International Exhibitor, Mark L. Power, at Beyond the Image Photographer’s Gallery

‘Beyond the image, a class about imagination, the one thing in photography that can’t be taught!’

Mark L. Power, photographer, critic and educator, used these words to attract students to his classes at Photoworks, Glen Echo Park in Glen Echo, Md. and previously in Norfolk, England where he taught at the Norwich Art Centre and Gables Yard, Pulham Market, between 2000 and 2004. He currently lives in Silver Springs, Md., a suburb of Washington DC.

Since Mark’s departure from these shores a handful of his original UK students have taken Beyond the Image a step further and, with Mark’s blessing, have for four years been running a not-for-profit gallery in a light and spacious converted barn set in the woodland surroundings of the Thornham Walks Estate, Thornham Magna, Eye, Suffolk. In 2004 the idea may have been no more than a dream for the small group of photographers but it became reality when in June 2005 the gold ribbon was cut by Lady Henniker and the ‘Beyond the Image Gallery’ was declared open.

With imagination, vision, combined skills and voluntary efforts the group of nine gallery members have established Beyond the Image as a place where innovative photographic works can be seen and responded to and where courses, photo-shoot days and other learning opportunities are available for all. The gallery regularly shows guest exhibitions by East Anglian photographers and artists and prides itself in providing exhibition space and support for first time exhibitors.

Beyond the Image has always sought to stretch the boundaries by showing inspired new work and allowing space for creativity and no less so in May 2009 when ninety percent of the gallery space will be used to show the gallery’s first International Exhibition, ‘Beyond the Pond’ featuring six American photographers, one of whom will be none other than Mark L. Power.

On-line tutorials by Mark L. Power from ‘Across the Pond’!
Renowned photographer, educator and critic Mark L. Power will be leading on-line tutorials in conjunction with the INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITION ‘Beyond the Pond’ showing at Beyond the Image Photographer’s Gallery from 1st May to 26th July 2009.

As many know, a class called "Beyond the Image" was the nucleus for the Beyond the Image gallery in Thornham. Mark L. Power, tutor of the original Beyond the Image class, returned to the USA in 2004 and there started the colonial branch of the BTI class in Glen Echo, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.

To celebrate the beginning of their fifth year, members of the gallery have invited the photographers from the USA class to exhibit in Thornham bringing the work of both groups under one roof for the very first time.

The result is "Beyond the Pond", five diverse American photographers plus the work of Mark L. Power.

Mark’s tutorials address "Contemporary ideas".

In his words they are "An informal examination of the fine-art photography we see in books, museums, and galleries. What is this work about and why is it capturing the imagination of professionals in the field? The result is an informal survey of some of the contemporary ideas we see and read about. "

1. Saturday 9th May Beginnings: photo-based art; the Düsseldorf school
2. Saturday 16rd May The portrait and the nude
3. Saturday 23rd May Theatrical photography
4. Saturday 30th May Spaces: landscape, still-lives, abstract photography

Saturday June 6th: no session
Saturday June 13th: no session

5. Saturday June 20th First critique – any of the assignments
6. Saturday June 27th Second critique - any of the assignments
7. Saturday 4th July Educational service - email critique

Tutorials and Critiques 4.30 – 6.30pm at the gallery

For booking and prices email info@beyondtheimage.co.uk or contact Angie Broadberry on 01508 480477
Beyond the Image Photographer’s Gallery, Thornham Walks, Thornham Magna, Eye, Suffolk IP23 8HH

www.markpowerblog.com

1. Saturday 9th May Beginnings: photo-based art; the Düsseldorf school
2 hours

Thus will be a two-part presentation. During the first hour, we will briefly survey the categories of photography (emphasizing fine-art work) providing a definition of ‘photo-based art’ or ‘concept based photography’, distinguishing it from ‘genre-based photography’. We will examine the ‘look’ of cotemporary fine-art photography and look at some of the typical gallery and museum presentations of this kind of work. The second hour concentrates on the pioneering work of the Art Academy in Düsseldorf, Germany in particular looking at the work of Berndt and Hiller Becher and their students, many of whom pioneered ideas still seen in much contemporary work. In particular, in addition to the work of the Bechers, we will look at the work of some of their influential students, Thomas Ruff, Thomas Struth, and Andreas Gursky, among others. An assignment given encompassing both parts.

2. Saturday 16th May The portrait and the nude
2 hours

Again a two part presentation. For the first hour, we first examine various aspects of the portrait, beginning with the head and face, and progressing to environmental portraiture which involves cultural and psychological ideas. Implied narratives and fantasy portraits are also discussed. The second part of the presentation is about the nude in photography and it takes the position that when photography encountered the classical nude it turned it into portraiture. In these presentations we briefly look at the work of over 40 photographers, most contemporary, some historical. An assignment in portraiture will be given.

3. Saturday 23rd May : Theatrical Photography:
2 hours

This presentation emphasizes the directorial mode of photography by examining various kinds of staged contemporary work. Some of the sub-topics in this presentation are surrealism, the cinematic narrative, costume and identity and fictional photography. Again, a wide variety of contemporary photographers are examined. If the presentation takes less than two hours, the remainder of the time will be spent in discussion.

4. Saturday 30th May Spaces: landscape, still-lives, abstract photography
2 hours

With the last presentation we take the position that the use of space often determines the genre of photography. In deep space, we look at landscapes and in “close space” we turn to an examination of contemporary uses of the still life. We also look at photography of interiors and abstract work. This presentation examines the work of thirty three photographers, most of them contemporary artists. We hope to have some time during this presentation for a discussion of all the presentations.