Tuesday, December 13, 2011

A View of Nancie Battaglia


Many of the visitors to “Adirondack View Finders: Farb, Bowie, Battaglia, Heilman”, have been struck by the work of renowned photographer Nancie Battaglia. One of the photographs particularly hit’s home for many area residents and visitors. On September 24, 2011 in Inlet, NY just north of View, 1,925 canoes and kayaks gathered to break the Guinness Book of Word Records for world’s largest floating raft. The event, One Square Mile of Hope was organized to raise funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure for breast cancer. Many visitors to the exhibit try to find themselves amongst the thousands of boats. The boats themselves created a pattern over the water reminiscent of feathers.

Earlier this year, Battaglia's photography of the event was featured in Sports Illustrated. The photograph is now on display at View, and being raffled to benefit both the center and Susan G. Komen for the Cure for breast cancer. Tickets are $10 each or 3 for $20. The drawing will be held at the close of Adirondack View Finders on March 3, 2012.

Nancie Battaglia lives in Lake Placid and has been documenting Adirondack lifestyle, scenes, themes, and sporting activities for over twenty-five years. Her stock and assignment photography has seen credit in innumerable editorial publications such as Sports Illustrated, Ski, Newsweek, Boys Life, Outside, National Geographic Adventure, Canadian Geographic Traveler, Adirondack Life, the New York Times, USA Today as well as in books, calendars, promotional material for I Love NY, the Adirondack region and many classic Adirondack lodges, schools, businesses and establishments. Her collection exceeds 100,000 images reflecting nature’s beauty, human energy, rustic charm, the spirit of place, life in the mountains, and the hardy folks that live there.

She has been a sports photographer since her college days at Syracuse University. Many of her photos have been included in Sports Illustrated’s Leading Off pages, their Photos of the Day, their Pictures of the Year as well as special Olympic editions. Her sports travels include ten Olympics (eight winter games and two summer).

Battaglia is an ADK 46er twice, a lean-to adopter, and is an active and avid outdoor life and sports enthusiast. She is a dog lover and frequently adventures with four-legged and two legged friends. Camera equipment is always in her backpack.

Adirondack View Finders: Farb, Bowie, Battaglia, Heilman” will run from December 3 – March 3, and feature the work of Nathan Farb, Mark Bowie, Nancie Battaglia, and Carl Heilman. Rising View Finders are also in the exhibition, including Johnathan A. Esper, Lesley Dixion, and Clark Lubbs. Stone sculptor Matt Horner will have work concurrently displayed, and “Teachers Turn: Instructors form the Adirondack Photography Institute” will run until January 29. Exhibition Admission is $10/$5 members and groups of 6+/Children under 12
free. Click HERE to learn more about the exhibition.
Nancie Battaliga prefers to remain behind her images.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

A View of Nathan Farb


As visitors enter the exhibition “Adirondack View Finders: Farb, Bowie, Battaglia, Heilman”, the first piece that they encounter is “Ray Brook Pond” a 6 by 4 foot photograph by Nathan Farb. Visitors cannot help but be drawn into the magnificently crisp and monumental piece displayed. Farbs photography is a remarkable contribution to the exhibition. As well as “Ray Brook Pond” Farb has contributed several other pieces including a haunting digital slide show of photographs taken of the damage that hurricane Irene caused to the Adirondacks.

Farb grew up in Lake Placid and has been examining the Adirondack Landscape for over 50 years. Combining romanticism with a probing scientific eye, he is considered the preeminent photographer of The Adirondacks. His 1985 book, “The Adirondacks”, became the standard by which Adirondack photography is measured. He has also published two books and many essays on the Galapagos Islands. His award winning coverage of the Yellowstone fires and Exxon oil spill for the New York Times Magazine established Farb as an leading interpreter of nature. Farb lived and worked in New York City for many years where he was well known for his avant garde multimedia work. Farb’s 1980 photographic essay on Soviet society, ”The Russians,” was published as a book in five countries and in magazines throughout the world. His works are included in many public and private collections including The Museum of Modern Art. Farb is a former professor of photography and mixed media at Rutgers University. He has been given honorary Doctor of Arts degrees by St Lawrence University and SUNY. His newest book, “Adirondack Wilderness”, a collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, will be published this Fall. He has worked and lived at his studio in Jay, NY for the past twenty years.


Adirondack View Finders: Farb, Bowie, Battaglia, Heilman” will run from December 3 – March 3, and feature the work of Nathan Farb, Mark Bowie, Nancie Battaglia, and Carl Heilman. Rising View Finders are also in the exhibition, including Johnathan A. Esper, Lesley Dixion, and Clark Lubbs. Stone sculptor Matt Horner will have work concurrently displayed, and “Teachers Turn: Instructors form the Adirondack Photography Institute” will run until January 29.


Exhibition Admission is $10/$5 members and groups of 6+/Children under 12 free. To learn more about View programming, including an upcoming workshop with Carl Heilman, visit www.ViewArts.org or call 315-369-6411.