The Tailor, a Renaissance painting recreated as a photograph by media arts students Amber Cruz, Fabian Duran and Jonathon Cordova, is featured in the Town and Gown Photography Show at Highlands.
Las Vegas, N.M. – Highlands University presents the second Town and Gown Photography Show opening April 11 in Kennedy Alumni Hall, 905 University Ave. with a reception April 21 from 5 – 7 p.m.
The exhibit features the work of the university’s Media Arts and Technology Department students and faculty as well as the Meadow City Camera Club.
“The media arts students bring new and creative ideas for interpreting subject matter,” said Martha McCaffrey, Meadow City Camera Club member. “This collaboration is like pollinating a flower, where we share perspectives to grow our own work.”
McCaffrey, a photographer of 38 years, said the joint photography show is an opportunity to further build the relationship between the community and Highlands.
“In addition, it’s a wonderful chance for the community to see the exceptional work the media arts students produce,” McCaffrey said.
She said the Meadow City Camera Club’s work will cover a wide variety of images such as landscapes, portraits and scenes of Las Vegas area people, architecture and historical sites.
The work of media arts instructor James Hunyadi’s Studio Photography class is featured in the show.
“The subject matter for the students includes a number of well-lit Renaissance paintings recreated as photographs, making this a good exercise in learning to control and manipulate light,” Hunyadi said. “Other studio shots range from skateboarders to mothers with their children and images that explore political issues.”
One of the Renaissance photographs featured in the show is a recreation of Giovanni Battista Moroni’s painting The Tailor, circa 1560-1570. Hunyadi said it was a team effort, with media arts students Amber Cruz, Fabian Duran and Jonathon Cordova creating the image.
Hunyadi said that while the majority of the students’ images are shot in the studio, some are shot outdoors using remote-controlled flash, giving students the chance to learn this technique.
“The Meadow City Camera Club includes many accomplished professional photographers, which is beneficial to our students in helping them develop their own techniques and styles,” Hunyadi said.
The Town Gown Photography Show continues through May 5. The exhibit in Kennedy Alumni Hall is open Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.