March 2- 31, 2017

Grand Views, Intimate Spaces: The Grand Canyon

by Mike Buchheit and Rachel Brace-Stille

Artist Reception: Thursday, March 30, 7-9pm, during Scottsdale’s ArtWalk

The artists will be available for conversation.

Artists’ Statement 

The 100th anniversary of Grand Canyon National Park will take place in 2019, and in anticipation of this milestone, photographers Mike Buchheit and Rachel Brace-Stille have created an exhibit designed to convey both the grandeur and the subtlety of the world’s most famous chasm.

Bringing a combined 50 years of studying the canyon through the viewfinder, Mike and Rachel have selected images which tell the story of a truly iconic landscape. One that resonates in the minds and memories of millions of people who have either visited the canyon, or dream of doing so.

Organized loosely around the four seasons, subject matter will range from sweeping vistas to intimate vignettes. A conscious interplay with scale will leave the viewer with an appreciation for the canyon as an exquisite whole, made possible by the sum of its parts.

Mike’s metal prints and Rachel’s gelatin silver abrasion toned prints allow the canyon’s signature color and detail to radiate from every piece. The vantages range from rim to river, and the images are derived from both film and digital captures.

Mike has been living and working in Grand Canyon National Park for over two decades. As both an educator and landscape photographer, he has spent his personal and professional life delving into the mysteries of the canyon, and sharing what he has uncovered with others.

Rachel saw her first sunset at Hopi Point in 1991. Since then she has made numerous journeys from her home in Phoenix to be still, and to take in the luminosity and smell the scent of nature. From pinhole to large format, she has forged her photographic connection using a variety of cameras and techniques to capture traces of the canyon.

With this exhibit, the artist’s intent is to share their deep reverence for the magnificent landscape that has served as a tether for their longstanding friendship and artistic collaboration. Their sincere hope is that the stories they share through their selection of images will underscore the need to preserve and protect the Grand Canyon, and all of the natural places that have the ability to sustain and inspire humankind.

               

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