This exhibition focuses on the innovative exploration in photography from two talented artists. Matthew Blum and Adam Atkinson both push the boundaries of process, subject matter, and presences within the practice of photography. Armature for Aperture focuses on the key components of composition, value and the structures that support the space between the lens, the artist, and the subject itself. Each artist’s body of work represents a very specific intent in the broad conversation of capturing emotion, relevance, and relation to the human experience.
Discover the mesmerizing dance of the stars in Matthew Blum’s Milky Way time-lapse from Cherry Springs Park, Pennsylvania. Shot on a Canon 6D with a 50mm lens, each frame of this celestial spectacle is a 10-second exposure at ISO 2000, f/2.0, capturing the galactic core’s graceful journey across the night sky. This time-lapse is a breathtaking ode to the cosmic wonders above us.
Step into the whirlwind of creativity and precision with Matthew Blum’s time-lapse “changeover” video, a glimpse into the transformative setup for the 2020 Juried Show at Bethlehem House Gallery. Directed and curated by Executive Director/Curator Ward Van Haute, the video reveals the meticulous process of arranging an art exhibit. From bare walls to a harmonious display of artistry, witness the gallery evolve in preparation for an exceptional showcase of talent.
“Windows to the Past: Lehigh County” was an exhibition by Matthew Blum that ran from October 24 to November 21, 2019. Blum’s photography brought to life the historic edifices of Lehigh County, places etched in time and registered as national treasures. Utilizing a palette of historical photo printing techniques, from cyanotype to palladium, he captured the essence of structures like the Burnside Plantation and Americus Hotel. The show was not just a visual journey but an educational experience, culminating in a workshop and closing reception that engaged and enlightened the community.
The Bethlehem House Contemporary Art Gallery’s Holiday Show, spanning from October 18, 2019, to January 11, 2020, highlighted the artistry of InVision Festival artist Matthew Blum. His ambrotypes, with their spectral elegance, framed historic landmarks in a dialogue between past and present. Blum’s pieces offered a unique view through the ambrotype process, standing out in the collection as profound meditations on time and architecture.
Capturing life’s fleeting moments, the photo gallery “365 Slices of Time,” presented at Home and Planet in 2012, stands as an impressive testament to the beauty and diversity of daily existence. This creative endeavor by Matthew Blum—displayed through carefully curated photographs, one for each day of the year—is more than a visual diary; it’s a narrative in imagery that compels viewers to pause and reflect on the smaller, often overlooked instances that fabricate our lives.
Each of the 365 photographs, displayed with wooden clothespins, offers a unique perspective, prompting viewers to reflect on life’s transient beauty. The exhibit’s intimate setup invites visitors to explore interconnected stories through images, enhanced by vintage projectors and cameras, which underscore the art of photography. Blum’s work, part of the ArtsQuest Annual InVision Festival of that year, encourages an appreciation for the extraordinary in the ordinary, urging us to capture life’s magic even years later.
