Arts - The Same River Twice - The Same River Twice: Fall to Spring

    Photographer Michael McGraw is exhibiting his abstract photographs of the Mississippi River (from the Lowry Bridge) titled The Same River Twice: Fall to Spring, at the Kroening Interpretive Center at North Mississippi Regional Park, off I-94 at the 49th Ave. exit from May1 to June 30 (hours 9-5 Monday-Saturday, noon-5 Sunday).

     The exhibit studies the Mississippi River and documents how the river changes in quality and character from day to day. McGraw photographs the Mississippi from the single vantage point of the Lowry Bridge excluding the shore or skyline from the image, creating beautiful and abstract water landscapes which reveal the variety to be found in the water itself.

    In these images, patterns appear as the river begins to freeze. Often these pictures appear to be aerial photographs (though shot from only 100 feet above the surface). At times, the photographs appear to be of a starry night when dots of snow cling to the black water’s surface.

    With his photographs of geese, McGraw makes an exception to his rule of excluding the elements which could specifically identify his subject as water. The resulting photographs are from the same vantage point as the abstract water landscapes, but these images show more than 100 geese floating on the river on a bitterly cold day before the water has frozen over; steam rises in swirls obscuring the Minneapolis skyline in the distance.

    The Artist Reception is Saturday, June 23 from noon to 3 p.m. Refreshments will be served and the artist will answer questions about the work and sell prints. McGraw lives in Camden and has a studio in the Northrup King Building in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District. For info visit www.mcgrawphoto.com and www.threeriversparkdistrict.org.

    In May, in addition to exhibiting abstract water photographs at the Kroening Interpretive Center, McGraw is exhibiting his roller derby photographs at Pizza Luce in St. Paul and at Art-A-Whirl in the Northrup King Building in NE Mpls.

    Note:The Kroening Interpretive Center at North Mississippi Regional Park would like to display work by local artists. They are most interested in showing art that includes an outdoor/nature theme or local history focus. Pieces that can be hung on the wall will fit best; 6-12 pieces depending on size. For info contact Allison Dröher at 763-694-7693.