Ken Ragsdale

Clearcut

30"x40" available unframed edition 1 of 5 From the series: "The Hundred Acre Wood" Ragsdale’s process begins with rough sketches of places ...

available unframed edition of 5 From the series: "The Hundred Acre Wood" Ragsdale’s process begins with rough sketches of places and things from his past that are relevant to cu...

available unframed, signed on reverse by the artist, edition of 5 From the series: "The Hundred Acre Wood" This photograph depicts a scene created completely out of paper, the artis...

30"x40" photograph of created landscape of paper. from the series: "The Hundred- Acre Wood" signed on reverse edition of 5. This photograph depicts the artist's vision of the American landscape, created in paper and then photographed to create this atmospheric image. The limited edition photograph captures a feel of Western United States farming, with a quality of light from the Hudson Valley. A union of artistic vision from West Coast to East Coast, Ken Ragsdale is a master of material construction, light and photographic composition. The installation landscape scene created by Ken Ragsdale exisits only to be photographed. With each scene, the artist meticulously cuts paper and folds each component to be captured by his lens. This photograph of cut paper constructions depicts a bus ride through a forest scene from the artists memory. The hues of ambient amber, green, red and blue are created through lighting the staged scene created in white paper Ken Ragsdale’s process begins with rough sketches of places and things from his past that are relevant to current themes he is considering. This series focuses on a time period of 1974-78, in the regions of Northern Idaho, to Eastern Oregon and the areas between. As his working drawings solidify the dimensions of the objects which represent his memories from that era, Ragsdale considers the landscape, terrain and weather, filtered through his personal memories and experiences. 

Once the composition and components are determined as to capture the aura of a memory, schematic drawings are documented and prepared for hand assembly. Laboriously the schematics are cut out, folded and tabbed to create their final 3-dimensional formats. As each object is placed and the structures oriented, Ragsdale modifies the scenes to perfectly frame each scenario for the final photograph. From simple sheets of white Bristol Vellum, the atmosphere and lighting brings each image to life and allows for a reminiscent view of a wistful past. Pacific Northwest native Kenneth Ragsdale’s work, derived from personal memories, involves a mixture of drawing, painting, sculpture, paper-craft, theatre...

Burnt Place 03 - After the fire swept through, the forest was left scorched and barren. The ground is still warm and the unstirring air is thick with the scent of charred wood. Scorched, lifeless pines stand solemn and mournful in the shadows of the Burnt Place. About the Twilight's Path project: "We spend our lives surrounded by the security of possessions, relationships and roles, but our futures hold nothing so substantial; one day we must all enter into true not- knowing - into a dark, unconscious place." Jasper Goodall...

I find comfort in forests, especially the few remaining old-growth stands of the Pacific Northwest. Life is churning in such places. Death and rebirth create a rich musk of decay, that is accompanied by the acidic aroma of conifers. Occasionally, a sweet waft will come to you from some unknown source, and the peat-softened ground muffles a sound, leaving one with a sense of quiet and calm. The green pallet soothes the eyes. You touch a tree that has fallen decades ago, perhaps a giant Sitka four feet in diameter, and it stains your hand. Soot, lichens, fungus, and a variety of microscopic detritivores have left their mark. You catch a glimpse of a rodent that is living in the hulk. A small snake...

"WOODLANDS" by Mat Hennek The photos from the Woodlands cycle are the outcome of numerous excursions through all sorts of bosk - wood impressions with bewitching atmospheres. Carefu...

Patrick Beaulieu’s most recent project Révélations uses installation and digital prints to explore how artistic manipulation can create shifts in one’s expectations of the visual experience. Beaulieu clearly acknowledges his artistic presence in the work through mechanical and digital manipulation of the objects and images he presents. He becomes more than a passive observer and recorder of his physical world; the alteration of conventional photographs implants his voice and vision into the work. This approach directly addresses and contrasts artistic practices which seek to conceal the artist’s hand. His method diverges from those that attempt to present an uninterrupted and uncontaminated record, such as some documentary and straight photography. In using these stylized techniques, Beaulieu makes a palpable proclamation regarding the subjective and flexible condition of images. In Révélations, images of trees, moss, leaves and other natural objects are presented in strict colour schemes of muted grays, browns and greens. Though these colours are familiar components of the natural world that we experience in day-to-day life and in photographs of nature...