Purcellville, VA, April 5, 2019—The Purcellville Arts Council is pleased to feature art by heritage photographer, Luke Greer. His photographs are on display in Purcellville’s Town Hall from April 2 through June 30, 2019. A Meet-The-Artist reception will take place at Town Hall (221 South Nursery Avenue) on Wednesday, April 24 from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. The public is welcome to join Luke and the Purcellville Arts Council for an evening of art, discussion, and light refreshments. The show may otherwise be seen according to regular Town Hall office hours (Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. except holidays).
A native of Loudoun County, Virginia, Luke Greer began his research based-heritage photography to preserve the scenes and collective history of the rapidly vanishing rural lifestyle within Civil War landscapes. His high-contrast black and white images pay homage to photographic processes from the 1860's through the early 1900's. These processes are juxtaposed by his contemporary digital practices and strongly dynamic aesthetic style. He seeks to “give reverence and encourage preservation through the creation of powerful images. I feel serious matters, especially those of life and death are most respectfully represented in shades of grey, using compositions of light and structure. Black and white photography balances the dream world with the living, it is both an accurate depiction and an altered state.”
Most recently, his work was selected by the Appalachian Trail Conservancy for display at the U.S. Senate Russell Rotunda on Capitol Hill in cooperation with congressional sponsor Richard Burr for their "United By The Appalachian Trail" exhibition. Luke was one of 13 photographers selected, one from each of the trail states, to commemorate the beauty and importance of the Appalachian Trail during the 50th anniversary of their inclusion with the National Park Service. In 2016, he was also entrusted as one of three photographers to work with the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians in the Everglades for their environmental study while documenting the islands where their families had lived over the past few hundred years. He has collaborated with the Mosby Heritage Area Association and The Loudoun Freedom center on historic preservation projects and currently serves as a board member for the Short Hill Historical Society.
The first floor corridors of Town Hall have a gallery-caliber hanging system which creates and opportunity for local artists to exhibit their work. Art exhibitions in Town Hall ensure that all members of the public have access to art. Exhibits are currently booked through June of 2018 and the Purcellville Arts Council is accepting submissions for future shows. All artwork is decided upon for suitability by an outside jury. Please send inquiries to the Town of Purcellville, attention: Arts Council at arts@purcellvilleva.gov.
