The newest exhibit at the Durham Arts Council pushes photojournalism to another level.
Displayed in the DAC’s Allenton and Semans Galleries, Beyond the Deadlines features the work of two award-winning photographers at the Independent Weekly, D.L. Anderson and Jeremy Lange. Lange has worked at the Independent since 2007 and Anderson since 2005, and both have done freelance work since the early 2000s. Though the photographers differ in style, their combined works give viewers an unorthodox glimpse into the realm of photojournalism.
Plans for Beyond the Deadlines began in July 2010 when Barclay McConnell, manager of artist services for the DAC, contacted Anderson about exhibiting his work in the upcoming months. She said she had been very impressed by his series When the Dust Settles, which consists of various images of renovated tobacco warehouses in the area. Anderson then suggested doing a collaborative effort with his colleague.
“They had been thinking for ages that they wanted to do a show that was retrospective of their work they had been doing in the Triangle area,” McConnell said. “It was phenomenal that our work sort of intersected.... We were seeking a show to take up two galleries, and they already had a whole show in mind before we even approached them.”
The gallery opening this Friday will be one of the biggest in the history of the DAC due to a strong marketing plan, McConnell said. She noted that the photographers’ connection with the Independent was instrumental in financing the advertisements. McConnell expects more than 1,000 people to attend.
The exhibit aims to encourage people to appreciate the works as high art rather than simply glance over them as an accompaniment to a news story.
“We put a considerable amount of time into the photos we take,” Anderson said. “When they’re in the newspaper, you watch people leaf through it in a matter of two seconds, and you wish they could just spend a little more time.”
Both photographers said they hope that their collaboration will showcase the missions of modern photojournalists. In the exhibit, Anderson and Lange tend not to focus on a particular style, but instead allow viewers to develop their own interpretations of the photos.
“We hope [the photos] convey something... but it’s not really our job to tell you what to think,” Anderson said. “We tell you who took them and what’s in the picture, but we believe in the power of photography enough that the photos should speak for themselves.”
The contrasting styles of each artist increases their joint appeal. Both Anderson and Lange commented on the healthy competition that comes from having similar employment histories. The two trade off months of working at the Independent and working freelance.
“The exhibition gives us an opportunity to see how this personal development in competition has played out,” Lange said.
Beyond the Deadlines will be on display in the Durham Arts Council’s Allenton and Semans Galleries through May 15. The public is invited to the artists’ reception March 18 from 5 to 7 p.m.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.