ASMP-LA Group Show With Water/Without Water at first Photoville L.A.

Written by Nancy Kaye

This spring New York-based Photoville made its Los Angeles debut, transforming the outdoor space adjacent to The Annenberg Space for Photography into a photo festival rich with visual storytelling and inspiration. ASMP-LA was pleased to be a part of it with an exhibition entitled With Water, Without Water.

For two consecutive weekends, April 26-28 and May 2-5, 2019, the free photo festival Annenberg Space for Photography Presents Photoville LA spread out on the grassy area by the Annenberg in the heart of Century City. Fifty-five photo exhibitions were displayed in modular repurposed shipping containers, on vinyl sheets forming photo cubes, and with a variety of other creative displays.

ASMP-LA’s walk-in cube exhibited a juried group show comprised of 46 images. ASMP members nationwide were invited to submit photos that focused on the theme of California’s dependency on water. The show With Water, Without Water presented the work of 22 members whose images illustrated many facets of California’s water issues and the consequences of water scarcity, collectively telling the story of the importance of this vital but limited resource. While the state has a plethora of coastline that people flock to for recreation, freshwater is less abundant. Although California leads the nation in agriculture, its farm production is threatened by limited freshwater. At the same time, California is the largest state in population, which also results in a high demand for water.

The photography exhibition, curated by ASMP-LA board member Nancy Kaye, was designed with Molly Peters, the ASMP-LA president. The Annenberg Space for Photography had the photos and text printed on high quality, outdoor, weather-proof vinyl sheets, creating six panels each 6’ x 6’ in size. ASMP-LA is storing the vinyl sheets and looking for other venues to display With Water, Without Water.

Additional events included night time lectures and slide shows, daytime classes and activities, food trucks, and a beer garden. During Photoville’s education day, Amy Tierney, Molly Peters, and Nancy Kaye helped middle school students better understand the process of creating and curating photos to tell stories.

Photoville LA—which provided a unique opportunity for the local photo community to come together and share knowledge, stories, and inspiration—had more than 28,000 visitors.

ASMP Members featured in With Water / Without Water are:

Alex Sher                    Amy Tierney    Caleb Knueven
Chris Sattlberger   David Zentz   Denise Crew
Dennis Keeley   Gerard Burkhart    Grant Moxley
Ian Spanier   J. Michael Tucker   L. Aviva Diamond
Logan Miller    Maggie Shannon    Matthew Anderson
Melissa Roldan   Molly Peters    Nancy Kaye
Roger Wyan    Sonya Naumann    Stefanos Metaxas  Valerie Kim