Image Credit: Lisa Ahlberg, Showcase of PCNW community work at Salon Style Exhibition
Salon Style Exhibition
March 1, 2025 | Saturday 3-5pm at PCNW
Join PCNW Alumni to celebrate the work of our community — let’s cover the walls and tables with photography!
- This is all fun, no competition, no judgement, no fee.
- In the PCNW Auditorium, hosted by PCNW Alumni.
- All PCNW students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends are welcome.
- First come, first hang. Bring one print and be ready to clip, pin or hang to the wall. Tables available for zine or maquette.
Questions? Contact: Lisa Ahlberg or Gwen Emminger
Image Credits: Lisa Ahlberg; (L) Salon Style Exhibition 2023; (R) Art by Noah Chapman
Alumni Highlights
Image Credit: Jenn Reidel, Life Story (to question my existence is to question your own) from The Desk
Jenn Reidel
graduated 2000
interview by Joan Dinkelspiel, grad. 2017
Please tell us about yourself.
Always inspired to tell stories, I studied creative writing in college and made art photos based on my dreams, which I documented every morning in a journal. I printed in a black and white darkroom I set up wherever I lived. My first photo installations were shown with a group of artists in multidisciplinary ‘happenings’ organized in buildings set for demolition in the early 1980s. After college, I worked professionally as a freelance feature writer and photographer for many magazines in Ohio.
A move to Seattle brought a son, whom I raised on my own. In 1997 I needed to connect with the photography community here, so I began taking classes at Photographic Center Northwest. There I completed my thesis “In her dreams,” in which I spent three years on this exploration of my dreamscape. For the last 30 years I have been an active member of the Vashon arts community. Here I have done many photo installations for galleries, and I have written about the arts and artists for decades.
Image Credit: Jenn Reidel
How would you describe your creative work in general since graduating from PCNW? What are your favorite mediums?
Since graduating, I continue to create artwork composed from personal mythology and dreams. My favorite mediums are writing, photography, and performance. My practice involves photographing myself or models in my studio or in nature. Though I work in a random, improv way, each series ends up ordered in a literary form — often poetry or prose — to provoke the dreamstate in others.
The majority of my work has been created in black and white darkrooms. I have also experimented with alternative processes such as cyanotypes, polaroid transfers, and encaustic transfers. For several years I made copperplate etchings to mimic 19th century photogravures, which are featured in my series ‘Ghosts in Love’ and ‘A Fury Tale.’ I purchased my first digital camera in 2008 and worked hard to relearn the art of printing with a computer for my series of self-portraits in ‘The Desk.’
Currently, I continue to be inspired by my project ‘Rodin’s Photographer.’ It is a story about an unknown female photographer who worked with French sculptor Auguste Rodin in the late 1800s. Within a conceptual theme — presented as my reinterpretations of these “discovered” turn of the century artist’s photographs — I intertwine historical research and fiction.
Image Credit: Jenn Reidel, from In Her Dreams
How long have you been working on your narrative series Rodin’s Photographer?
The genesis of this story was sparked at the Maryhill Museum of Art in 2013. I was inspired by Rodin’s sculpture I saw there, and even more captivated by the historical photos used to tell his story. Who was the ‘unknown photographer’ attributed to some of the photos? Being an art photographer and writer, I wondered what it would have been like to meet and photograph Rodin and the artists he worked with, like the poet Rainer Maria Rilke, painter Gwen John, and dancers Loïs Fuller and Isadora Duncan.
After ten years, two solo shows, a theater residency, and a series of photo zines in the works, I continue to find creating art under the auspices of a fictional ‘Unknown Photographer’ ironically helps me to be more true to myself as an artist. And it fascinates me that many who view the work are intrigued by her, and ask, ‘Is she a real historical figure?’
Image Credit: Jenn Reidel, Evescape from Rodin’s Photographer
How and where has it been exhibited and performed?
The first gallery showing of ‘Rodin’s Photographer’ was in 2014 at Hastings Cone Gallery on Vashon Island. In January 2020, I organized a multidisciplinary exhibition of the work at the Vashon Center for the Arts. The show featured my photos and writing, mythical sculptures by a local artist, and I commissioned dancers to create new work performed at the opening.
In fact, it was these dances that expanded my vision of the project to include a live performance and video installation. For ‘The Phoenix,’ selected for a 2021 Cornish Arts Incubator Residency, I worked with a dancer, costume designer, and video artist. Creating a performance in a black box theater was very new for me. I learned how to project my images onto a dancer. This movement piece is based on a night dream I had and my ongoing research into the dancers who inspired Rodin. Unfortunately, due to Covid restrictions, we could not perform the piece in front of a live audience. It is my hope to do so one day.
This past summer I self-published my first photo zine, ‘The Unknown Photographer.’
Image Credit: Jenn Reidel, Cover of Mermaid Dreams, Winter 2025 Issue of The Unknown Photographer
What other projects are you working on? Upcoming exhibits and books/zines?
I had a great time participating last year in the PCNW Photo Zine and Book Fair. Lisa Ahlberg’s invitation to join her and other alumni in the event inspired me to tell the Unknown Photographer’s story in a quarterly series of photo zines. Just like in the art show, I intertwine historical research and fiction. In the zines, I combine my photographs and writing to create a supernatural and mysterious narrative along with excerpts from the writings of the other ‘artist-characters,’ who were in Rodin’s circle.
I recently spent a few months in a weekly writer’s workshop to get feedback on the zines that I’ve completed so far, CLOAKED, VEILED, MERMAID DREAMS and now in progress OUT ON A LIMB.
For more about on Jenn Reidel:
www.jennreidel.com
Instagram @jennreidelart
Image Credit: Sarah Barsness, Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Sarah Barsness
graduated 1999
interview by Joan Dinkelspiel, grad. 2017
Please tell us about the evolution of your creative work from PCNW onward.
In the spring of 1994, I enrolled in a beginning darkroom photography class at PCNW. I knew nothing about photography, but in the very first class, I knew that I was at the start of an exciting new chapter in my life. I still struggle to describe my exhilaration that night – it was akin to true love at first sight. I was keenly aware that it would be years before I would be any kind of expert in photography, but not only did that not discourage me, I was thrilled at the idea that there would be so much to discover, that my journey would be long.
When did you become fascinated with birds and what sustains your interest in birds and photography?
In the summer of 2014, I had that very same experience of excitement and certainty, when I went on my first birding field trip. I knew nothing about birds, but by the end of the morning, I was ready to spend the next few years learning everything I could.
And I am often wistful for those early days of learning about photography – and then birds – when every day was filled with revelations. Each new photo, and later, each new bird, was an epiphany. I love learning, and every time I start a new medium or subject is exciting. But photography and birds are on another level for me. They are more about who I am than what I do.
Image Credit: Sarah Barsness, Felted Bird Eye, Black-crowned Night Heron
I understand you work in a variety of mediums, including photography. I’d love to hear more about the mediums you use and your preferences and how birds are central to the trajectory of your creative intentions.
When photography made a hard swerve to digital, I pulled away. I felt sure I could never warm up to pixels and computers. I spent a few years exploring printmaking – even completing an MFA as a printmaker. But after completing grad school in 2004, I kept landing teaching jobs in photography. Photography stuck to me, even after my multiple attempts to shake it off.
When I started birding, I vowed not to bring my camera on field trips. That did not last long. But even after I started carrying my camera, I did not think of myself as a bird photographer. I used an inexpensive lens and never worried much about slow shutter speeds or branches that obscured the birds. I did not even mind if a bird turned their back on me or flew half-way out of the frame. I posted my bird photos to Instagram, but mostly to share my new obsession, not as “art.”
To my surprise, a friend who ran an edgy gallery in Oakland asked me to show the photos. She saw them as intimate street portraits, rather than traditional wildlife photos. I framed several dozen in old dime store frames, and clustered them together on a single wall, like family photos in the hall of a suburban home. The opening reception was a series of close huddles with friends and strangers, telling stories about the birds.
Birds took over my artistic practice, just as they had taken over the rest of my spare time. I have always been a bit impatient with the distance of photography and I make frequent leaps into higher touch mediums like printmaking, drawing, installation, and book arts. One winter, I discovered needle felting, one of the most tactile mediums imaginable, and the birds, of course, soon took over.
My Bird Eyes are felted recreations of the eyes of birds, using my own photos as reference. The slow process of needle felting is the opposite of the speed of photography, and I feel as if I can move closer to the birds. This is an illusion of course, just as photography is an illusion. Birds are wild, flying creatures who have no concern for me, or other humans. They are also fragile, and our thoughtless care of the world is quickly destroying them. Perhaps, by drawing closer attention to them through my photos and art, I can have some small impact on their future.
Image Credit: Sarah Barsness, Ruby-crowned Kinglet
I understand that you find your teaching very important. What is it about teaching that you particularly value and enjoy? What are you hoping to help students achieve?
Photography and birds are only part of my story. Teaching is the core of my life. I have been teaching since the early 1990s. I have taught floral design, collage, printmaking, writing and, of course, photography. Teaching itself has always been more important than the subject I teach, but photography is so expansive that it offers almost infinite routes for exploration and expression.
In 2016, I had the great fortune to be hired to take over the leadership of the photo department of Solano Community College, just northeast of San Francisco. We serve one of the most diverse student bodies in the USA, and they face a huge range of challenges and obstacles. We are a “wraparound” institution, which means that we understand that education is not just about instruction. My job is as much about connecting students with resources, and creating a safe space for learning, as it is about the exposure triangle. And what brings me the most joy is helping students engage with their own creative energy and telling their own stories through photography.
(Sarah completed the Certificate program at PCNW in 1999. She now lives, teaches
photography, birds, and creates art in Fairfield, CA).
For more about Sarah Barsness:
www.sarahbarsness.com
Instagram @slbarsness
Image Credit: Ray Deardorf, Kaleetan, 2024
Ray Deardorf
graduated 2012
interview by Lisa Ahlberg, grad. 2005
I noticed from your Instagram feed that you are shooting film. I am enjoying the Ferries on Film group on Instagram and saw that you were out with them. Can you tell us about that?
I first saw Ferries on Film as an Instagram tag so decided to check it out. I contacted the local coordinator Anna Starr and she indicated anyone could join an outing. So a year ago I went on my first trip with them on the Edmonds to Kingston route. It was a very welcoming group (and of course I talked up PCNW!) and shared Instagram addresses with several. I went on a second outing with them on the Seattle to Winslow (Bainbridge Island) route in December 2024.
I shoot both digital and film (and with my phone too a little, but don’t tell anyone). Mainly I shoot digital for color and film for black and white – both 35mm and 120 medium format.
And wait, didn’t you work for the Washington State Ferry system?
Yes, I had a 34-year career with WSF and retired in 2021. I’ve actually been back with them part time over the past year working on a special project. So it’s a natural fit to photograph ferry boats!
Image Credit: Ray Deardorf, Georgetown Steam Plant, 2024
Can you tell me about your involvement in the Seattle Film Club?
Through the people I met at Ferries on Film, I found out about the Seattle Film Club – and apparently there’s one in Tacoma too. I’ve been to one outing with them to the Georgetown Steam Plant, and a release party for a zine that their members have put together.
What about photography sustains your interest as a creative person?
For one thing, it’s the joy of wanting to get out and photograph that exposes me to experiences I may not have otherwise had, and two the opportunity to create and share beauty of light, dark, tones and color as well as documenting what’s in our world.
The camera is both a motivator to get out and experience new things and a mechanism to record these moments. Wherever I go, there’s at least one camera along too.
Image Credit: Ray Deardorf, Wake of the Winslow Ferry, 2024
What are you most drawn to photographing and has that changed over the years?
My favorite things are patterns and abstracts, streetscapes, landscapes and informal portraiture. This has evolved from being primarily a landscape photographer earlier in life.
Tell us about the images you’ve decided to share.
I’ve selected four images, all black and white film, taken in the past year. The first one, Kaleetan (the name of a ferry boat), and the third one, Wake of the Winslow Ferry, were with Ferries on Film outings. The second photo, Steam Plant, was with an outing of the Seattle Film Club. The fourth image, Canyon Road Fence, Santa Fe, was taken in December in New Mexico, a favorite travel destination.
Image Credit: Ray Deardorf, Canyon Road Fence, 2024
Have you taken any classes recently that helped spark any new directions or new significant work?
I’ve taken two classes at PCNW as an alumni member over the past two years, both taught by Eirik Johnson. One was on developing a photo book, the second class, called Raid the Archives, focused on what to do with older images and other artifacts.
They were both terrific classes and I heartily recommend them to anyone. We have so many images – our own and others passed down from others – that figuring out the best way to utilize them in a way that makes them accessible and stable in the long run is key.
My special project at work is drawing to a close so Retirement 2.0 is in the near future. I’m itching to get back in the darkroom at PCNW again after a 13-year hiatus and print black and white once again.
For more about Ray Deardorf and the organizations he mentioned — on Instagram:
Ray Deardorf @deardorfray
Ferries on Film @ferriesonfilm
Seattle Film Club @seattlefilmclub
Anna Starr @anna.s.snapshots
Alumni Updates / News / Exhibitions
CURRENT EXHIBITIONS
Image Credit: Daniel Gregory
Matt Ragen at Avenue Bellevue
Art on the Avenue on view through March 31, 2025 at Avenue Bellevue, Bellevue, WA
Matt Ragen will have photographs on display in a collection of street-level pop-up contemporary art galleries at Avenue Bellevue.
Image Credit: Eva Sköld Westerlind
Rachel Demy at Spectrum Fine Art
Revocable Living on view February 27 – April 12, 2025 at Spectrum Fine Art, Seattle, WA
Artist Reception: March 6, 2025 from 6-9pm at Spectrum Fine Art
Artist Talk with John Feinstein: March 20, 2025 from 6-8pm at PCNW
Daniel Gregory at SAM Gallery
Secret World on view through March 2, 2025 at SAM Gallery, Seattle, WA
Daniel J. Gregory views the world in abstract ways using color and composition and presents another way of seeing spaces you may never have been before. Showing alongside artist Niki Keenan at Seattle Art Museum Gallery.
Image Credit: Matt Ragen, Installation View
Eva Sköld Westerlind at CoCA
On The Natural on view through February 22, 2025 at Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA
Two of Eva’s prints (one of which received an Honorable Mention) are included in the 2024 CoCA NW Annual: On The Natural, juried by Ginny Ruffner.
Image Credit: Rahcel Demy
RECENT PAST EXHIBITIONS
Jenny Hansen Das at The Seattle Light Room
Fading Away was on view from January 10 – February 1, 2025 at The Seattle Light Room, Seattle, WA
Fading Away is a series of large-scale photo transfers exploring the beauty and complexity of change. Blurred and obscured images reflect the experience of personal transformation and the fading of familiar structures in our shifting world. Through imperfect, textured layers, the work alludes to transition as both a loss and a beginning.
Currently on view at The Seattle Light Room through March 8, 2025: Chris Villiers, Around the Next Bend
Image Credit: Jenn Reidel
Eva Sköld Westerlind at The Gallery at Graphite
Winter Abstraction was on view in December 2024 at The Gallery at Graphite, Edmonds, WA
Two of Eva’s photographs were featured in the exhibition, and Eva received an honorable mention.
Image Credit: Jenny Hansen Das
Jenn Reidel at Vashon Center for the Arts
Birds Take Flight, an exploration of avian-inspired creativity, was on view January 3 – February 2, 2025 at Vashon Center for the Arts, Vashon, WA
Image Credit: Eva Sköld Westerlind
Other News
Britland Tracy
Britland has been working on a photo-text series called “No Man’s Land” (at least that’s its current title), which over the last year or so led to an acceptance into Review Santa Fe, a residency and Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant through the Woodstock Byrdcliffe Guild, and a fellowship and residency through the Ragdale Foundation.
PCNW Alumni at Seattle Art Book Fair
May 10 – 11, 2025
PCNW Alumni will have a table at this year’s Seattle Art Book Fair, May 10-11th at Washington Hall. Are you an alum interested in having your zines and books displayed at the fair? Contact Matt Ragen to join us.
Looking & Listening
From Britland Tracy…
The Sleepers, Sophie Calle | See photo book review on Photo-Eye
Britland: “I started writing for them in 2023 after making my regular pilgrimage to their Santa Fe bookstore on a roadtrip between Denver and Marfa, TX. I probably asked one too many inside-baseball questions about their out-of-print titles, which led to them asking if I wanted to write book reviews right there on the spot. It was all very sudden, but it’s given me a great opportunity to connect with artists and publishers and write about work that I find compelling.”
Other reviews by Britland on Photo-Eye
Britland Tracy graduated 2014
From Gwen Emminger…
Looking and Listening in the Face of a Natural Disaster
The unmarked white trucks with flashing grill lights sped past me on Mulholland Drive as my GPS mistakenly rerouted me off Kanan Dume Rd and directly into the fire route. As a photographer, I felt an urgent pull to stop and capture the low-flying helicopter dumping water on flames just a football field away. The tension in the car was thick, fear palpable as amber alerts blared from our phones, urging evacuation. Then, I spotted a small wooden sign – “Ventura Freeway” with an arrow pointing to safety. It was a choice: drive into the chaos of the Palisades fire or take the narrow one-lane road and keep moving.
Even with the pressure to flee, I couldn’t ignore the pull to photograph the unfolding disaster. There’s more to this story, more to the emotions of that moment, but it’s this question that lingers: what drives you to stop and capture something when everything inside you is telling you to keep going?
Gwen Emminger graduated 2022
From Daniel Gregory…
Check out The Perceptive Photographer Podcast from alum and PCNW faculty Daniel J Gregory. New episodes released every Monday — find it here.
Daniel Gregory graduated 2009
Image Credit: Lisa Ahlberg, West Seattle Critique Group
Alumni Critique Groups
Are you a graduate or current student of PCNW’s Certificate in Fine Art Photography?
You’re invited to join us at one of our Alumni Critique Groups! Feel free to join in at any time to either group and bring new work to share.
SEWARD PARK
Meets First Wednesday of every month @ 4 – 6pm
Where: Chuck’s Hop Shop Seward Park / 5041 Wilson Ave S., Seattle, WA
More info: Jenny Hansen Das at jenny@jennyhansendas.com, Janet Politte at jmp.000@icloud.com
WEST SEATTLE
Meets Second Wednesday of every month @ 11am – 1pm
Where: West Seattle Uptown Espresso / 4301 SW Edmunds St., Seattle , WA
More info: Al Varady at alvarady@gmail.com
Alumni Association
What is the Alumni Association and who is a member? The PCNW Alumni Association includes and is for all graduates of the Certificate in Fine Art Photography. We have a volunteer leadership committee that seeks to deepen the connection between Alumni, current Certificate Students, and PCNW, and explore ways in which we can further support, elevate, and celebrate one another.
Are you a graduate who is interested in getting more involved? We intend to renew the committee on a regular basis, with new members, and think this group can lead some great initiatives. Reach out to us at alumni@pcnw.org if you’re interested in joining the leadership committee, have ideas to help foster connection and professional development, or if you’d like to support upcoming initiatives.
Are you an alum with an upcoming exhibition, book launch, lecture, portfolio review, or other
event that you’d like us to feature in a future Alumni Newsletter and/or on the PCNW Alumni
page? Tell us about what you’re up to by completing the Alumni Survey Form or e-mail us at alumni@pcnw.org.
Posting on Instagram? Add another hashtag to your work: #pcnwalumni
Thank you to our current volunteer leadership committee members: Lisa Ahlberg, Gwen Emminger, Jenny Hansen Das, Andy Holton, Janet Politte, Matt Ragen, Anna Ream, and Al Varady. Our current Chairperson is Gwen Emminger.
Additional thanks to the alumni who contributed to making this issue of the newsletter happen, especially: Lisa Ahlberg, Jennifer Brendicke, Joan Dinkelspiel, and Gwen Emminger.
