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Views from a Museum: Sam Houston Memorial Museum’s Photographic Exhibit

Victoria McClendon-Leggett

With a new-ish interest in photography, LEAP Ambassadors stopped by the Sam Houston Memorial Museum on Wednesday to see an exhibit of photographs taken by local talent Derek Birdsall and Casey Roon.  The results were impressive!

The gallery was laid out in impressive fashion, with gray walls that accentuate the photographs and well-placed lighting.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, SHMM, "Museum Views and Thoughts", Casey Roon, Derek Birdsall

Additional decor was added which, combined with the beautiful photography, made for a wonderful gallery.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, SHMM, "Museum Views and Thoughts", Casey Roon, Derek Birdsall

In all, there were 43 photographs, approximately split between the two photographers.  When he’s not taking great photographs, Derek Birdsall is the Education Curator of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum.  And when Casey Roon isn’t taking evocative photographs, she works as the Marketing Curator of the Museum.  Other museum staff, such as Mac Woodward, Megan Buro, and Joanne Purvis, and Peter Grivich, were also on hand.  The latter staff member, Grivich, was also present in spirit throughout the photographs: he served as a model in many of the photographs, and as the landscape architect of the Museum, his handiwork was visible in every photograph.

The exhibit shows the Museum in both its splendor and diversity.  One of our favorite photos, was a “Monet-style image,” taken by Birdsall.

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, SHMM, "Museum Views and Thoughts", Casey Roon, Derek Birdsall

It’s shimmery look and blended colors capture the look of an impressionist painting.  Other favorites included flowers, trees, and a creek, photos that display the variety of images in the park…

…and the skill with which the photographers captured light, color, and motion (the creek was shot with an iPhone!).

My favorite by Ms. Roon was “Cold Shoulder by a Hawk,” which aptly demonstrates the birders should spend some time at the SHMM!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, SHMM, "Museum Views and Thoughts", Casey Roon, Derek Birdsall

It was a delightful exhibit, and is perfect for newcomers to Huntsville or, at least, the Museum–and for those who wish to see the Museum through new eyes!

SHSU, LEAP Center, LEAP Ambassadors, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, SHMM, "Museum Views and Thoughts", Casey Roon, Derek Birdsall

Author mikeyawnPosted on March 2, 2019Format AsideCategories Art, Civic EngagementTags "Museum Views and Thoughts", Casey Roon, Derek Birdsall, LEAP Ambassadors, LEAP Center, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, SHMM, SHSULeave a comment on Views from a Museum: Sam Houston Memorial Museum’s Photographic Exhibit

Picture Perfect: SHMM’s 4th Annual Amateur Photo Contest

The Sam Houston Memorial Museum hosted its 4th Annual Amateur Photography Contest last week, attracting approximately 200 visitors to the Walker Educator Center.  The record number of guests were able to peruse a record number of submissions—more than 300 in all—while also enjoying the opportunity to win prizes offered by Museum staff.

Walker Education Center Exhibit Hall
Walker Education Center Exhibit Hall

The event was the brainchild of Museum Curator of Exhibits Casey Roon, who initiated the contest in 2010. The goal was to showcase community talent, while bringing the community together.

Casey Roon & Mac Woodward
        Casey Roon & Mac Woodward

Among the many individuals brought together included students from the Center for Law, Engagement, And Politics (LEAP), who volunteered to help at this wonderful community-building project. “The Museum hosts various exhibits throughout the year, but my favorite is the Amateur Photo Contest,” observed Ariel Traub, “and the photographs were stunning!”

Ashley Richardson, Constance Gabel, Joey Medrano, Ariel Traub
Ashley, Constance, Medrano, Traub

As with previous years, the photographs were grouped into multiple categories but, as Marketing Coordinator Megan Buro notes, “Casey has done a great job of keeping the contest fresh and different. This year included new categories and the photographs were fantastic.”  In all, there were eight categories: (1) Faces, (2) B&W, (3) Old, (4) Action, (5) Flora & Fauna, (6) Travel, (7) New, and (8) Food.  There were also the “Curator’s Choice” selections and, of course, the big prize: “Best in Show.”

The winners included:

Faces

  1. Denise Camp               Kya
  2. Cari McGown             Whatcha Sayin?
  3. Sarah Lane                  Jane
Watchu saying?, by Cari McGown
Watchu saying?, by Cari McGown

B&W

    1. Ashley Dobos             American Poverty
    2. Scott McCarley           School Dance

Cari McGown             I See the Moon, the Moon Sees Me

American Poverty, by Ashley Dobos
American Poverty, by Ashley Dobos

Old

  1. Steven Mateo              V8 Soft
  2. Sam Beard                  In Eliza’s Kitchen
  3. Ramses Leon               Cuban Butterfly
V8 Soft, Steven Mateo
V8 Soft, Steven Mateo

Action

  1. Erin Rogers                 Nature’s Grace
  2. Keenan Jones              Untitled
  3. Sam Beard                  Going for the Steer
Nature's Grace, by Erin Rogers
Nature’s Grace, by Erin Rogers

Flora & Fauna

  1. Anne King                  Green
  2. (tie) Cari Mc Gown     Good Morning Lady
  3. (tie) Sarah Lane           Lone
  4. (tie) Elisabeth Williams           Frog’s New Home
  5. (tie) David Knuth       Low Tide
Lone, by Sarah Lane
Lone, by Sarah Lane

Travel

  1. Beth Gray                   Tickets Please
  2. Lori Sanders                Stone Soldiers
  3. Scott McCarley           Train to Bandra
Train to Bandra, by Scott McCarley
Train to Bandra, by Scott McCarley

New

  1. Anne King                  Charlotte
  2. Mike Whatley             New Day
  3. Sam Beard                  Spring Flowers
New Day, by Mike Whatley
New Day, by Mike Whatley

Food   

  1. Denise Camp               Yellow Peppers
  2. Lori Sanders                Sweet Tea
  3. Jacqueline Davis         For the Love of Caffeine
Sweet Tea, by Lori Sanders
Sweet Tea, by Lori Sanders

Selected for the top two photographs in the exhibit were:

Reserve: Beth Gray                Tickets Please
Best in Show: Denise Camp   Kya

Kya, by Denise Camp
Kya, by Denise Camp

Among the many submissions—and winners!—was the Chair of the Friends of the SHMM, Scott McCarley.  His “Train to Bandra” and “School Dance” both placed in the top three in the “Travel” and “B&W” categories.

“It’s great to be able to participate in one of the Museum’s many fine exhibits and programs that are open to the public,” noted McCarley. “We hope that the Museum gets this level of support for all of its exhibits.”

For more information about the Museum, its collections, upcoming exhibits, or to become a “Friend of the Museum,” visit www.samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com.

Author mikeyawnPosted on October 26, 2013Categories Art, Civic Engagement, VolunteerTags Amateur Photography Contest, Ariel Traub, Sam Houston Memorial Museum, Scott McCarley, SHMMLeave a comment on Picture Perfect: SHMM’s 4th Annual Amateur Photo Contest

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