Representatives from the Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium join together with TCVA Assistant Curator Brook Bower for an important exhibition. Over the past eight years, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON), in Chauvin, LA has offered a unique educational course that utilizes the magnificent and endangered backdrop of Louisiana estuaries to introduce students to black and white photography. The Coastal Landscape Photography is a week long intensive course which offers training in camera operation, subject composition, darkroom chemistry, as well as, gallery presentation. This exhibition presents a selection of photographic works from LUMCON’s Permanent Collection while offering a cross-disciplinary educational experience through a visual conversation about Louisiana’s precious coastline and its rapid disappearance along with the culture, and the biological life it sustains.
The Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) was formed in 1979 to coordinate and stimulate Louisiana’s activities in marine research and education. LUMCON provides coastal laboratory facilities to Louisiana universities, and conducts research and educational programs in the marine sciences.
This exhibition is presented in conjunction with Capturing a Transient World, an exhibition that investigates the adverse effects the disappearance of the coastline and estuaries are having on the rich Louisianan culture and way of life, through the eyes of contemporary artists.
Daniel Kariko; Pylons, Sulfur Island, Louisiana; 2006. Pinhole photography. Photo credit: copyright 2006, courtesy of the artist.
Brook Bower; Cheniere Cemetery, Grand Isle, Louisiana; 2006. 35mm black and white photography. Photo courtesy of the artist.
About the curatorial committee
Brook Bower, Boone, NC
Brook Bower currently serves as the Assistant Curator for the Turchin Center for the Visual Arts at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. She also serves as the Registrar for the TCVA’s Permanent Collection which contains approximately 1000 objects in addition to duties as curator.
Bower curates exhibitions, plans and assists in managing the Center’s operations as well as organizes two national competitions and assist in the organization of three community competitions per year that include the Rosen Sculpture Competition, the Halpert Biennial and the Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition.
Bower received her undergraduate degrees in Art Management (BS) and a BFA in Ceramics from Appalachian in 2001. She has served as a juror for multiple local competitions including venues such as the Caldwell County Arts Council, Nth Degree Gallery and Appalachian Mountain Photography Competition 2007. In addition to working in the art field she is an exhibiting sculptural ceramic and collage artist.
Nicole Cotten, Chavin, LA
Nicole Cotten grew up along Bayou Petit Calliou in Chauvin, LA where she enjoyed observing nature in her backyard. By the time she was 11, she knew she wanted to beome a marine biologist to study fishes. To reach her goal, Nicole earned a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Biology in 1999 from Nicholls State University and a Master’s of Science degree in Coastal Studies from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2002 at the Gulf Coast Research Laboratory.
In the fall of 2002, Nicole was hired by LUMCON to coordinate the university education program where she became involved with the Coastal Landscape Photography course. She was able to combine her interest in nature with her newly found abilities in photography to visually document the wonders of Louisiana’s coast.
Daniel Kariko, Tallahassee, FL
Daniel Kariko was born in 1976 in Novi Sad, Yugoslavia, now Northern Serbia. He moved to United States in November of 1994 and finished his high school education in Southern Louisiana.
After high school Kariko enrolled in engineering program at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He soon switched his interest to art photography, and graduated four years later with Bachelor of Arts degree.
In 1999 Kariko was accepted to Masters of Fine Arts program at Arizona State University in Phoenix, Arizona. He was awarded Arizona-Austria Travel Grant, and spent a month as a guest of the Land of Salzburg, in summer of 2001.
Kariko is currently a Florida State University faculty, where he teaches Photography and Digital Imaging, and manages the photography facilities.
Daniel serves a the tech and helps teach the Coastal Landscape Photography Course at LUMCOM.
Gary LaFleur, Thibodeaux, LA
Dr. Gary LaFleur Jr. is an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Nicholls State University in Thibodeaux, LA. He holds a A.S. and B.S. from Louisiana State University, an M.S. from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christie and a Ph.D. from University of Florida. Gary is one of the professors who leads the Coastal Landscape Photography Course at LUMCOM.
Karin Eberhardt, Ponchatoula, LA
Native of New Orleans, Karin Eberhardt is an artist, teacher, and graphic designer. Her interest lies in digital collage, typography, and sustainable design.
Representing a unique combination of environmental advocacy and contemporary landscape, her most recent series of digital collages, Still Life, seek to unveil the intrinsic, mysterious beauty of coastal Louisiana and respectfully give permanency to it’s ephemeral environment.
Karin serves on the Artist Advisory for the St. Tammany Art Association and is an active member of AIGA New Orleans. She is a founding member of the Friends of the Chauvin Sculpture Garden and currently serves as Advertising and Promotions Coordinator.
Karin holds an MFA, Multimedia Design from Louisiana State University and a BA, Graphic Design from Nicholls State University and currently teaches at Digital Design at Southeaster State Louisiana.
Dennis Sipiorski, Covington, LA
Dennis Sipiorski currently teaches Ceramics and serves as the Department Head for the Visual Arts Department at Southeastern Louisiana State University. He received a MFA in Ceramics from the University of Notre Dame and has two degrees in Education from the University of Wisconsin.
Dennis is one of the professors who leads the Coastal Landscape Photography Course at LUMCOM.