A Big Idea for This Month's Art Walk

Are you a big picture kind of thinker? Well, the place to see the big picture this weekend is The school is opening an exhibit called “The Contact Sheet" in their first floor gallery. The show will feature images submitted by photographers from beginner to advanced. Now, WSP is busy building “The Contact Sheet” by clipping each image to a structure that will flow across the walls of the gallery.    

The project is the brainchild of WSP dean and instructor Missy Loewe, and was designed so the school could invite and include a multitude of people of all levels of experience. “We decided to do something really fun, that anybody can participate in, that will pack the gallery with an inordinate amount of images,” said WSP Communications Director Ben Anderson, who said they were expecting more than 200 photos as the submission deadline neared.

Washington School of Photography will be part of the monthly Friday, August 12, and will have a reception for the opening in conjunction with the walk from 6-9 p.m. Gallery visitors will see photos ranging from insect macros to magnolia gardens, from fireworks to architectural abstracts.

WSP has a talent for clever public exhibitions, like last November’s open call event “Photocracy: Bring It! Hang It! Vote It!”  The school is 35 years old this year.  “We’re planning a great celebration in November to include the multitude of camera club members throughout the Mid-Atlantic region,” said Anderson. “We’ve also secured a sponsor for the November Art Walk. Since it’s November 11, 2011, 11/11/11, we’ll ask people to take a photo at 11:11 and 11 seconds a.m., then we’ll try and get the images printed and on display by evening.” The exhibit, called “Vision,” will take place during FotoWeek DC.

In addition to being a small nonprofit concentrating in photography, WSP offers a vocational education track regulated by the Maryland Higher Education Commission. “We’ve had some very high exposure shows, pun not intended,” said Anderson, referencing as an example a 2009 show “Exposing Darfur,” photos from news anchor Ann Curry. “But we also have people bringing in their new camera still in the box and we help them.”

Also on exhibit during Art Walk is the WSP’s “Make Your Own” Gallery Show on the second floor, through September 18, with a mix of two-dimensional works.

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“The Contact Sheet” Opening Reception is Friday, August 12, 6-9 p.m. at Washington School of Photography, 4850 Rugby Avenue in Bethesda. 301-654-1998, www.wsp-photo.com.  WSP will be one of nine studios participating in this month’s Bethesda Art Walk.