignments that range from Associated Press projects to White House coverage, and US News and World Report Magazines. Suzanne Becker Bronk, a former arts administrator for Stanford University, is also the former photography student of Ron Rogers and Ron Zak of Napa Valley College, both of whom are featured in the exhibition. Dona Kopol Bonick, a former art instructor, carries with her a long legacy of Napa arts' heritage, along with her husband, John Bonick. New to the photography scene Kristine Cummins, web designer and alternative arts organization Wandering Rose advocate, gives the show a glimpse into Napa's creative youth--- a population just as emergent as the photographer herself. "It is an honor to be invited inside of their lives," explains Cummins.
The generational differences between the photographers, and their varied interpretations on the role of "maker," are what truly make Meet the Makers a fine art portraiture exhibition. Exhibitor Suzanne Becker Bronk explains, "Photography is very personal. My images of these intriguing artists are as much about how I see the world, as they are about the artists as subjects."
Featured alongside the portraits at Mumm Napa will be a special audio tour of selected subject interviews and responsive creations by the affectionately dubbed "Art Girls", students of Napa art educator Lynne Tuft. The Art Girls, Hannah Bradford, Ruby Harvey, and Grace Murphy, are three pre-teen artists who have been mentored by Tuft for the past several years. Their interviews will be available via the exhibitions' catalog using Smart Phone QR code technology.
While the phrase "by the people, for the people," might seem an exaggeration, Meet the Makers truly is a celebration of community, and an honor to those who make it: By the community, for the community.
"Photography is always a collaboration [between the subject and the photographer]," Dona Kopol Bonick says. "Truly. It always is. [The subjects] present themselves, and [the photographer] chooses the moment to capture. It is a team effort." Resting her arm delicately against the arm of an oak bench, Bonick gives a slight smile, seeming to recollect a captured moment or two. Little does she know she has captured, along with Suzanne Becker Bronk, Kristine Cummins, and Chick Harrity, more than a moment- they have captured a glimpse into the creative soul of Napa.
Meet the Makers runs from October 6 - 31st, 2010, at Mumm Napa in Rutherford, with a public gallery reception on Friday, October 15th, from 7-8:30p.m. Tickets: $25.00 for the public reception, $60 for the 6:00-7:00 Preview Gala. Tickets are available via www.nvarts.org or at the door. For more information about Napa Valley ARTS 2010 or the Meet the Makers showcase, contact Arts Council Napa Valley at (707) 257-2117.
Meet the Makers: Alphabetical Subject List
Johnny A. (Apodaca)
Michael & Daria Adams
Oscar Aguilar Olea
David Alosi
Jocelyn Audette
Serf B.
Lissette Banda
Heidi Barrett
John Bonick
Harry Cadelago
Gail Chase Bien
Eleanor Coppola
Hugo Corro & Sierra Minchaca
Jonathan Costa
Rebecca Dant
Lewis DeSoto
Sean Des Jardins
Olivia Everett
Layla Fanucci
Robilee Frederick
Herb Gibson
Ed Grant & Kristi Rene
John Hannaford
Yvonne Henry
Lowell Herrero
Sabine Hirsohn
Hillary Homzie
Gordon Huether
Dinah Cross James
Rob Keller
Jennifer King
Jakey Lee
Alexander M. Lydon
David Magna
Sally & Jeff Manfredi
Ray Manzarek
Carlo Marchiori
Kelly McCann
Richard Mendelson
Michelle Moore
Margrit Mondavi
Jiin Nichols
Chuck O'Rear
Castor Pollux
Asher Raboy
Ron Rogers
Rene di Rosa & Richard Reisman
Alex Shantz
Marie E. Shelley
Paul R. Slack
Julio Soriano
Barbara Stafford
Ann Trinca
Lynne Tuft
Kristen Van Dyke
Richard Von Saal
Lori Wear
Patrick "Pappy" Williams
Nancy Willis
Beverly Wilson
Paul Youngman
Ron Zak
Chris Zinn
For information, contact:
Kristina Young, Acting Executive Director
Arts Council Napa Valley
(707) 257-2117
kristina [at] artscouncilnv [dot] org
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