PHOTOJOURNALIST'S UPPER PENINSULA PHOTOGRAPHY FEATURED IN HVCA'S FEBRUARY EXHIBIT
Photographer Amy Lockard brings a wealth of experience — including hard news, features, weddings, fine art and outdoor nature photography — to the fore in Present Exposure, her Huron Valley Council for the Arts' February gallery show.
"This exhibit is of photos from Michigan's Upper Peninsula," Lockard explained. "My photos focus on water and light as major themes, featuring many photos of waterfalls, Lake Superior, and sunrises and sunsets. Through these photos I am emphasizing the importance of 'being present in the moment' in order to fully absorb the beauty and healing powers of nature and moments like these."
The show opens from 7-9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 1, with a gallery reception, featuring a chance to meet the Clinton Township artist and light refreshments.
Lockard added, "Photography as always been both a form or artistic expression and a personal therapy for me, the photos in this exhibit exemplify my journey through the lens back to myself."
She started studying photography in high school with art teacher Susan Sonders and won a Gold Key, two Silver Keys and portfolio acceptance to compete nationally in New York at the Scholastic Art and Writing awards.
"At Oakland University, I studied journalism, with the hope that my photography background would be an asset for news reporting," Lockard said. "I had a black and white photograph featured in the Oakland University Student photography show in 2002. After a photojournalism internship with the Boys and Girls Club of Southeastern Michigan, photojournalism became my career focus.
She began her photojournalism career as the staff photographer for the Spinal Column Newsweekly in 2003 (the same year she graduated from OU). "I have spent the last decade photographing local news events, and sports in west Oakland County," she said.
Lockard also has served as staff photographer for The Paper in Birmingham and Bloomfield and Lakefront Magazine.
"I began to focus more on my fine art photography after participating in a landscape photography workshop to Michigan's Upper Peninsula under the direction of photographer Monte Nagler in fall 2011," she added. "This workshop reawakened my passion for outdoor landscape photography and led to the creation of this show." It also led her to participate in the Livonia Fine Arts Commission's annual exhibit as well as the Milford Village Fine Arts Association Views and Visions Show featured at HVCA in November 2012.
Exhibit hours for Present Exposure are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturdays.
For more information, call 248-889-8660 or visit www.huronvalleyarts.org.
