Fine Art Photography: Christopher Faust's Great River Work at Abode

Cartoon self-portrait by Henry Peter Bosse circa 1890.

In mid-July, Abode Gallery is introducing an entirely new kind of artist to its walls: Chris Faust is a St. Paul-based  photographer who has built a body of panoramic images of rural and local horizons. He has used his camera to create historical illustrations of the landscape in urban, suburban development, and rural settings. His book of night photography called Nocturnes is available on Amazon.

Ten of Faust's images were featured in a Minnesota Historical Society publication entitled, "In Our Time." The Historical Society commissioned the project to capture the topic of change in Minnesota. He chose the Minnesota River Valley, a subject he will continue to explore in his work at the gallery.

The publication was significant not only for its inventory of the region, but for the way it altered the public opinion of photography as art. That collection--like Faust's upcoming adventure--was supported by the Army Corps of Engineers. Alexander Mackenzie, the Army Corps Chief of Engineers, collected what became the most famous, The Mackenzie Collection. The Mackenzie Collection is now considered  to be the first photographic map of a river ever produced. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Peter_Bosse)

Bosse brought a transcendance to his historical photography, as does Faust. His industrial and suburban night images are ponderous.

Abode Gallery owner, buyer and designer Alan Nugent is curating the show and as an ASID allied member, is keen to advise clients of the wisdom of decorating with photography. What follows is a "Quickly Asked Questions" interview with Alan.

Moonrise Over Canal Park, Duluth, MN 1990

Christopher Faust QAQ with Alan Nugent


Q: When did you first become aware of Chris Faust's work?

Alan Nugent: When he was part of the Mississippi River Celebration at Widespot Performing Arts last April. He spoke about his project with the Army Corps of Engineers and how he will be tracing an historic journey for them.

Q: What drew you to his work?

Alan Nugent: It's so elemental. It perfectly captures the river and the river region. The light and the subtleties he gets by shooting on film rather than digital. The photos have an entirely different character. He has an eye for the oddly wonderful and I was just fascinated by them. Most of the pieces will be  black and white and two are color.

"He really captures the beauty of our area. Most are of the great river and there will be a single print of Stockholm. He is able to capture the romantic in his industrial landscapes, which I find so exciting. His 'Bait Shop' image was very emotional for me; I grew up around places exactly like the one in the photo and yet the picture is so much more than nostalgia. Faust is a great example of photography as fine art.

Atwater Bait Shop, Atwater, MN 1994

Q: How are the works mounted and framed for purchase at Abode?

Alan Nugent: They are silver prints on 100% cotton, archival paper. They are all panoramic dimensions. The smaller ones are 30" by 14" and the larger ones are 50" by 22".

"They are all museum quality presentations. In addition to these, Faust's catalog will be available for buyers who wish to add to their fine art photography collections.

Q: Are there any tips or tricks for decorating with photography?

Alan Nugent: When you have work of Chris Faust's caliber, you are dealing with an entirely different creature than what many critics say about photography. These images are so beautifully thought out and, like any piece of art, you have a true emotional reaction to the image. The composition, the range of light and dark, the dimensions all give these works a timeless quality. You can put them anywhere in a home. They hold up from a distance and are rewarding up close. Some artists prefer to frame their work in non-glare glass but I think this glass removes an essential quality of a photographer's work. I think the tradeoff between glare and visual impact isn't worth it. There is a physical texture to non-glare glass that purists don't like and I am biased against it most cases.

"My general rule of thumb for any interior design is never buy your art to match your sofa. Always buy art because you love it." --Alan Nugent

❦

An event to open the exhibition is scheduled for July 23 in the afternoon around 3:30 PM. Depending on the weather, there will be a wine and cash bar outside in the Sidespot garden area or upstairs in the Widespot space. At 7:00 PM there will be a remarkable performance by Flamenco musician Michael Hauser, who is adding several new performers to his retinue.

Read and learn more about Faust in this recent Minneapolis/St. Paul Magazine article