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Willie Holdman - Summoning the Spirit of the Southwestern Lands

Show available:

July 24, 2010 through October 16, 2010

In the Mezzanine Gallery, we tour the southwest through the lens of Willie Holdman whose large, stunning photographs have graced the moving walkway in the Salt Lake City airport terminal for a number of years.
Holdman writes, �Photographers are visual artists. While a camera, like a pencil or painter's brush, can be usefully employed as a documentary tool, photography in itself is not a science. Like a drawing or painting it is a medium of visual expression. The question for visual artists is how clearly we can express our personal vision. The camera has long passed the days when it was considered only a documentary device. It is now more than ever a tool for the artist to express himself. My wish is that I am able to express myself through the use of a camera.
At this time it is my desire to do portraits of the Earth, to capture the Earth's personality and true character. To experience these phenomena of nature, we must be attentive to the subject. Just as people only reveal themselves on special occasions for people they know and trust, so too, does the Earth save herself for those who respect her and are willing to make the sacrifice and journey off the beaten path. These revealings don't last long; one must be ready and skillful to capture these moments. The result is a photograph that captures the essence of the Earth that has rarely been seen before.
Unlike a painting, these photographs are of real subjects and real places that do actually exist. No manipulations or color enhancer filters were used. I hope these photographs will help you gain a better appreciation for nature and help you learn more about this planet called Earth.�
A native Utahan, Holdman started experiencing the wonders of nature at an early age by assisting his father, Floyd, on photography assignments for National Geographic throughout the country. He managed to slip out and photograph the rural areas of Utah while at Brigham Young University where he received his BFA degree with an emphasis in photography. Although he has photographed nature all over the world, it can't compare with the versatility and beauty of his home state, Utah. Whether it is high in an alpine meadow, or low in the red rock desert, this is home; specifically he resides at the base of majestic Mt. Timpanogos in Midway, Utah.
His work has been used in numerous publications throughout the country and is included in many corporate and personal collections; some of which include Robert Redford, Senator Orin Hatch, 2002 Utah Winter Olympics, Utah Travel Council, SLC International Airport, and Outdoor Photographer. Recently he published a book titled Timpanogos that is a compilation of photographs taken over 15 years on the mountain. Some of his other products are a calendar on Utah, posters, and screen savers for computers.