CHR12302011A14
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business and photogra- phy. She then attended the University of Maryland where, under the tutelage of John Gossage, she found and focused more on the aes- thetics of photography as opposed to photogra- phy as a commercial subject. The emphasis on aes- thetics over technique impressed Keller deeply, launching her career as a freelance fine art pho- tographer and photo- journalist. Keller has traveled extensively, visiting and photographing such places as Cuba, Africa, Russia and Vietnam, recording daily cultural life through her photographs. She has been the recipient of many grants, including one from the West Virginia Culture Center which allows her to facilitate her contin- ued workshop, the Jefferson County Photography Project. Her work can be seen at the Bridge Gallery in Shepherdstown. Austin, a retired Naval officer, interna- tional mobilization plan- ner and disaster man- agement adviser, also has work displayed at the Bridge Gallery. He is also an active partici- pant in the local Friday Painters Art Group. Austin has worked in a wide range of art media over the years, trying to capture some of the beauty and insight from unusual adventures experienced during his civil and mil- itary careers. Much of his work focuses on nos- talgia and country liv- ing, he says; the cultural anthropology of many nations and cultures that is reinforced by life in the Eastern Panhandle. Austin’s forte is work in pen and ink and linoleum block prints. He hopes to develop the capability well enough to illustrate his own short stories and books. Much of his work, he shares, is based on memory reinforced by years of military and diplomatic training that taught him to be obser- vant and to be able to record and evaluate what he has seen. He also strives for authen- ticity and does addition- al research drawing upon old photos, prints, engravings and descrip- tions to achieve the desired outcome. He explains that he must first understand how something works in order to draw it. The artwork donated to the town offers not only pleasant visual items for those visiting to town hall to view, but a glimpse into the two artists who provided the pieces. “How fortunate we are to have these talent- ed artists offer their wonderful gifts to deco- rate town hall, provid- ing enjoyment for all,” Auxer said. 14 The Shepherdstown Chronicle Friday, December 30, 2011 www.shepherdstownchronicle.com You be the reporter...submit your news stories & photos at Town Hall from page 1 Chronicle photo by Toni Milbourne Mayor Jim Auxer officially accepts original artwork for the new town hall from Benita Keller and Mike Austin.
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frompage1 MayorJimAuxerofficiallyacceptsoriginalartworkforthenewtownhallfromBenitaKellerandMikeAustin. alresearchdrawing uponoldphotos,prints, engravingsanddescrip- tionstoachievethe desiredoutcome.He explainsthathemust firstunderstandhow somethingworksin ordertodrawit. Theartworkdonated tothetownoffersnot onlypleasantvisual ChroniclephotobyToniMilbourne
Transcript of CHR12302011A14
business and photogra-phy. She then attendedthe University ofMaryland where, underthe tutelage of JohnGossage, she found andfocused more on the aes-thetics of photographyas opposed to photogra-phy as a commercialsubject.
The emphasis on aes-thetics over techniqueimpressed Keller deeply,launching her career as afreelance fine art pho-tographer and photo-journalist.
Keller has traveledextensively, visiting andphotographing suchplacesasCuba,Africa, Russia andVietnam, recordingdailycultural life throughherphotographs.
She has been therecipient of many grants,including one from theWest Virginia CultureCenter which allows herto facilitate her contin-ued workshop, theJefferson CountyPhotography Project. Herwork can be seen at theBridge Gallery inShepherdstown.
Austin, a retiredNaval officer, interna-tional mobilization plan-ner and disaster man-agement adviser, alsohas work displayed atthe Bridge Gallery. He isalso an active partici-
pant in the local FridayPainters Art Group.
Austin has worked ina wide range of artmedia over the years,trying to capture someof the beauty andinsight from unusualadventures experiencedduring his civil and mil-itary careers. Much ofhis work focuses on nos-
talgia and country liv-ing, he says; the culturalanthropology of manynations and cultures thatis reinforced by life inthe Eastern Panhandle.
Austin’s forte is workin pen and ink andlinoleum block prints.He hopes to develop thecapability well enoughto illustrate his own
short stories and books.Much of his work, heshares, is based onmemory reinforced byyears of military anddiplomatic training thattaught him to be obser-vant and to be able torecord and evaluatewhat he has seen. Healso strives for authen-ticity and does addition-
al research drawingupon old photos, prints,engravings and descrip-tions to achieve thedesired outcome. Heexplains that he mustfirst understand howsomething works inorder to draw it.
The artwork donatedto the town offers notonly pleasant visual
items for those visitingto town hall to view, buta glimpse into the twoartists who provided thepieces.
“How fortunate weare to have these talent-ed artists offer theirwonderful gifts to deco-rate town hall, provid-ing enjoyment for all,”Auxer said.
14 The Shepherdstown Chronicle Friday, December 30, 2011
www.shepherdstownchronicle.com You be the reporter...submit your news stories & photos at
Town Hallfrom page 1
Chronicle photo by Toni MilbourneMayor Jim Auxer officially accepts original artwork for the new town hall from Benita Keller and Mike Austin.
