'Sight and Feeling': Anselm Adams at Kalamazoo

From January 26 to May 19, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts is hosting an exhibition of the work of Ansel Adams, sponsored by Friendship Village and Consumers Credit Union.

The showing is entitled ‘Sight and Feeling’ and it contains twenty-four original photographs placed in a cramped room in the lowest floor of the Institute of Arts. All of the photographs are framed in silver with a big white passe-partout.

The technique of the pictures is gelatin silver print. Besides of the pictures, the exhibition contains a replica of the camera which Adams used to take the pictures back in the first half of the 20^th century.

"In my mind's eye, I visualize how a particular . . . sight and feeling will appear on a print. If it excites me, there is a good chance it will make a good photograph.” This quote describes the way Ansel Adams conceived photography.

The work of this Californian photographer is outstanding. His pictures are unique because of the black and white usage with high contrast of shadows and plenty of details.

Most of the pictures show one of the passions of Adams: the breathtaking views of Yosemite National Park in California. These shots are one of the identity signs of this photographer who was a declared environmentalist in love with United States of America’s landscapes.

Besides the Yosemite pictures, there are also some landscapes from Alaska, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico. Also there is a still life picture, some macros of leaves and tree branches, as well as a portrait of Edward Western.

The negative aspect of the exhibition is the arrangement of the pictures and the misplacement of lights. The crystal of the frames reflects the light which makes it complicated to appreciate some of the works properly. Besides, the space in which the collection is located is really narrow and it is mixed with the museum’s permanent collection.

All the works are labeled with their correspondent information (authorship, place, date, technique…). In addition, there are panels with information about the author and the techniques he used. This is formative for the attendants, taking into account that there is no catalog.

In short, Ansel Adams’ exhibition is worthy and a must-see. Sometimes, it is really astonishing how small institutions in small towns can organize interesting exhibitions and with a high artistic value.

Ansel Adams, Vernal Fall, Yosemite Valley, California, 1920, gelatin silver print | Collection of the KIA, Gift of Wm. John Upjohn, 1995/6.27.6 © 2013 The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

'Chrysalis', the beginning of something else?

College is a crucial phase for kids. It is fundamental to develop dreams, discover passions and find the own personality, or at least, start building it.

Charles Weber (21), senior at Kalamazoo College (Michigan), is trying to pursue his dreams that walk hand in hand with his enthusiasm for dance.

Last Thursday, January 31^st, the young student performed his SIP (Senior Individualized Project), the result of many moths of hard work. He named his project Chrysalis.

On the mandatory introduction, Weber described the performance that was going to take place as a reflection on the evolution of modern dance, especially during the 20^th century.

The influences of the young dancer are many and diverse. Weber recalled the names of some of the best choreographers of the last decades, from Isadora Duncan and Martha Graham to Paul Tylor.

The performance did not last more than thirty minutes, but it was more than enough to show the potential of this young man and the five dancers in his crew.

The show was divided in five independent parts. They were connected quite logically by the soundtrack, a really careful selected variety of songs that made increase the rhythm of the performance.

Hits from Muse, Kimbra, Sigur Rós, Swedish House Mafia or Robyn, besides chill out music, made the audience vibrate as many could relate with many of the songs played.

Another element of special importance was the lightening, combining flashes of blue and red, Weber achieved to create very intense atmospheres for the dancers and a great visual delight for the audience.

Besides, the lightening was the element in charge of the performance’s structure. The different acts were separated by blackouts with slight flashes of orange, which allowed the dancers to get ready in between acts.

Probably, one of the worst aspects was the dressing of the dancers, though they tried to match colors, the differences on the clothes the dancers wore spoiled the visual effect, especially in the group performances.

However, it was really surprising how accurate and beautiful was the dance execution of Weber’s crew. Even if it is impossible to forget that this was an amateur performance, sometimes the movements and formations seemed really professional.

Weber demonstrated not only his skills as a dancer, but also showed up his skills as a choreographer and as a stage director. Hopefully, this is only the beginning of a long and successful career.