September 5th – 28th

Photography by Gregory W. Brown, September 5th – 28th

Landscape photography requires patience and a willingness to look and listen slowly. Imperfect Horizon is an unconventional collection of landscapes that highlight unusual perspectives and aspect ratios. Many include subtle or abstracted man-made elements, both in the images and in the techniques used to render the images. The images as a whole create a fragmented horizon-line — spanning time, place, and technique. The exhibit includes photographs shot with digital and film cameras.

Opening Reception: Thursday, September 5th, 5-8pm, during Amherst Arts Night Plus

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About Gregory W. Brown:
Gregory started taking photographs in his teens — shooting 35mm and developing and printing in his school’s darkroom. His interests shifted to music in the mid-’90s and he went on to become a composer and conductor (MM, DMA) with several CDs of his music currently available. The last several years have seen him return to photography as a balance to his musical pursuits. He shoots both digital and analog cameras in a variety of formats. Learn more about Gregory at: gregorywbrown.com

Q&A with Gregory

How old were you when you created your first artwork?
I was always making noise when I was a kid, so I think my first artwork would have been musical and very disorganized. I did a lot of photography in high school — developing the negatives and printing in the darkroom. That was really the first time I was creating anything that I would still stand by today and call ‘artwork.’

How has your style changed over the years?
I’m a terrible judge of my own style, so I really can’t say.

When did you know you wanted to be an artist?
I still don’t know what I want to be when I grow up.

Why did you choose your medium?
My sense of medium is extremely fluid, so I’m not sure I ever really choose. It’s more like the idea chooses the medium. I sometimes have ideas that I understand to be best rendered in a medium that I have no abilities in, so I just enjoy it in my head and then let it go, or try to share it with someone who has those skills.

What inspires you?
The big things grow out of very small moments or ideas. I get inspiration from a lot of different places, but it’s almost always the finite and narrow that lead me to the best results.

Where do you work?
Wherever I am.

What is your creative process like? How do you work?
I’m not much for keeping schedule. I’m constantly thinking about the projects I’m working on, but the hands-on work generally gets done whenever I feel moved to get at it — or based on a deadline.

What do you like about being an artist in the Pioneer Valley?
I love being surrounded by so many people who are similarly moved to create and share their creations. When I am working on landscapes the light is marvelous here. It’s no wonder that the area has been a home to landscape artists going back to the early 19th century and earlier.

What is your favorite piece that you’ve created?
I think the favorite thing of mine that I’ve created is a piece for choir called un/bodying/s, which is inspired by the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir. I had the joy of working with an amazing poet (Todd Hearon) and choir (The Crossing) to create something that speaks to the most human and intimate aspects of life as they relate to the elemental forces that shape our geography and economy. When Innova created the CD they used some Quabbin photos of mine (one of which is in the show) for the cover and liner art.