Charles W. Ward Mural for the Michener Museum

Earlier in August, I had the pleasure of going to Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina to photograph one of Charles W. Ward’s murals in a former Post Office building. The photography was done for the James A. Michener Art Museum in Bucks County, PA. for an upcoming exhibition and catalog of Charles Ward’s paintings. The building is now the law offices of Wellman, White & Wilson. The mural is located in a small conference room measuring 12 by 10 feet and is about 8 feet off the floor. The mural itself is 11 feet 6 inches long and 5 feet high and as you can see from views of the room and mural below, a tight fit in the room. I wish to thank Bill White who kindly had the light fixture that hangs in the middle of the room removed for the photography session. The exhibit of Charles Ward’s paintings, curated by David Leopold, opens October 31, 2009.

Photographs of the setup and how one normally must view the mural

BHC Celebrates Grand Opening of Oak Summit at Goose Creek

On Thursday, July 30, Better Housing Coalition celebrated the grand opening of its newest community revitalization initiative adjacent to Historic Manchester in South Richmond. The ribbon-cutting event for Oak Summit at Goose Greek took place at 117 E. 13th Street, during which two of the first four newly constructed single-family homes were open for tours. Mayor Dwight Jones was on hand to lead the ceremony. A city employee and one of the new homeowners was also in attendance to welcome the guests.

Rob Holcomb of Keller Williams and Michael Venable, Homeowner in front of his new home.

Mayor Dwight Jones speaking before the Ribbon Cutting

Recent Photography of Art / Early Summer

I have said before that I am awful at keeping this blog up to date and this is a good example. It has been awhile since I added new images so I thought I would go back to early summer and put up some examples of art I shot back then. All of these works are by people who are wonderful artists and also great fun to be around. Enjoy the work.

Ceramic Vessel by Ed Brownlee

Painting by Christine Gray

Ceramic Sculpture by Kay Franz


Tapestry by Susan Iverson

Boaz & Ruth for LISC

While I am not doing very well at keeping the Blog current I do want to update with these images from recent work I did for Virginia, LISC. (See entry below this one for information about Virginia, LISC.)

Several weeks ago I had the pleasure of meeting and working with the people of Boaz & Ruth. A not-for-profit agency that is revitalizing the Six Points Merchant Area of Northside. If you would like more information on Boaz & Ruth just Goggle them on the Web.

People shopping at Sunny Days Thrift Boutique, one of several businesses run by Boaz & Ruth

Diners at the Fire House 15 Restaurant another Boaz & Ruth Business


The Chef and Crew preparing a catering order at Fire House 15


Boaz & Ruth is also involved in Revitalizing the Housing in the area and training Clients in Construction Trades. Below are two images of people on the job in a local renovation.

Virginia LISC and Recent Events

Virginia LISC is the Virginia branch of the Local Initiatives Support Corporation, a national organization with a focus on building communities. I have been doing photography for them since they came to Richmond, Virginia in 1990. Over the last year, they had cut back on the photographing of the projects and agencies they provide consulting and funding for. As usual, this has had a negative effect on their community awareness and fund raising ability. Recently, Program Vice-President, Greta Harris has returned and had me photograph some of the events and activities Virginia, LISC is involved in to raise the profile in both areas.

In early Spring, Virginia LISC celebrated the completion of new facilities at two football fields in Richmond. LISC brought $50,000 in NFL Playing Fields Grants to Highland Park and Blackwell, which was then leveraged by a $75,000 match by the Richmond Parks and Recreation Foundation. The events at both fields brought out the community and the teams for a series of activities.

Reva Tramell and Ellen Robertson, City Councilwomen with a Redskin Hogette.


Members of the University of Richmond, National Championship Football team giving clinics to the kids at Blackwell football field.


Representatives of the Washington Redskins giving away a trip to be a Ball Boy at an upcoming game to a member of the Eagles football team in Highland Park.

Old Manchester Plaza's Opening and Ribbon Cutting was another event I photographed for Virginia LISC. They provided some of the funding for this project. The project is located on Hull Street near the Manchester Courthouse. It is a wonderful mixed use and mixed income development.

Mayor Dwight Jones, City Council President Kathy Graziano and State Senator Donald McEachin

The Ribbon Cutting for OMP

Street scape of OMP, foreground is the future home of a second Croaker Spot Restaurant. I can't wait.

Photography of Art for Recent Exhibitions

Over the last several weeks, I have been photographing art for several artists who have shows in May. They all provide unique challenges in trying to capture the quality of the work. Opening just this last Friday was Joan Elliott's exhibit, "Entanglements" at Reynolds Gallery. With Joan's paintings the trick is to maintain the sense of light in her layers of glazes while still capturing her wonderful line and the details in her landscapes. Two of Ms. Elliott's recent paintings are below.




Coming up this Friday is the opening of Kay Franz's exhibit "Solid Rock" at Glave Kocen Gallery. With Kay's work the trick is to show all the hues and shades of color and surface texture in her ceramic sculptures. With the shiny surfaces and firing marks all running together in lovely patterns and colors; it can be hard to light and still keep the right look. Below are two of Ms. Franz's new pieces for the show.




Lastly, I have to show an installation view from Susana Almuina's MFA exhibition that just closed at the Anderson Gallery. I have had the pleasure of shooting her work over the last two years and watching the progress. Here the job was to show the work and also the lighting of the show.

Better Housing Coalition 20th Anniversary Gala

On April 2, 2009, I photographed for the Better Housing Coalition their 20^th Anniversary Celebration. It was a lovely evening and brought back a lot of memories since I have been BHC’s photographer for all of those 20 years. I remember when Mary Tyler Cheek McClenahan and Carter McDowell first had the idea for a CDC that became the Better Housing Coalition. The event was held at H. Beckstoffer’s & Sons Mill in Historic Church Hill the site of a future BHC mixed-use, mixed-income community. Besides a celebration of 20 years of work the evening also was the first presentation of BHC’s Annual Leadership Awards.

Carter and Charlie McDowell sharing a moment during the reception.

Carter was honored by having a Mews at the new development named after her.

Pat Asch and friends, Pat was recipient of the Changer of Lives Award.

Reggie Gordon speaking after receiving the Community Collaborator Award.

As people left the event BHC gave them plants as a gift to continue the evening’s “Green” community theme.