Frank Grisdale’s Photo Blog

FRANK GRISDALE’S NEW PHOTOGRAPHIC WORK | Photographer feels distinctive approach carries more impact | Review by Gilbert Bouchard

Age-old subject matters get a fresh twist in a photography show hosted at the Peter Robertson Gallery. Frank Grisdale’s 22-image landscape show splits the difference between photography and painting. The established Alberta photographer documents familiar Prairie and Rocky Mountain vistas, but specifically edges his landscape photographs away from the easy realism of postcard and calendar shots into the realm of semi-abstracted impressionism.

“I am trying to show what hasn’t been seen before, as do all serious photographers ” says Grisdale, 54. “The creative effort includes what I do during the exposure, after, and then finally the substrate on which I print. For some of these works, I soften details with motion during the exposure followed by combining different images post exposure. At other times I’ll paint directly on to a print and then re-photograph the photo. The goal is to produce distinctive work with visual staying power. Work that really holds a viewer isn’t processed quickly.”

Showing at: Peter Robertson Gallery, 12304 Jasper Ave., Edmonton Alberta until Dec. 20, 2008

Tags: Edmonton Journal, evocative landscapes, Gilbert Bouchard

A photograph has aesthetic qualities intrinsic to the medium itself: an outward-looking or existential determination; a framing of the subject that separates it from its usual spatial and temporal reality; and, as a consequence, a silence or stillness of image. Another, older notion of aesthetics is a philosophy of beauty or expression of beauty through art that tends toward the sublime or transcendent.

The spare compositions and rich colour of the photographs of Frank Grisdale are inscribed with this aesthetic and are come by honestly after years of experience and a clear intent. Views of the land; the faces of people; enigmatic photographs of only water, only sky – all contain, within the frame, the promise of the threshold: the very real possibility that one can crossover into a heightened reality.

Frank Grisdale’s work is beautiful, beautifully made and presents a point-of-view that is an antithesis to the irony of our age.

Heather Hamel, Art Gallery of Alberta

“Grisdale’s use of lens and color make his landscape photos ‘dreamlike’, it is as if a person was walking through a secret path in the forest with a centaur, having a telepathic conversation while admiring the trees as they fade in and out of reality.” – Erin Carter – The Prairie Artster

Tags: The Prairie Artster

I am having my first show in a commercial gallery in my own home town finally. I have had a solo public gallery show here and been in many public group shows , but I’ve never had a show in a local gallery.

Peter Robertson’s gallery is in my opinion the most beautiful in town but he also represents some of the best artists of Canada, so I am very honored to be doing a solo show with him.

Tags: Peter Robertson Gallery

Dogs With Wings is an animal support charity based out of Edmonton, that trains dogs to help people through their daily lives, including children with autism. I have been acting as their staff photographer lately.

Tags: black labs, Dogs With Wings

I am pleased to be having a solo show at Peter Robertson’s Gallery in Edmonton, November 27th.

As well, I am participating in the Boston Fine Art show, represented by Iris Gallery, and am part of the Chapingo Biennale in Mexico, going on right now.

Tags: Chapingo Biennale, Peter Robertson

This blog’s header image, shown below printed on Gampi Japanese paper, will be exhibited in Mexico in November.

It is 6 feet wide, and 27 inches tall, called Creek; Study #1.This is how it looks hanging without glass or frame. I use rare earth magnets to hold the paper up against tacks in the wall.

Tags: 1st. International Contemporary Art Biennial Chapingo

I was delighted to be hunted down by AARP this week. They want to use a photo of mine for an article due January and February of 2009.

AARP stands for the Association of American Retired People, and is based out of Washington DC.

They have the highest confirmed magazine circulation in the world at 40 million.

The image is Cowboy Trail Looking South.