Beth Dow & Keith Taylor

Points of View

ICEBOX GALLERY presents:Toned black and white photographs of European and American landscapes by Minnesota photographers Beth Dow and Keith Taylor. Married fourteen years, the two photographers in this exhibition have approached the same subjects of formal gardens and the landscape in different ways.

Historically, artists and photographers have married each other and continued their individual artistic pursuits. Sometimes the creative work of the pair continues on very separate paths (Stieglitz & O’Keefe), while at other times the couple has chosen to forge a single vision in collaboration (Lennon & Ono). This exhibit reveals a nearly parallel development of style and choice of subject matter but Dow and Taylor remain individual creators.
See the Exhibit

Beth Dow by Keith Taylor, Keith Taylor by Beth Dow

At first glance the photography of Minnapolis native Beth Dow and London born Keith Taylor might look like they were made by a single photographer, but the differences are there and come to light gradually- like a print in the developer. Both photographers employ medium format cameras and expert dark room skills to create richly toned small prints. These prints are reminiscent of classic photography created near the beginning of the twentieth century. There are also similarities in subject matter, as both photographers shoot the same locations, but often alone and at different times.

Beth Dow’s artwork includes people or reminders of people that happen to be in the park or garden at the time she is photographing. This causes her work to be more spontanious, having to make the exposure at a moment’s notice because she never poses her subjects. Dow looks for humor (sometimes dark quirky humor) subtly included in her subject. Note the footprints leading off the edge in her image "Badlands" 1999. Dow chooses the horizontal rectangle to contain her scene and prints them modestly larger at times than Taylor.

Keith Taylor’s images are small, vertical in subject mater and square in format. Taylor makes images that capture the geometry of the place and architecture. History is primary in his choice of subject matter, and it follows him into the darkroom. His images have an ambiguity about them, making them seem like they could have been made nearly a hundred years ago. Most of Taylor’s images are pristine, void of people and anything modern like automobiles or telephone wires. His images are thoughtfully fashioned and classically composed. See "Near Big Foot Pass"1999.

OPENING RECEPTION:
Saturday March 2, 8:00 PM - 12:00 PM
Both Artists will be present at the opening
Exhibit continues through April 13, 2002.

---

 

Return to Top of Page