Gallery 308 to Showcase Katie James' Photography: Shifting Dimensions

"Growing up in the Midwest, I have always been fascinated by the small towns that are scattered across the landscape," says photographer Katie James in reference to her new exhibit, 'Shifting Dimensions', opening at Gallery 308 on February 7.

James is a graduating senior studying photography at Ball State. Her exhibition opens on First Thursday, February 7, with an evening reception at the Gallery at 308 East Main. The reception begins at 5:00 p.m. Admission is free; refreshments will be served.

In James's eyes, small towns have one unifying feature: a "main" street, long neglected and often forgotten, filled with old buildings and businesses from another era. She is intrigued by the loneliness of such places—once bustling with life but now, all but abandoned, overlooked and under-appreciated.

"My window photography draws from my fascination with these old buildings," James says. "The camera has an amazing ability to capture these ignored storefronts. By focusing on the window pane, I pick up details that most people overlook—things like scratches, BB holes, and writing in the dirt on a window that are not usually noticed by passers-by. There are often interesting things behind these windows as well, such as a faux deer, Styrofoam gravestones, or mannequin heads."

In Shifting Dimensions, James uses a shallow depth of field in order to merge the reflection of the scene behind the photographer and what is visible through it to create a peculiar kind of "landscape." This intermingling of visual layers produces photographs that take more than a glance to understand. The longer you look, the more you can recognize and appreciate in her work.

"Although my images are digital photographs, I do very little manipulation on the computer. I use a contemporary camera in a very conventional manner, much in the same way I try to present a fresh view of a very traditional subject matter. I strive to make these long forgotten buildings once again a point of interest."

Shifting Dimensions will be on view at Gallery 308 through February 29.