Confluence: Considering the Anacostia
February 27, 2015
Clockwise from top left: Catfishing, Becky Harlan, 2012; Sandy Spring Monumental, Bruce McNeil, 2013; Autumn Flight, Krista Schlyer, 2011; Come Spring, David Allen Harris, 2014
Confluence: Considering the Anacostia
On view: March 20 – May 1, 2015
Opening reception: March 20, 6-8 pm
Confluence: Considering the Anacostia presents four views of the Anacostia river from photographers who approach their shared subject through distinct lenses. Participating photographers are Becky Harlan, David Allen Harris, Krista Schlyer, and co-curator Bruce McNeil.
The exhibit coincides with the first-ever Anacostia River Festival, a celebration of the Anacostia River presented by the 11th Street Bridge Park and National Park Services that will serve as the official closing of The National Cherry Blossom Festival, taking place near the gallery in Anacostia Park on April 12.
Becky Harlan’s included photographs focus on the relationship between individuals and the Anacostia River. Harlan works as a photo editor for the digital side of National Geographic magazine and as a freelance photographer. She is a graduate of the New Media Photojournalism masters program at the Corcoran College of Art + Design.
David Allen Harris frames natural elements of the Anacostia River’s landscape in surprising and sometimes disorienting photographs. Harris is self-taught and has been exhibiting his photography in the D.C. area for the past eight years.
Krista Schlyer’s featured images show wildlife found in the Anacostia Watershed. Schlyer is a conservation photographer and writer who travels throughout North America gathering the stories of wildlife and ecosystems, and working to build consciousness about the relationship between government policy and biodiversity. Her most recent work explores the plight of urban rivers through the lens of the Anacostia River.
Bruce McNeil’s most recent photography project about the Anacostia River considers the length its waters travel, from its origin in Sandy Spring, MD to the point where it meets the Potomac River. McNeil is based in Southeast, Washington, D.C., and the Anacostia River has served as his inspiration and subject for over 20 years. His works balance abstracted and documentary views that draw attention to both environmental concerns and the natural beauty of the waterway.
