Coinciding with Photography Month Sacramento, Viewpoint Photographic Art Center in Midtown Sacramento highlights exhibit winners in two exciting group shows now through May 3, 2025. In the Main Gallery is the annual National Open Call exhibit, this year titled Springtime Around the World, and in the Step Up Gallery, the annual show of Student Work, Bridges and Barriers.
MAIN GALLERY – Springtime Around the World features the work of 37 photographers from three states, California, Nevada, and Tennessee. The 47 photographs on display were selected from almost 250 images entered in the open juried exhibit.
Chosen interpretations of the theme range from weather events, to personal encounters with birds and other animals. Moody landscapes, vibrant sunsets, symbols of spring, flowers and portraits are all part of the mix. The selections take the viewer on a pictorial global journey captured in eight different countries and four continents, including stops in Peru, China, Ireland, Poland, Iceland, Scotland, Mexico, Alaska, and California.
Juror Jessica Layton, Assistant Professor of Photography at Sacramento City College selected three top winners from the images submitted.
- First Place: Rhonda Campbell of Lincoln, CA, submitted a wet cyanotype image, Spring is Here
- Second Place: David Ruderman, Fair Oaks, CA, submitted a black and white image, Plumeria #11
- Third Place: Rachel Rosenthal, Auburn, CA, a color landscape, Winter Crown, Spring Blossoms
Co-curators Rebecca Gregg and Ingrid Lundquist selected Sacramento Photographer Brad Brannan’s, Blackbird in Mustard, as the recipient of the Sacramento Photography Month Special Award for an image taken in one of the four participating counties (Sacramento, Yolo, Placer and Nevada). The curators also gave a nod to John Bernard of Davis, CA, with a surprise “Made Us Smile” recognition for his image of two door springs entitled Spring and Sprung.
STEP UP GALLERY – The annual show of Student Work, Bridges and Barriers, features 31 images by 9 high school students and 22 college students from Sacramento, Yolo, San Joaquin, Solano and Placer counties. The photos were selected from more than 100 photos submitted.
Students were asked to consider: What comes to mind when you think about making a photograph to tell a story about barriers and bridges? Do you have a favorite bridge or a barrier you would like to explore in photographs? Does it also make you consider social, cultural, and emotional barriers and bridges?
Juror Patty Felkner, Professor of Photography at Cosumnes River College in Sacramento, selected three images for awards.
- First Place: From Sierra College, Karisa Broadbent, Vecinos
- Second Place: From American River College, Alena Ardasheva, Between Here and There
- Third Place: From Sierra College, Zach Lozano, Take My Hand, Let’s Go Together
The show was co-curated by Diana Proctor, Shelley Carlise and Cynthia Van Horne.
Viewpoint Photographic Art Center is a nonprofit arts organization located in the heart of Midtown Sacramento. Established more than 30 years ago, Viewpoint has become the center of a thriving and vibrant photographic arts scene offering programming which supports both the artist and the patron experience. Public viewing/exhibition hours are Wednesdays through Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, please visit www.ViewpointPhotoArtCenter.org.
