Light turns the ocean into liquid gold in local photographer Barbara Grist's latest show, called "Fluidity," which will be featured at Olio in Mancos and at the Elinoff Gallery in Telluride.
The show brings together images of a golden abstract ocean in Mexico and the deep blue of Lake Powell at twilight. But the study in light and reflection was unplanned, Grist said. She just happened to be drawn to the water rather than the sunset.
Lacking a horizon line, the abstract images are all about light and movement.
"I want the viewer to get involved with my photograph," she said.
The images are printed on metal, giving the allusion that the water is shimmering. This was a conscious choice by Grist, who didn't want textured canvas to dull it down.
Grist, a retired middle school art teacher, also draws, paints and makes jewelry. But she has been drawn to photography since the beginning of her career when she enjoyed discovering the image in the darkroom. Even in the digital age, she enjoys the editing process.
"You don't see it in its full glory until you get it into your digital darkroom on the computer," she said.
Grist will be returning to Olio with fellow photographer and friend Mark Montgomery, whom she had shown with in 2012.
Montgomery will be featuring his abstract pastel closeups of vehicles.
"It will be a really colorful show," she said.
The show will be opening at Olio, 114 West Grand Ave., on Sept. 6 with a reception from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
She will also be featured at the Elinoff Gallery in Telluride for the first time, starting over Labor Day weekend.
