Recap of Gresham Art Committee Meeting

On Nov. 3, I had the privilege to participate in a meeting with members of the Gresham Art Committee (GAC) at City Hall. The GAC is a group of people in our community who share a passion for art and have the desire to showcase local artists’ work. I was pleased to be a part of their discussion about policies and also a show coming in early 2017.

One item for debate: Should the GAC require written or verbal consent from the subjects displayed in a piece of art, such as a photo or painting? There is a historical artistic fascination with the human form, and many times in a public or casual setting, we too might watch strangers going about their day. A lot of current photographers find inspiration and awe in unguarded individuals in public places – for instance, Michael Hoeye’s exhibit “Angels Passing,” showcased here at MHCC last month.

From the discussion there emerged an underlying worry that an individual not informed about their photo being taken would later see their image in an art gallery and be shocked. Honestly, people could have so many different reactions to that; they could be honored, ashamed, delighted, or angry.

But it was also suggested that the committee was formed to showcase artists, and the GAC should not be confining them to securing consent of an individual. Often, it’s not something an artist would think of when taking a photo, to go up to that person and say, “Hey I took a photo of you. Is it okay if I use it for artistic means?” Also, the artist may have taken the photo a long time ago and it did not occur to them to ask permission. There is also the general understanding that it is fine to take photos of anyone and anything within a public setting, sometimes with the exclusion of children. The committee did not come to a consensus on this topic, so it remains unsettled.

Another topic raised was requiring artists to state on (exhibit) submission forms whether or not a photo had been manipulated in any way. Honestly, what is the line between straight-up photography and dramatic alterations or editing? Some members of the committee do not like that photos are changed to make colors enhanced, instead of how they actually are when the photo is taken. Some of them commented that artists have also been uncomfortable with the fact that their untouched photograph will be next to a photo-shopped image, also categorized as photography. Should there also be a separate category for new forms of digital art?

My explanation for photo editing is that often the lighting isn’t perfect, or the focus, etc. Here at the Advocate, we have to lighten every digital photo for printing because newsprint is much darker compared to regular white (copy) paper.

I personally feel it would be good to state in an art submission, like if you Photoshopped a part into the photo. Digital art is accelerating in popularity, and it could be beneficial to state what program a piece of digital art was created in; it’s like stating the media used in a painting (acrylic, watercolor, oil, etc.)

There was also brief conversation about the upcoming show, still in its early stages. The only thing I’ll tell you is the title: “Red,” which is entirely up to artist’s interpretation.

If you would like to submit your own art for this show or any upcoming 2017 events, go to the committee’s website: greshamartcommittee.com. Here you can find information about how to submit artwork, dates of upcoming shows, and contact information for the GAC. The committee is also seeking new members. If you feel compelled to join, feel free to fill out the volunteer form at: greshamoregon.gov/Gresham-Art-Committee.

The GAC showcases four to seven exhibits a year in the Gresham City Halls’ Visual Arts Gallery. Each show runs two-three months. You can see the current show, “Through the Door,” up to the end of November, which features 13 artists and an array of artistic mediums.