The Plastic Fantastic Show X

June 8 – July 10, 2019
Artists’ Opening Reception: Saturday, June 8, 5-8pm

LightBox Photographic Gallery
1045 Marine Dr.
Astoria, OR 97103
(503) 468-0238
lightbox-photographic.com

LightBox Photographic Gallery celebrates its 10th anniversary with the opening and artists’ reception of The Plastic Fantastic Show X on Saturday, June 8, 2019 from 5-8pm.

The Plastic Fantastic Show X exhibits images shot using toy, plastic, pinhole, box or homemade cameras. The show is held every year to celebrate the gallery’s anniversary! This method of photography has gained popularity because of the freedom possible using cameras with less than perfect optics and control resulting in unpredictable and sometimes extraordinarily beautiful results. A large number of photographers from around the world shoot images primarily with these basic cameras, creating unique photos that are captured on film.

Becky Ramotowski of Taos, New Mexico juried the exhibit. Becky is the founder of World Toy Camera Day. She has been a photo enthusiast since the age of six when she was given her first camera, an Imperial Mark XII, to take on a road trip across the southwestern USA. Her “official” interest in toy cameras came in 2002 after seeing quirky photos made with Holgas and Dianas at a photo lab in Texas where she bought her first Holga.

“The very first photo I made with my Holga was one I really liked of a statue of “Nike of Samothrace” in a run-down park in San Antonio, Texas. It was the flawed statue and the run-down park full of weeds and abandonment that lured me in and set the hook for using toy cameras. The photo was vignetted and not quite perfectly focused. Toy cameras communicate a freer sense of photography that feels natural and relaxed at relaying an idea. They aren’t perfect but are addictive and amazing in what they can do in creative hands”.

Congratulations to the photographers accepted into The Plastic Fantastic Show X

C B Adams • Lilyan Aloma • Helene Barrette • Stephanie Bethel
Kerry Bishe • Amelia Bjesse-Puffin • Maureen Bond • Larissa Burke
Ronald Butler • Claudia Cebrian • Elisabeth Dare • Ellen Davis
Christine Eagon • Eddie Erdmann • Joanna Epstein • Liv Ferguson
Brian Franczyk • Alexa Frangos • Bob Gervais • J. M. Golding
Julie Hamel • Karen Hillier • Kerry Jeffrey • George Johnson
Barbara Justice • Elissa Killian • Jocelyn Matthewes • Bill Moy
Sara Musashi • April Rocha • Denise Ross • Paul Sharratt • Steven Taddei
Ian Thompson • Jacqueline Walters • Bonni Wahlquist • Kristin Ware
Michael Weitzman • Patrick Whitaker • Mike Yoder • Yelena Zhavoronkova

This year Sara Musashi from West Hollywood, Ca. received the juror’s top award for the image, “Two Suns”, Bob Gervais of Portland, Or. received the juror’s second award for “Janitzio, Mexico”, and Claudia Cebrian from Miami Fla.. received the Juror’s third award for “Mermaid”.

LightBox opened in Astoria on June 13, 2009 when Chelsea and Michael Granger established the venue to educate in the photographic arts. Having hosted over 125 exhibits since opening, LightBox has become an important Northwest photographic resource, exhibiting national and regional artists’ with exhibits of fine photography, conducting artists’ presentations and workshops, all as part of their goal to provide a center for the promotion of creative and alternative photography on the North Coast of Oregon.

The Plastic Fantastic Show X runs from June 8th until July 10th. LightBox offers memberships as a way of becoming part of the community of supporters that help to further the mission of the gallery. LightBox provides fine art reproduction, restorations, photographic printing, and other photographic services. LightBox is located at 1045 Marine Drive in Astoria, hours are Tuesday – Saturday 11 – 5:30. Contact LightBox at 503-468-0238 or at info@lightbox-photographic.com, and visit lightbox-photographic.com for more info and to enjoy past, current and upcoming exhibits.