Reflections on Two Regional Photo Shows, Part 2

Gentle Tiger

The other regional show I visited recently was the 17th Annual Tri-State Photography Exhibition, sponsored by the Allegany Arts Council in Cumberland, MD. (Side note: the scenic western Maryland city ironically is NOT located in the Cumberland Valley and bears no formal relationship with the annual photo salon in Hagerstown).

I was fortunate to have two of my own images – "Lindau Harbor View" and "Gentle Tiger" – among the 51 prints accepted for the show from about 175 entries. What struck me most about the Cumberland show was the smaller proportion of obviously digitally enhanced images (compared to this year’s Hagerstown show) coupled with a larger proportion of what I’d term relatively avant-garde presentation styles – at least compared to “traditional” photo exhibits.

About 75% of the entries had the usual matted/framed look, but the others were a visual buffet of unusual formats: some unframed, oversized, dimensional, or printed on non-traditional media such as canvas or metal (or at least metal-looking) substrates. A couple of images were hung, frameless, from rods and cords in the style of textile art. No doubt this visual variety was stimulated by the Arts Council’s flexible rules – the only limits were that entries had to be wired for hanging and not exceed 48” in any direction.

I benefited from this flexibility by being able to enter a 20” x 30” wall-mount, full-frame (unmatted) version of Gentle Tiger. Most shows won’t accept a print that big. I used the online photo service MPIX to prepare the image using what they call their “standout” format, which mounts the print on 1.5” thick (but surprisingly lightweight) Gator foamboard with either black or white trim around the edges. Other framing services might call this a box frame. The MPIX service is not cheap -- $110 for the 20” x 30” size – but the impact of that size in the right setting is worth every penny, IMHO.

Unfortunately, because of weather delays to the original entry deadlines, the Cumberland show will be on view only for a short time at the Council’s Saville Gallery at 9 North Centre Street in downtown Cumberland. The show closes March 6. Catch it if you can – it’s one of the more visually exciting juried photo shows I’ve seen in some time.