Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

PCC exhibit features photos of Iowa musicians

Photos and story by James Hill

Portland Community College’s Northview Gallery will be housing an exhibit of gelatin silver prints that portray Iowa musicians.

The show, “Down to the River; Portraits of Iowa Musicians,” is by Iowa photographer Sandra Dyas (www.sandydyas.com) and will run from Thursday, April 2, through April 30 at the gallery, Room 214, CT Building, Sylvania Campus (12000 S.W. 49th Ave.). The gallery is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. An opening lecture is set for 11:30 a.m., Thursday, April 9 and will be followed by a reception.

“Down to the River; Portraits of Iowa Musicians,” is a collection of portraits and memories, published as a book though the University of Iowa Press in 2007. Her work with musicians has occurred during the past 20 years. She photographs musicians in Iowa landscapes, bars and small towns.

“Photography is a wonderful medium for exploring the world and expressing ideas I cannot adequately say with words,” Dyas said. “I use a camera because it is a direct tool that allows me access into other people’s lives. My work with musicians in the past 20 years reflects a similar philosophy. Photographing musicians in Iowa landscapes, bars and small towns results in photographs that are intimate and powerful.”

Dyas is a visual artist who works primarily in photography and mixed media. She is both a traditional and an experimental artist, often making mixed media pieces from discarded photographs. Other areas of interest include installation, performance, artist book-making and video. She received her master’s degree in intermedia art and video from the University of Iowa.

For more information on this upcoming show, contact the gallery director, Vicki Wilson, at Vicki.wilson1@pcc.edu