Nocturnes...in Berkeley?
"The eye, by long use comes to see even in the darkest cavern: and there is no subject so obscure but we may discern some glimpse of truth by long poring on it." – George Berkeley
Tsui House -- by Joe Reifer
Nocturnes . . . in Berkeley? A Night Photography Group Show
July 14 – August 22, 2008
Reception Saturday July 19th, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.
The LightRoom
2263 Fifth Street
Berkeley, CA
- Tim Baskerville
- Denise Fuson
- Sherry Glassman
- Mark Jaremko
- Joe Reifer
- Charity Vargas
- John Vias
Tim Baskerville, Photographer/Educator and Founder of The Nocturnes Night Photography Group, has gathered together a few of what he calls "the usual suspects" to explore, interpret, and reveal the seldom-seen nocturnal beauty of Berkeley and neighboring East Bay locales, in the exhibit: "Nocturnes . . . in Berkeley?"
This night photography exhibit featuring work by artists living, working, teaching, or photographing (or all of the above!) around Berkeley and nearby East Bay communities. It marks a shift in focus for The Nocturnes group (formerly San Francisco-based) to East Bay and North Bay locales. Established in 1991, The Nocturnes Night Photography Group, has for many years focused on presenting “nightwork” which investigated various San Francisco districts and neighborhoods like Potrero Hill, the Presidio, Fort Mason, the Embarcadero, etc. It is with great pleasure that some of the more active Nocturnes turn their sights (and camera lenses) toward Berkeleyand the East Bay.
The work of the artists ranges from detailed studies of the industrial west Berkeley neighborhood known as Ocean View by Berkeley photographer John Vias; to quieter, almost pastoral images done on the U.C. Berkeley campus by Charity Vargas and Tim Baskerville; and on to waterfront scenes, taken from or looking toward Berkeley, by Mark Jaremko. And of course the fabulous night topiary and fish house images by Joe Reifer.
The title of the exhibit, of course comes from that clever (and long running!) ad campaign from the late ‘60s by the Berkeley Farms Corporation. The tagline ran: "Farms in Berkeley?" to which one hears a cow respond - "Mooooo." And, as incongruous as it might seem to find farms in present-day Berkeley (although the Ocean View district was once an agricultural area!), it should come as no surprise that The Nocturnes have found beauty, mystery, and transformation amid the darkened streets of Berkeley.
Update: Featured on Andy Frazer's Night Photography blog.