An exhibition of the photo-art of local artist Margret Phillips opened last week at the community gallery in Melville, the second of a series of shows resulting from her win at PRADO, a regional artists' juried competition. The competition, started two years ago, invited submissions from artists in any media. This year Phillips was one of four photographers among the 27 artists entered at the time. "I was pleasantly surprised to find that the adjudicators had chosen mine as the top entry," she comments.
Her subjects, shadows, present a unique perspective of back-stage activity during a theatrical production. Phillips was asked to snap some cast photos during a local community theatre production four or five years ago. While working backstage during the performance, Phillips was attracted by what she felt was an interesting shadow which prompted her to focus on snapping shadows as her principal subjects. "I kept going from there with the interesting shadows that you can see from backstage that you might not necessarily see from the audience," she explains.
Part of winning the regional competition involved having works shown in Esterhazy, Melville and Yorkton as gallery shows, Phillips points out. As well she was invited to submit a proposal for a provincial show to the Organization of Saskatche-wan Arts Councils (OSAC). If accepted, her art would then be shown at many communities throughout the province.
Phillips also produces paintings and drawings in addition to engaging in photography for the past 25 years. She has worked both with 35mm film as well as her current digital camera. She has also produced black and white photos in darkroom work.
While she continues to enjoy both, the wonderful thing about digital photography is its immediacy. "You get to see what you've got instantly and you can change things or reshoot. It also gives you more opportunity to do your own printing," Phillips elaborates.
She continues to paint and show her work every summer at the gallery at Cherrydale Golf Course and other local area shows. She'd like to continue with her photography in themed photographic exhibitions.
"One of the things that makes photography appeal to me is the ability to capture a gesture which freezes a moment in time. It's a very meditative process appreciating that kind of photo," Phillips concludes.
