Support the Arts
We rely on the generosity of our members and donors to keep our gallery accessible to all. Become a member today and enjoy exclusive benefits.
We rely on the generosity of our members and donors to keep our gallery accessible to all. Become a member today and enjoy exclusive benefits.
June 6, 2020 — July 3, 2020
Brownie Starflash — Wayne Swanson
Winners of 2019 (s)Light of Hand Awards presents the work of two exceptional photographers recognized for their mastery of alternative photographic processes.
Stacey Prince: Human Artifact explores the wounded and sacred female body through polymer photogravure prints and artist's books. Prince examines the parallels between human history and the transformation of our lands, revealing hidden artifacts both within the psyche and beneath the surface.
Wayne Swanson: Modern Relics documents obsolete technology through pinhole photography, offering a nostalgic meditation on how quickly modern becomes vintage. Using digital cameras modified with handmade pinhole apertures, Swanson bridges photography's earliest techniques with contemporary technology.
Curious about a piece? Click any artwork image to learn more
Stacey Prince investigates the wounded and sacred female body, the consequences of power, and exploitation of the land and psyche. She is currently completing a master's thesis to receive an MFA from the School of Art and Design at San Diego State University. She enjoys being challenged by new methods of experimentation, gaining a critical understanding of historical and contemporary contexts. Working across photography, printmaking, and poetry has allowed her to combine her love of art, science, and the written word. Stacey holds education workshops for alternative photographic processes. She has been working as a photographer for fourteen years.
Stacey has developed a body of art employing printmaking, photography, and artists' books. She received the Coordinator Award at the 59th International Exhibition of Photography in Del Mar, California. Her work was recently on display at the Rosenwald-Wolf Gallery at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her artists' books are in the permanent collection at San Diego State University's Special Collections & University Archives in San Diego, California.
The rutted wasteland of our Earth now bears hidden histories in the form of scars and decay both above and below the ground. The residues of the industrial transformed landscape seep into our psyche. What would the artifacts that humans leave behind tell about how people lived? Can these artifacts renew our future generations and transcend how they depend on Earth and restore its vital function?
I see our human histories in parallel to this human-aided transformation of our lands. The process of revealing what is beneath the skin and human psyche connects me to a place where my own hidden artifacts lie. There is an ongoing dialogue in my work between the body, landscape, and artifact—often self-reflective.
Wayne Swanson is a fine art and documentary photographer based in San Diego, drawn to imagery exploring "time, memory, atmosphere, a sense of place, and a subtle sense of humor." A Northwestern University Medill School graduate, his career spans journalism, magazines, book publishing, and corporate work. His fine art photography has appeared in juried exhibitions across major U.S. cities, including Los Angeles, San Diego, New York, Boston, and Houston. Publications featuring his work include Shots Magazine, The Hand Magazine, Lenscratch, and others. He serves as contributing editor for PhotoBook Journal.
The Modern Relics series offers "a nostalgic look at how quickly modern becomes vintage." These pinhole photographs document products that recently represented innovation but now appear as "quaint reminders of the rapidly accelerating pace of innovation."
His pinhole technique—originating from photography's earliest days—softens details, allowing "the ravages of time and use to fade away," preserving only essential iconic designs. Swanson merges old and new: using digital camera bodies with handmade pinhole body caps. This hybrid approach reminds viewers that "while technology is ever-changing, the opportunity for reinvention is ever-present."
The examination of my history, the materiality of the body, psyche, and nature are the major themes in my artwork. I confront a time, self, and a space in which I was vulnerable and allowed myself to be silenced. Photography pauses a moment and allows time for extended contemplation of the human artifacts that I leave behind.
Many of the images in this exhibition were created using a polymer photogravure process. I have a desire to interact physically with my work. In doing so, I can control the exposure of the matrix through various digital manipulations as well as with ultraviolet light. The images are burned onto a plate, inked with an intaglio etching ink, and printed with an etching press.
