Bill West works within the classical tradition of landscape photography, his images captured on a large
format wooden field camera--much like those used at photography's inception over 150 years ago. Firmly
rooted in the contemporary visual vernacular, a deep respect of the historic masters and their practices
informs Bill's technique. The result? A hybrid of old and new.
His massive camera produces an oversized black and white negative, the key to incredibly rich detail
and a thoroughly investigated tonal range. Translating the information into an extreme digital enlargement
produces the final print without chemicals: clean and green--as the subject deserves!
The unblemished landscape has a primal power that viscerally affects us all; cataloguing and
expressing these emotions is Bill's process. Reeling what's inside us, drawing it out, giving it physicality:
fear, isolation, optimism. The mystery of spirit. The contentment within solitude.
Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Bill immigrated to Canada in 2005. He attained his Bachelor of
Arts degree from Ohio State University, and apprenticed at the innovative Photographic Workshop in
New Canaan, Connecticut. Exhibited throughout the United States and Canada, his photography is found
in public, corporate and private collections.
"I seek to distill our connection to the natural world--the essence that we share--where we all are one. My
parameters? I work where I live. I stay local. I explore--and get intimate with--the mountains of
Vancouver's majestic North Shore."
EXHIBITIONS:
Unite with Art. Art Auction. UNICEF. Vancouver, BC
Kurbatoff Gallery, Vancouver, BC February 2009
Surrey Art Gallery, Surrey, BC Earth Matters January 2009
CityScape Art Gallery, North Vancouver, BC Rejuvenated January 2009
Europa Fine Art, Santa Barbara, CA March, 2008
Wallspace, Seattle, WA New Directions January 2008
Wallspace, Seattle, WA Home for the Holidays December 2007
The Photographic Gallery, New York City exhibition War Shock January 2006
Gale Fulton Ross Foundation exhibition, Florida 2006
The Harmony Gallery, Sarasota Florida 2005
Sarasota Biennial 2000, Ringling Museum of Art, Florida November 2000
Robert Mann Gallery, New York group exhibition September 1998
Missing Link Gallery, Florida exhibited 2000-2005
Artists Helping Artists South Florida group exhibition Chairs 2002
MC Duthie Gallery Vancouver
Gallery of Tribal Arts, Vancouver
Seymour Art Gallery, Vancouver
Madison Gallery, Madison Connecticut
PMW Gallery, Stamford, Connecticut
INSTALLATIONS/ COLLECTIONS:
Museum of Asian Art, Florida permanent collection
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Sarasota, Florida permanent collection
Senate Offices of Joseph Lieberman, Washington permanent installation
Becton Dickinson World Headquarters, New Jersey permanent collection
Canadian Industrial Mill Services, Vancouver permanent collection
JIADS Institute, Tokyo permanent collection
SamataMason Inc. permanent collection
PUBLICATIONS:
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art
Katonah Museum of Art
Stern Magazine
The New York Times Magazine
Newsweek
The London Observer
The Sydney Morning-Herald
AIGAz, Journal of graphic Design
InForm: Journal of Design Awareness
Sierra Club Guides to the National Parks
Wilderness Magazine
Web Representation:
The Aperture Foundation New York
www.apertureimages.org
Photo Arts Fine Art Photography
www.photoarts.com
