"A Different Perspective," by Valerie Gillette

The Northwest Reno Library Gallery presents “A Different Perspective,” photographs by Valerie Gillette. The exhibit begins May 5 and continues through July 3, with an artists reception May 10 from 1 to 3 p.m.

Gillette is a student at McQueen High School and has taken several honors over the past few years in such competitions as the Scholastic Art Awards and the Society of Professional Journalists program. Her passion for photography is represented in her work, and she considers it to define who she is.

“A Different Perspective” features photographs that Gillette feels will evoke from viewers a wide range of different reactions from different pieces. “I think people will appreciate the beauty of ordinary objects up close, and wonder just exactly what my photographs are of.”
The very title of the exhibition encourages viewers to look beyond the first impressions made by the photographs. While this is relatively easy to do for some of the images— which readily lend themselves to abstraction­— others appear to be simple and easily-defined scenes, until viewed from, as indicated, a different perspective.

“I aim to give a sense of ambiguity and uncertainty and yet still give an impression of beauty and wonder to the viewers. In some other pieces, I hope that viewers will enjoy my use of color, composition and light when they first see the photograph, but then look closer for the detail captured within the image.”

Gillette’s future goals include studying art and photography at the college level, and continuing on to earn a master’s degree in photography.
“A Different Perspective” is part of the 13th annual Artown festival, July 1 - 31, 2008. The month-long summer arts festival features more than 350 events produced by more than 100 cultural organizations and businesses in locations citywide, with major funding provided by the City of Reno.

The Northwest Reno Library Gallery is funded by the Friends of Washoe County Library, the Nevada Arts Council, a state agency, and the City of Reno Arts & Culture Commission, and is managed by Sierra Arts. The library is located at 2325 Robb Drive in Reno and can be contacted by calling 787-4100.

­—Exhibition: May 5 - July 3
­Artists reception: May 10, 1-3 p.m.