“Lost and Found” @ Colorado Photographic Arts Center Gallery: October 11 – November 23, 2024
Lost & Found is an exhibition where 35 photographic artists have created their art using traditional, historical, and alternative methods often overlooked in today’s digital environment. These works reveal the artists’ hands and encompass the passion behind creating photographs that fulfill their innermost thoughts, dreams, and desires. Curated from the pages and online articles of Analog Forever Magazine since 2018, this exhibition is not to be missed!
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
The allure of analog and historical photographic processes lies in their tangible and tactile nature, contrasting with the digital precision of modern photography. Enthusiasts and artists drawn to these methods are captivated by the hands-on approach and the unique, unpredictable results they yield. For them, each step—from loading film to developing prints—is a deliberate, intimate act that imbues their work with a sense of craftsmanship and authenticity. Beyond mere nostalgia, these processes offer a deeper connection to the art form’s roots, where patience, skill, and experimentation are valued over instant gratification.
Photographers who embrace analog and historical processes often form a passionate community bonded by their dedication to preserving traditional techniques. They revel in the rich history and idiosyncrasies of older cameras, films, and darkroom practices, cherishing the nuanced textures and imperfections that digital methods often smooth over. This community includes both seasoned veterans who have honed their skills over decades and a new generation captivated by the evocative charm and artistic freedom that film and alternative processes offer.
Analog photography methods have been a source of solace for many through the decades and a new and vibrant discovery for those just learning of these endearing methods. The photographs created through these methods are not just images, but personal and emotional narratives woven into physical media. They celebrate not only the technical mastery required but also the slower pace and a deeper appreciation for the art of capturing light and shadow. This celebration invites you to connect with the stories behind the photographs and appreciate the art of photography.
After six years of Analog Forever Magazine, Michael Behlen and Michael Kirchoff consider a common refrain made by photographic artists who have appeared online or in print. The dominant digital era of photography has resulted in many feeling disconnected or lost in their visual findings. For many, the soul had left the body. It was the pull from these historical processes that brought them back into the fold of “making” once again. Revealing the artist’s hand evident within these works has given them a far more compelling voice. A passionate analog resurgence has strengthened their core beliefs and allowed them the means to create art that fulfills their innermost desires.
FEATURED ARTISTS
David Emitt Adams, Mohd Azlan Mam, Francis Baker, Megan Bent, Debbie Bentley, Diana H. Bloomfield, Susan Burnstine, Christopher Colville, Cathy Cone, Wendy Constantine, Jan Cook, John F. Cooper, Norma Córdova, Harley Cowan, Marcus DeSieno, Yoav Friedlander, Barbara Hazen, Jason Langer, Christian K. Lee, Vanessa Leroy, Vanessa Marsh, Ella Morton, Angel O’Brien, Elizabeth Opalenik, Deborah Parkin, Rachel Portesi, Ian Ruhter, Matthew Santomarco, Mark Sink, Michael Ash Smith, David Sokosh, Dana Stirling, Rashod Taylor, Amanda Tinker, and Claire A. Warden.
Additional support provided by:
ABOUT THE CURATORS
Michael Kirchoff is a photographic artist, independent curator and juror, and advocate for the photographic arts. He has been a juror for Photolucida’s Critical Mass, and has reviewed portfolios for several fine art photographic organizations and non-profits in the U.S. and abroad. Michael has been a contributing writer for Lenscratch, Light Leaked, and Don’t Take Pictures magazine. In addition, he spent ten years (2006-2016) on the Board of the American Photographic Artists in Los Angeles (APA/LA), producing artist lectures, as well as business and inspirational events for the community. Currently, he is Editor-in-Chief at Analog Forever Magazine, Founding Editor for the photographer interview site, Catalyst: Interviews, Contributing Editor at One Twelve Publishing, and the Co-Host of The Diffusion Tapes podcast.
Michael Behlen is an instant film addict and the founder and publisher of Analog Forever Magazine. Behlen is an obsessive community organizer in the film photography world, having previously launched the independent publishing projects PRYME Magazine and PRYME Editions, two enterprises dedicated to the art of instant film. Through these endeavors, he has featured and published 250+ artists from around the globe via his print and online publications.
He has self-published two Polaroid photobooks -“Searching for Stillness, Vol. 1” and “I Was a Pioneer,” literally a boxed set of his instant film work. His latest book, Searching for Stillness Vol II was published in 2020 by Static Age. Behlen’s photography can be found in various publications, including Diffusion Magazine, Fraction Magazine, Seities Magazine, and Polaroid Now (Chronicle Books, 2021).
Connect with Michael Behlen on his Website and on Instagram!
