Christopher Petrich

My subject is the Pacific Northwest. My pictures testify to 45 years of observations and impressions. I embrace the tradition of American photography as seen in the work of W. Eugene Smith, Paul Strand and Ansel Adams. My interests are broad, ranging from human relationships to the grand vistas of the Northwest's rugged Cascade and Olympic terrain.

I received my degree in Art, Design, and Art History from The American University. I had a modest career as a commercial and portrait photographer, and from very early on in my career I've exhibited in museums and galleries. I recently studied under Alan Ross, well known photographer, master printer and educator.

I've been to England, working with The Daily Mail newspaper and Camera, a magazine devoted to avant-garde photography. I've also traveled to Israel, Italy and the Republic of Ireland.

My traditional darkroom work and selected color work are available in strictly limited editions, signed, numbered and certified. My work resides in corporate and private collections in the United States and Great Britain. Please contact me for a current list of available pieces. I am currently represented by The American Art Company in Tacoma, Washington.

Selected Exhibitions

2012

Tacoma Art Museum 10th Northwest Biennial

Center For Fine Art Photography Portraits, Fort Collins Co

Sky Gallery University of Washington, Into The Light, Seattle Wa

2011

Center For Fine Art Photography Portraits, Fort Collins Co

2010

Connect/Disconnect Larson Gallery Yakima Wa

Great Ships and Panoramas Clarridge Gallery Bellevue Wa

2008

International Art of Photography San Diego Ca.

Center For Fine Art Photography Street Photography Exhibition, Fort Collins Co.

2006

Risk of Memory Eastshore Unitarian Church, Bellevue Wa.

Selected Landscapes Franciscan Hospice, Solo show, Tacoma.

2005

You and Me! Relationship is everything Franciscan Hospice, Solo show, Tacoma.

Dreams of other dark things Eastshore Unitarian Church, Bellevue Wa.

2004

Northwest Landscapes The American Art Company, featured as one of two artists, Tacoma.

Pattern as Solitude Eastshore Unitarian Church, Bellevue Wa.

2003

Lighthouses of Puget SoundTacoma Public Library, Solo show, Tacoma.
In conjunction with the publication of a field guide to the lighthouses.

Good Earth: Celebration of Life! (Group Show) Tahoma Center Gallery, Tacoma,
I acted as curator of this exhibit, which was central to a one day workshop gathering regional environmental activists and community leaders to present papers on the importance of water to the Pacific Northwest.

2002

You and Me, A Photographic Interpretation of Our Human Relationships Eastshore Unitarian Church, Solo show, Bellevue Wa.

2000

Lumen Aria: In the Key of Light Tahoma Center Gallery, Solo show, Tacoma

1996

We Believe Tahoma Center Gallery at Catholic Community Services, Solo show, Tacoma.

1993

Handforth Gallery Tacoma Public Library, Solo show, Tacoma
featuring an ambitious display of new work examining the mystery of human relationships.

1984

The Downtown Gallery Solo show, Tacoma.

Sandpiper Gallery Solo show, Tacoma.

1983

Tacoma Art Museum Solo show, Tacoma.

Canon USA Gallery Solo show, Los Angeles CA.

1975 - 1983

Tacoma Art Museum Annual juried show

1974

Silver Image Gallery Solo show, Seattle

Publications

2012

Who's Who in Visual Art - 100 Fine Art Photographers Vol 2013-2014 [ISBN: 978-3-9813474-2-5]

2011

Who's Who in Visual Art - 100 Fine Art Photographers Vol 2011-2012 [ISBN: 978-3-9813474-2-5]

American Art Collector 2012, Published by Alcove Books, Berkely CA

2006

cooLphoto magazine, Editor [ISSN 1558-7126]

2005

The Lighthouses on Puget Sound, Author and Photographer [ISBN 1-4116-4186-8]

2001-2003

The Sourcebook of Architectural & Interior Art 18 [ISBN 1-880140-52-7]
The Sourcebook of Architectural & Interior Art 17 [ISBN 1-880140-52-7]
The Sourcebook of Architectural & Interior Art 16 [ISBN 1-880140-46-2]

1982

First Prize Honored for excellence by Argus, a regional arts newspaper published in Seattle.

Education

Art, Design, and Art History, The American University, Washington DC, 1973.

Note on Technique

I shoot in film, mostly large format from Kodak, Ilford, and Fuji. I enlarge my black and white shots on silver fiber-base paper from Ilford. I process by hand, tone, wash, and air-dry my black and white prints according to strict archival guidelines.

Along with film, I capture color using a Leica M system, the finest digital camera system in the world. My exhibition color photographs are printed on Hahnemuhle Fine Art Baryta paper using pigment inks. Very large black and white and color prints are printed to Fine Art Rag paper.