BLAIRSTOWN, NJ, January 3, 2018/ - The Romano Gallery at Blair Academy will present Danielle Austen, an award-winning fine art photographer specializing in intimate portraits of the environment, on January 8 – February 3, 2018. The opening reception will be held at the Romano Gallery located in the Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts at 7:00 PM.
“Art is everywhere, waiting to be revealed. If one takes the time to look, they begin to truly see amazing wonders.” Said Austen. The work reflects a desire to see what is often overlooked or even seen as inconsequential, and reveal it. This often involves discovering shifts in reality where the intent is to engage and challenge the viewer to see the endless possibilities.
Danielle received her BFA from Cornell University and worked as a graphic designer before attending the master’s program at the Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, in photojournalism.
Working for newspapers and magazines, her editorial work has been published locally, regionally and nationally, including “Life’s, The Year in Pictures.” Returning to her fine art roots, she has combined her skills and training and has participated in over four dozen national and international juried exhibits, two group shows and three solo exhibits.
She has attended six Artist-in-Residency programs; the Rocky Mountain National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, twice at Acadia National Park, Everglades National Park and was a Fellowship recipient at the Vermont Studio Center.
Danielle has won awards both in her photojournalism and fine art work, including the past two years receiving honorable mentions in the International Photography Awards. In 2013, she was a national winner of Canon’s “Project Imaginat10n” photo competition with Director Ron Howard. Celebrity director, Biz Stone, the co-founder of Twitter, chose her winning image to help inspire his short film, “Evermore” which premiered October 2013 in NYC.
In August 2014, she was the co-creator and curator of the “NJ350 Elements” an outdoor exhibit at the historic Duke Farms in Hillsborough, NJ, In celebration of New Jersey’s 350th anniversary, this unique juried photography exhibit was created to represent the environment within the environment.
“I have always been drawn to nature, especially the mystical element of water. There is no life without water as it is the driving force of all nature. It is flexible yet unyielding and calming yet destructive. It evokes knowing emotions, positive and negative. With my series, Echoing Cascades, I have been investigating the movement of water and how it interacts and shapes its surroundings by exploring the interplay of light, patterns, and tones, and the abstract imagery it creates. The results can be surreal and even ethereal. I believe these images are pathways into an unexpected depth of the natural world.” Austen stated.
During the development of this photographic series Echoing Cascades Austen was struck by a correlation found between the color and black & white images she was creating. Pairing the vibrancy of color with the drama provided by the black and white elements, uncovers a dynamic facet to the images that she continues to explore.
For more information please contact: Danielle Austen, da@danielleausten.com, 908.698.9483. www.danielleausten.com / @unfilteredeyes / @danielleaustenphotography
MORRISTOWN, NJ, November 26, 2014 / - National award-winning fine art photographer Danielle Austen of Hillsborough will have a reception for her exhibit “Kenai Peaks” on Friday, December 5 from 6-8 pm at Fox Rothschild LLP on 15 Maple Ave. The exhibit is part of Art Around the Park, an alternative venue art walk in Morristown conceived by Simon Gallery.
Austen’s images were created while exploring the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska in 2012. Throughout her journey, it was her goal to capture the spirit of these mountains, investigating the clouds and the light as they moved over the peaks.
“It is easy to get lost in the beauty of the majestic vistas, but I believe it is the elements that make up these scenes that are of the greatest value. Nature can create stunning abstract imagery through the interplay of light, pattern, color, and movement. The effects can be surreal, and even ethereal. I believe these images can be pathways into the unexpected depth of the natural world.
As a documentary fine artist trained both in photojournalism and in the fine arts, I am bound to seek honesty in my subjects and to communicate the spirituality of the moment. I focus on documenting intimate portraits and unexpected views of the landscape… and to tell their story. I search for what many may see as ordinary and discover the extraordinary.”
The exhibit will be on display through the end of the year.
Contact Information:
Email: da@danielleausten.com
Website: www.danielleausten.com
Telephone: 908.698.9483
HOMESTEAD, FL – February 18, 2014 -/ - Portraits of the Glades featuring the photographs of artist Danielle Austen opens March 1 - 30, 2014, at the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center Gallery at the Everglades National Park in Florida. Austen, a 2012 Artist-in-Residency-in-the-Everglades (AIRlE) recipient, is an award-winning documentary fine art photographer from Hillsborough, NJ. She will host an opening reception on Sunday, March 2 from 2-4 P.M.
Austen’s photographs, a combination of landscape and wildlife, are part of an ongoing project of documenting this vital and endangered land. Educated and trained in both the fine arts and photojournalism she seeks honesty in her subjects and communicates the spirituality of the moment. Her work focuses on capturing intimate portraits and unexpected views of the environment — and to tell their story. Austen will exhibit black and white and color photographs, also including several large scale images presented on satin that will hang in the gallery’s windows. A poem written specifically for Austen’s work by author and poet Marsha Bush, of California, will accompany the show.
“Since my first visit to the Everglades in 2007, I have been captivated by the vastness and richness of the land and diversity of the wildlife. I feel I have walked back through time — a time of a wild and pristine land untouched by humankind. This land is not what it once was. It is ever changing and endangered. There is no other environment like the Everglades in the world, a habitat completely controlled by the flow of water. Each year I return, as my goal is to continue documenting the spirit of this land and its habitants in their struggle for survival — revealing its quiet beauty.”
The Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center is located at 40001 State Road 9336, Homestead, FL. Hours are 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. daily. Admission is free. For more information visit, www.danielleausten.com or the Everglades National Park at (305) 242-7700, www.nps.gov/ever/
By Danielle Austen, Guest Blogger - Everglades National Park is a nature photographer’s dream. On my second visit, a park ranger told me about their artist-in-residence program. He opened my eyes to a whole world of artistic opportunity!
When photographers travel, it is often with family, friends or to attend a workshop. This limits where we go and how long we stay. Photographers must wait for that right moment. Friends and family rarely have that much patience! Imagine having an entire month to yourself in which to work freely without interruption. Artist-in-residence programs exist to provide artists, academicians, curators, and other creative people with just this kind of space and time.
Residencies remove us from our usual environment and daily obligations so we can focus on our work. They are a time for reflection, research, and heightened productivity. During a residency, individuals can explore their practice in a new community with different people, work with new materials while experiencing a unique environment or simply work alone.
There are Artist-in-Residence programs for anyone in a creative field, whether their level is emerging, mid-career or advanced. Painters, sculptors, potters, photographers, crafters, fiber artists, designers, jewelers, architects, curators, choreographers, performance artists, musicians, composers, filmmakers, writers, poets, scientists or teachers can all find residencies where their work will be welcomed. Hundreds of these opportunities exist throughout the world.
There is no set format for a residency. They are offered by a broad range of organizations including national parks, museums, universities, schools, galleries, studio spaces, theaters, artist-run spaces, municipalities, corporations, festivals - even Facebook! Each group has their own goals and interests.
Residencies can last from as little as a week to as long as a year. They may be seasonal, ongoing, or tied to a one-time event. They exist in urban spaces, rural villages, container ships and primitive natural areas. In some programs, you may be without access to phone, internet, or TV but - trust me - it’s worth it!
Residencies can help artists build a body of work. They can provide a unique opportunity for artists to focus on a specific project, experiment with new techniques or develop new ways to express their vision.
There is no single model for a residency and the requirements vary greatly. Programs may ask the artist to lecture to the public or local schools, give workshops or donate a piece of their work created from their residency experience.
Applications to residencies can be a challenge. There is no set model. Be prepared to submit a resume, an artist’s statement, a bio and a letter of intent. Also be ready to explain why you are choosing their residency, what you hope to accomplish during your stay, how your work will benefit their program and how their program will benefit you as an artist. Have ideas on tap for public or school presentations or workshops. You may be asked to submit as few as 4 or as many as 20 samples of your work. Choose your submissions carefully and send samples that define your unique style.
Residencies are very competitive. If you don’t get in the first time, apply again. The second or even third time can be the charm!
There is no standard cost for residencies. Most programs offer artists enough support to allow them a break from their working commitments for some period of time. This can range from the provision of a living space to a complete package of food, a studio, a small stipend and even travel expenses. (These are rare.) There are also programs where you pay for everything, which is great if you have the funds. You need to factor this in when choosing a program.
Choose a residency that fits your style of work. If you are a nature photographer, you may not want to work in a city environment. If you get energy from other artists, you may wish to work in a community of artists rather than being on your own. The choices abound. The Vermont Studio Center has 40 artists participating every month, while most national park residencies host one artist per month. No matter which program you choose, you are expected to be self-reliant. There is always a contact person, but in most cases, they will check you in, answer your questions, then leave you to your work.
Ask yourself “What do I want to accomplish, where do I want to go, and what can I afford?” Then look for the artist’s residency that fits your needs.
Artist residencies are truly amazing opportunities. Don’t miss the chance to participate! Danielle’s website is http://www.danielleausten.com
For Further Information
National Park Service – http://www.nps.gov/subjects/arts/air.htm
Residency Unlimited – http://residencyunlimited.org/opportunities
Alliance of Artist Communities - www.comistcommunities.org/residencies
[Not a valid template]
