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This Exhibition is by and for Veterans

An exhibition opening January 10 at the Colorado Photographic Arts Center (CPAC) features fine-art photography created by ten Denver-area artists who are also veterans. Prior to exhibiting their work, the men and women participated in CPAC’s Veterans Workshop Series—a free, five-month program of photography courses offered to local military Veterans.

“The Subjective Lens—Through the Eyes of Veterans” represents a broad range of subject matter. Cyprianne Williams writes that her portraits provide a platform for a “chorus of women of color residing in Denver” to share their stories. Carl Steitz chose to photograph the historic town of Strasburg as a reminder to “look at the beauty just down the street.” In the series “Transformation,” Michael Ciavetti looks at the reclamation of trees killed by pine beetles as a metaphor for how military veteran “can transform themselves into new, different forms of beautiful people.” Marie Miller, who photographs the clasped hands of strangers from different races and ethnicities, uses her series to reflect her frustration as an African American at the state of America.

This unique exhibition is the culmination of the 2019 veterans’ workshop, in which participants learned technical skills, how to create visual stories and portfolios, how to write about their work, and the steps to produce an exhibition. Each artist was encouraged to complete a personal project, exploring a narrative that is an expression of the individual’s inspirations, life experiences, creativity, and point of view. The program was administered by CPAC and taught by established artists and leaders in Denver’s photography community. 

“As a mentor to the artists throughout this rigorous program, I have seen tremendous growth and development,” said CPAC Executive Director Samantha Johnston. “ It has been an honor to work closely with them, hear their stories, and see the world though their eyes.”

Originally launched in 2017, CPAC is now accepting applications for the 2020 Veterans Workshop Series (August 2020 – January 2021).

“The Subjective Lens – Through the Eyes of Veterans”
CPAC
January 10 – February 15, 2020
Opening Reception (artists present): January 11, 2020, 5 – 8 pm

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