Meet the Artist, Ron Chilcote - The Laguna Wilderness: Images and Impressions

This special speaker presentation will take place in Founders Hall Art Gallery 1st floor followed by a tour of the exhibit with the artist, on the 2nd floor.

About the Artist:
Ron Chilcote a landscape and nature photographer and a professor at the University of California who has devoted most of his career to teaching and research on the third world. His images emphasize the hills, the canyons, and the waters of an area extending from Aliso and Wood Canyons to Laurel and Little Sycamore Canyons.  His images        emanate from two portfolios, one of chromogenic prints, and the other of polaroid impressions, in some cases painted over. Several images were taken where renowned plein air artists painted scenes during the early 20^th century.

Artist’s Statement:
As an activist photographer I frequently take my camera into the field where it is possible to find peace and spirituality and to discover how to shape a commitment not only to preserving what is left of pristine nature but to finding the positive values of human existence. My convictions have been shaped by personal experience, and my imagery seeks to capture the beauty that endures to the present.

The imagery for this work has been developed through 15 years of photography and hiking through the Laguna Wilderness that buffers the cities of Aliso Viejo, Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Irvine, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, and Laguna Hills.  It is inspired by my many years working on conservation through the Laguna Greenbelt and its founder, Jim Dilley. It depicts the story of an effort to conserve public lands as open space. Its history is in my book, Nature’s Laguna Wilderness.  Images:
1)      Chromogenic Prints on Fuji Crystal Archive paper:  Landscape Series and Impressionist Series 
2)      Polaroid mixed media impressions 

Ron Chilcote - The Laguna Wilderness: Images and Impressions continues through May 11, 2012.
Gallery hours: Monday - Friday from 9 am - 5 pm.  Admission Free

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