On view July 18 - September 6, 2020
Storefront, Chippewa, Ohio, digital photograph—archival pigment
Digital photographs in the exhibition capture urban, suburban, and rural locales along the 346 mile-long road, which connects Cleveland, Ohio to Louisville, Kentucky. The photographs are complemented by poetic narratives written by Fr. Greg Olszewski.
In lieu of a public exhibition opening, the artist will host a Facebook Live question and answer session on Saturday, July 25, at 7:00 p.m. The artist interview will feature Bernard talking about his artistic process, choice of subjects, photographic influences, and background. Fr. Greg Olszewski will read some of his poems and join in the conversation. Questions and comments can be posted by viewers during the event.
"These photographs depict ordinary surroundings, distinguished by light, color, and shape. The photographs transform mundane or overlooked subjects into beautiful compositions, surprising in their elegance," says Studio M coordinator Emily Vigil.
Adam Bernard, “The Ranger,” of Medina, Ohio, is a photographer of the land, scenery, and human spirit. "I treat my digital camera as if it were loaded with a roll of old fashioned Kodachrome 35mm slide film. I capture beauty by composing my photographs using the available elements of our planet: illumination, space, time, surface and color," Bernard says.
Bernard earned his BFA from the University of Akron and is an alumnus of St. Vincent-St. Mary High School in Akron, Ohio. He worked as a news photographer for nearly a decade at Sun Newspapers, Cleveland, Ohio, and the Beacon Journal, in Akron, Ohio. He taught photography at the University of Akron.
Fr. Greg Olszewski, who wrote the poetic narratives interpreting Bernard's photographs, is the Parochial Vicar at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Wickliffe and an alumnus of St. Mary Seminary and Graduate School of Theology, Cleveland State University, and Padua Franciscan High School.
Bernard’s photographs have been selected for exhibitions by well-respected curators and photography specialists—Edith A. Tonelli, Ph.D.; Eric Paddock, Julia Dolan, Ph.D.; Paula Tognarelli; and others.
In 2002, he participated in the Midwest Photographers Project at the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, Illinois. In 2016 photographer Larry Fink awarded Bernard “Runner-up Best of Show” at the PhotoMidwest Festival Exhibition at the Overture Center for the Arts in Madison, Wisconsin. In 2019, he was chosen to be part of the Flyover Country group exhibition at the Midwest Center for Photography in Wichita, Kansas.
In April, 2018, Adam was featured on the NPR affiliate station 89.7 WKSU as part of an arts news story Framing Akron Neighborhood by Neighborhood by Mark Arehart.
The photographer has been awarded two Individual Artist Fellowships by the Ohio Arts Council.
Studio M is a dedicated space made available in the Museum’s expansion project to exhibit the work of contemporary artists.
The Museum has prepared the building and staff for maximum safety. Visitors will be strong encouraged to wear masks and distance themselves from others. Precautions and guidelines will be posted on the Museum’s website for guests to review before they visit.