In the three years since its inception, FotoWeek DC has become a photography festival recognized worldwide for its gallery exhibitions all over Washington, D.C. It features speakers, workshops, and a competition with 13 categories, ranging from photojournalism to mobile phone photography—meaning that your Twitpic could go up against picture from pros from all around the world. This year’s highlights include a launch party at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, a concert featuring District natives Thievery Corporation, and free portfolio reviews from professionals.
In association with Fotoweek DC, GU Art Aficionados will be unveiling its new exhibit “Multiple Perspectives” on the second floor of Walsh this Saturday at 5 p.m. The exhibit will feature student photography, and is designed to increase Georgetown University’s exposure during FotoWeek.
“Some people think there’s a total dearth of creativity [at Georgetown],” GUAA President Caroline Gralton (COL ’11) said.
Gralton hopes that the exhibit, which will feature 30 of the over 150 submissions GUAA received, will disprove this.
“It’s really nice because we not only have every grade represented but every school,” she said. “It’s refreshing because it reminds me that Georgetown is actually a creative place. That’s the whole thing that Art Aficionados wants to promote.”
GUAA left the exhibit’s theme of “multiple perspectives” intentionally broad. The artist can demonstrate this through either the approach to the medium, or through the subject matter they capture. The photos selected for the exhibit encompass a huge breadth of subjects, from pictures of reflected landscapes to wide-angled crowd shots.
In addition to having their work seen by their peers, participating photographers have the opportunity to be published. At a reception following the opening this Saturday, three photos will be chosen to appear in The Anthem, Georgetown University’s literary magazine.
Georgetown University alumna Miykaelah Sinclair (SFS ’10) won second and third place in Fotoweek DC’s new category for Mobile Phone photography [Disclosure: Sinclair is a former Voice staffer]. Sinclair’s photo, a spontaneous mobile phone photo of two figures seemingly preparing for a kiss, illustrates the dissolving line between professional photography and amateur talent—a middle ground that the exhibit tries to explore.
The organizers of FotoWeek have also adapted this year’s festival to embrace the democratization of photography that new technologies allow.
“First we had separate categories for professional and amateur,” explains Linda Roth, a spokesperson for Fotoweek DC. “Now we don’t because sometimes you can’t tell the difference. Who knows? In the future there may not be a difference.”
