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Photo by Clark James Mishler
"You can tell a lot about the way I think by looking at my photographs.
You can also tell what matters to me in the landscape, the things I value and
respect. This is as it ought to be. I believe that what an artist cares about
should be unequivocal in his work. You should only have to look….
I prefer working in monochrome. It allows me to get down to basics,
to see and show those elemental aspects of nature that really excite
me. And then there’s light – it’s what gives my
pictures life. Organic or inorganic subjects, it doesn't matter; it’s
all about how things look in the varying moods of light. Light is
life. It’s what drives my inspiration.
Some people think that art reflects life. I think art reveals life; making
art is like lifting the veil. I guess that’s what I’m up to in my
photographs."
Barry McWayne
Fairbanks, Alaska
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Barry McWayne arrived in Alaska in 1968, planning
to stay a year or two to make photographs of the 'Great Land,' but an exceptional
opportunity came his way that delayed his departure indefinitely.
In 1970, he was offered a position at the University of Alaska Museum
to create and head a new photographic department. For over 36 years,
McWayne spent his career at the Museum, first making photographs for
the institution's research collections, exhibitions, and publications;
then originating and curating the permanent Collection of Fine Art
Photography; and, from 1992 until his retirement in 2007, curating
all the Museum's fine art collections. Throughout these 3-plus decades,
he maintained an active roll as artist with over 150 exhibitions to
his credit. In 1985, McWayne received an Individual Artist Fellowship
from the Alaska State Council on the Arts in recognition of his achievements
in photography. His work has been acquired by all major museums in
Alaska, by corporations such as Alaska Airlines, Westin Hotels, Cincinnati
Financial Corp. and others, and by private collectors in and out of
the 49th state. McWayne has curated photographic exhibitions for numerous
institutions, including the Anchorage Museum at the Rasmuson Center,
The Visual Arts Center of Alaska, The Photographic Center of Monterey
(CA), and the UA Museum of the North. His teaching credits range from
university courses to statewide workshops, and he thoroughly enjoys
mentoring younger photographers who seek his advice.
For many years, Barry McWayne and his wife, Dorli (principal flutist
with the Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra), have been deeply involved
with the arts in Alaska. McWayne helped found the Fairbanks Camera
Arts Group and served as its director for 8 years. He has chaired
the visual arts committee for the Fairbanks Arts Association, is a
past-president of the Fairbanks Symphony Association, and enjoyed
a 10-year stand as president of the Fairbanks Concert Association.
In 2001, McWayne was presented the prestigious "Ken Gray Award
for Outstanding Contributions to the Arts in Alaska," and in
2004 he received the Alaska Photographic Center's inaugural award
for "Outstanding Achievement in Photography."
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