“The Keeper” is one of the photos in lab technician Mark Magavern’s exhibit, “Out in the Wild: a Texas Portfolio.”
Photographs capture Texas flora and fauna; new art center includes ‘green’ gallery.
By Adriana Ruiz
Photos of scenic West Texas are on exhibit through the fall in Moody Learning Center, and a collection of works on nature will hang in EcoCentro.
The first exhibit, titled “Out in the Wild: a Texas Portfolio,” contains 24 images captured over the course of 20 years by Mark Magavern, lab technician in the photography program of the media communications department.
The exhibit is included in the monthlong Fotoseptiembre, an international photography festival celebrated in San Antonio dedicated to bringing a community of artists and enthusiasts together.
The opening reception for Magavern’s exhibit is 4 p.m-7 p.m. Thursday on the fourth floor of Moody Learning
Lab technician Mark Magavern’s exhibit, “Out in the Wild: a Texas Portfolio,” will open 4 p.m Thursday on the fourth floor of Moody Learning Center.
Center.
Dry desert landscapes, the brilliant milky way, thunderstorm cloud formations, cactus in bloom and wild turkey vultures are some of Magavern’s subjects shot using both film and digital technology.
The images were produced during a series of trips to Fort Davis and Big Bend National Park, Magavern said.
While exploring the Texas landscape, he camped overnight, then waited hours for sunrise or sunset to capture the best natural light.
Magavern said he enjoyed the uncertain hunt for the perfect lighting. He noted photographers can download an app on a smartphone that tells the best time to take a photograph.
“Most people don’t want to wait around for the perfect light,” he said. “I would rather just stumble upon it instead of using an app.”
Magavern’s work also will be featured in another Fotoseptiembre show, “Natural Visions,” an exhibit showcasing photographs of Earth’s landscapes, nature and wildlife through the eyes of seven college employees.
The exhibit includes the work of communication adjunct and lab technician Tricia Buchhorn, art Professor Rebecca Dietz, interpreter services manager Jo Hilton, photography Professor Edmund Lo, information systems specialists Elia Zepeda and media services photographer Leonard Ziegler.
The opening reception is 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Sept. 10 at the William R. Sinkin EcoCentro, 1802 N. Main Ave.
Journalism Instructor Irene Abrego, who curated Magavern’s solo show, said his exhibit came about because of difficulty in narrowing his entries in the “Natural Visions” exhibit.
“I’ve been looking at Mark’s art for 27 years and couldn’t believe he had never shown it widely,” she said, adding she and Buchhorn paid his $100 Fotoseptiembre entry fee so he wouldn’t back out.
“He has a wonderful eye and the patience and stillness needed for great wildlife and landscape photography,” she said. “I really want people to see his work.”
Steve Lewis, director of EcoCentro, said, “Natural Visions” is the first art exhibit in the new center.
Keeping with the center’s environmentally friendly mission, Lewis said an entire gallery space was constructed from discarded materials found on campus.
The rustic-style gallery space is made of pallets wrapped with fabric that once covered the tennis courts, he said.
Recycled concrete, bricks and stones surround the gardens, and cut grass and collected leaves are producing compost for the garden.
“We look around the campus for things that are being discarded and headed for the landfill,” Lewis said, adding he hopes to present an exhibit showcasing student art made from recycled materials.
Fotoseptiembre is an annual photography event during the month of September, featuring exhibits in galleries throughout San Antonio and the Texas Hill Country.
For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.fotoseptiembreusa.com.
