Museum’s Nature Art Gallery offers the works of landscape photographers

February 27, 2003
For Immediate Release
For arts editors
Contacts: Karen Kemp (919) 733-7450, ext. 304 or Jon Pishney (919) 733-7450, ext. 305

Museum’s Nature Art Gallery offers the works of landscape photographers (RALEIGH)—Every artistic process has a beginning, middle and an end result. From February 20 through March 30, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ Nature Art Gallery features Jack Riley and Karin Connolly—two nature photographers at different points in their careers. “Photography is about more than producing images,” said North Carolina native Jack Riley, “more about the journey than the destination.”

Connolly and Riley will be honored with an artist reception on Thursday, February 27, from 6 to 8 p.m. Author Ben Casey will be on hand to sign copies of his landscape pictorial of the Neuse River, All in One River. There will also be screenings of Casey’s corresponding high-definition documentary, All in One River, at 6:30 and 7:15 p.m.

Jack Riley developed an early interest in nature that led to his study of biology at N.C. State. He got into photography by default, saying about sights seen on numerous camping and backpacking trips, “somebody should have a camera to get that.” Primarily self-taught, Riley attended several photography workshops led by Bill Fortney, Don Jackson, Pat O’Hara and John Shaw. Riley is just beginning his career as a landscape photographer; the exhibit in the Museum’s Nature Art Gallery is Riley’s second public exhibition.

Nature photographer Karin Connolly is approaching the stride of her artistic career, having been published in several magazines including Photo World, Florida Wildlife, Eco Florida and Wildlife and Nature. Her work was included in Outdoor Photographer’s Landscape Masters 2002 Calendar. The Orlando resident’s work has been exhibited in numerous private galleries, public buildings and arts festivals throughout Florida.

Although Riley and Connolly are at different points in their artistic careers, they share similar philosophies. Through photography, Riley hopes to compensate for “the inevitable disconnect from the natural world entailed by modern civilization.” Nature photographs, he believes, can be taken almost anywhere. His prints show landscapes from Maine to Montana to his own back yard. Similarly, Connolly searches for the one decisive moment when all the elements of nature come together in perfect harmony.

“I try to capture images that will reveal the mood of an area rather than just record an image that describes an area.” Connolly visits the same location numerous times, completely immersing herself in the surroundings and photographing the landscape using slow speed films and a variety of lenses.

The Nature Art Gallery, inside the Museum Store, hosts new exhibitions by Southern artists every six weeks. All exhibited art is for sale. Gallery hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 4:45 p.m.; and the first Friday of each month until 7 p.m. Admission is free. For a complete schedule of Nature Art Gallery exhibits, please visit http://www.naturalsciences.org or call the Museum Store at 919/733-7450, ext. 369.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, documents and interprets the natural history of the state of North Carolina through exhibits, research, collections, publications, and educational programming. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Visit the Museum on the web at www.naturalsciences.org. The Museum is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary.

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