BROOKINGS – “Optical Stew,” a photography exhibit by Jeff West, will be in the Brookings Arts Council main gallery starting April 4.
His exhibit kicks off the Brookings Arts Council professional artist exhibits for the 2018 season.
West is a photographer and a veteran. He is retired and now resides in Brookings.
Originally from southern California, he cites his broad experiences in honing his skills from childhood on.
“I have always had a camera from my earliest recollections,” West said. “At age 8, my dad snatched me away from two huge brown bears after I disappeared while setting up camp in Yellowstone. I was just taking pictures with my Brownie Box camera. Since surviving that encounter, I have been fearlessly taking photos my entire life while traveling the world.”
West comes from a family of professional photographers; both his father and grandfather helped him to develop his skills and guided him on his photographic journey.
West’s images have been featured in a variety of publications and received numerous accolades: top 3 in the Dakota Masterworks Art Competition for past three years, top honors Brookings Arts Council Photo Contest each of the past three years, first place in Veterans Administration Regional photo contest, and selected for publication in South Dakota State University’s Oakwood Magazine (April 2018 edition).
His images have been published in national magazines as well.
West credits his wife of 38 years, Gayle, as being a source for his artistic and creative inspiration.
“I have learned from her to see the world differently, in greater detail, and how to transfer that vision to captured images,” West said. “The world around me is full of interesting and beautiful things. Finding these things and capturing an image that preserves them and presents them for others to see is important to me.”
To see and hear more about West’s images, the public is invited to an artist reception from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday at the BAC, 524 Fourth St. Light refreshments will be served, with the artist talk to begin about 5 p.m. The Thursday event and the exhibit through April 27 are free and open to all.
The Brookings Arts Council is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon-5 p.m.
For more information, contact 692-4177 or email at artscouncil@brookings.net.
Jeff West photo
