Joseph Shields
Tybee Island, GA United States ![]()
It was a long time ago that I first thought I should try becoming a photographer and that is my ambition even now. It is hard to say why. Perhaps it’s still just the visceral pleasure of being out in the world with a camera in my hands, with someth... More
Artist Statement:
It was a long time ago that I first thought I should try becoming a photographer and that is my ambition even now. It is hard to say why. Perhaps it’s still just the visceral pleasure of being out in the world with a camera in my hands, with something to do. What to do exactly was the first challenge I ever took seriously. It was exciting, and it is the first thing I remember liking about photography. But by now there is probably more to the saying of why. The pictures seem to suggest it.
Looking at them broadly, from a distance, they seem simple souvenirs of where I have been and how I experienced life at that place and time. Though I’d like to think there was something special going on while I was looking, some mysterious something that attracted me in the first place, something essential, as if I were being granted a glimpse into the world as it really is and seeing remnants of some larger story mostly missed.
It feels like a privilege to see things so, but I go about it in an improvisational way most of the time, usually choosing to position myself as an observer but also mentally poised to at least muse on the nature of reality, of meaning, of transformation. The most successful images hold on to elements of possibility, if only casually, and ask for some interpretation, maybe revealing a clue through play of light and color or suggestion of feeling.
Photography insists I be involved in a day to day environment , to look and look and then to see. Very little seems mundane. That would be reward enough, but the work of becoming a photographer has also shaped so many of my sensibilities and influenced so much of my thinking, that it seems impossible that I had any real sense of myself prior to picking up a camera. I want my photographs to depict on some scale this act of discovery.
Joseph Shields
August 2015
Looking at them broadly, from a distance, they seem simple souvenirs of where I have been and how I experienced life at that place and time. Though I’d like to think there was something special going on while I was looking, some mysterious something that attracted me in the first place, something essential, as if I were being granted a glimpse into the world as it really is and seeing remnants of some larger story mostly missed.
It feels like a privilege to see things so, but I go about it in an improvisational way most of the time, usually choosing to position myself as an observer but also mentally poised to at least muse on the nature of reality, of meaning, of transformation. The most successful images hold on to elements of possibility, if only casually, and ask for some interpretation, maybe revealing a clue through play of light and color or suggestion of feeling.
Photography insists I be involved in a day to day environment , to look and look and then to see. Very little seems mundane. That would be reward enough, but the work of becoming a photographer has also shaped so many of my sensibilities and influenced so much of my thinking, that it seems impossible that I had any real sense of myself prior to picking up a camera. I want my photographs to depict on some scale this act of discovery.
Joseph Shields
August 2015
Education:
Bachelor of Arts Degree, Berea College, Berea, KY
Awards & Distinctions:
COLLECTIONS
Lamar Dodd Art Center of LaGrange College, LaGrange, GA
Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
City of Decatur, GA
City of Tybee Island, GA
Tybee Museum, Tybee Island, GA
Lamar Dodd Art Center of LaGrange College, LaGrange, GA
Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
City of Decatur, GA
City of Tybee Island, GA
Tybee Museum, Tybee Island, GA
Exhibitions:
SELECTED EXHIBITION HISTORY
Art Olympia 2017 International Open Art Juried Exhibition, Living Treasure Museum, Tokyo, Japan, June 2017
Hilton Head Biennale National Juried Exhibition 2017, Walter Greer Gallery, Hilton Head, SC, May 2017
Camera USA 2015: National Photography Exhibition, The von Leibig Art Center, Naples, FL, July 2015
LaGrange National Biennial XXVIII, The Lamar Dodd Art Center of LaGrange College, LaGrange, GA, February 2014 (Purchase Award)
Open Art 2011, Juried Exhibit, Jepson Center for the Arts, Savannah, GA, November 2011
World Photography Gala Awards, Madrid, Spain, July 2011 (First Place, Fine Art Photography)
Experimentelle 2010 Invitational, City Gallery, Markdorf, Germany, July 2010 and Art
Hall, Marburg, Germany, December 2010
World Photography Gala Awards Exhibition, Circle of Fine Arts, Madrid, Spain, June 2010, (Honorable Mention)
Wild Places, Gallery of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, February 2009 (2 artist exhibit)
Foray, The Garden Gallery at King’s Bridge, Atlanta, GA, November 2008 (solo exhibit)
21st Annual Juried Fine Arts Competition, Arts on the River, Bergen Hall Gallery, Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, GA, May 2000
4th Annual Juried Telfair Artfair, Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah, GA, November 1998
16th Annual September Juried Competition, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA, August 1998
New Places, Group Exhibit by the Members of Gallery 209, Jewish Educational Alliance Gallery, Savannah, GA, January 1998
Southern Exposure, Works by Nine Regional Artists, Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah, GA, November 1997
Coastal Georgia Art & Photography Exhibition, University of Georgia Marine Extension Service Gallery, Skidaway Island, GA, November 1997 (Best of Show)
Coastal Group Sierra Club Photography Exhibition, Fine Arts Gallery, Armstrong State College, Savannah, GA, October 1997 (First Place)
Decatur Arts Alliance 9th Annual Juried Visual Arts Exhibition, Decatur, GA, May 1997
Recent Works, Members Show, Light Waves Gallery, Savannah, GA, April 1997
Hilton Head Art League 7th Annual Juried Regional Exhibition, Walter Greer Gallery, Hilton Head Island, SC, March 1997 (First Place – Photography)
Coastal Georgia Art & Photography Exhibition, University of Georgia Marine Extension Service Gallery, Skidaway Island, GA, November 1996 (Best of Show)
2nd Annual Juried Telfair Artfair, Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah, GA, October 1996 (Merit Award)
The Red Clay Survey, Fifth Biennial Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Southern Art, Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL, September 1996
15th Annual September Juried Competition, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA, September 1996
Georgia Arts ’96 Juried Exhibit, Jordan Hall Gallery, Morris Brown College, Atlanta, GA, July 1996
17th Annual Juried Fine Arts Competition, Arts on The River, Hamilton Hall Gallery, Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, GA, May 1996
Southeastern Triennial Juried Exhibition, Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL, April 1996
66th Annual Savannah Art Association Fall Show, November 1995 (Best of Show)
The November Show Juried Exhibit, Hastings Seed Building, Atlanta, GA, November 1995
1st Annual Juried Telfair Artfair, Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah, GA, October 1995
Thomasville Cultural Center/Arts Guild 2nd Annual Juried Photography Exhibition, Thomasville, GA, August 1995 (First Place)
Decatur Arts Alliance 7th Annual Juried Visual Arts Exhibition, Decatur, GA, May 1995 (Purchase Award)
16th Annual Juried Visual Fine Arts Competition, Arts on the River, Savannah, GA, May 1995
The Hilton Head Art League 6th Juried Regional Exhibition, Hilton Head Island, SC, March 1995
Tybee Tour of Homes, Dolphin Watch (home of Colonel & Mrs. LuAnn Harris), October 1994 (solo exhibit)
Sea Serpents & Other Sightings, Lighthouse Gallery, Tybee Island, GA, August 1994 (solo exhibit)
1994 Maritime Festival Exhibit, The University of Georgia Marine Extension Service Gallery, July 1994 (one of two artists invited to exhibit)
15th Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, Arts on the River, Savannah, GA, May 1994 (Best of Show)
Hilton Head Art League 5th Juried Regional Exhibition, Hilton Head Island, SC, March 1994
Coastal Group Sierra Club Photography Exhibition, Savannah, GA, September 1993 (First Place)
A Unique Body of Work, Group Show, Artists in Residence, The Art Center at City Market Gallery, Savannah, GA, August 1993
Decatur Arts Alliance 5th Annual Juried Visual Arts Exhibition, Decatur, GA, May 1993
Scenes from Tybrisa, Light Waves Gallery, Savannah, GA November 1992 (solo exhibit)
Photographer’s Forum 12th Annual Spring Photography Contest, June 1992 (Honorable Mention)
13th Annual Juried Fine Arts Competition, Arts on the River, Savannah, GA, May 1992
20th Juried Photography Exhibition, Jewish Community Center, Houston, TX, April 1992 (a Fotofest exhibit)
Coastal Group Sierra Club Photography Exhibition, Savannah, GA, September, 1991 (Chairman’s Choice Award)
Art Olympia 2017 International Open Art Juried Exhibition, Living Treasure Museum, Tokyo, Japan, June 2017
Hilton Head Biennale National Juried Exhibition 2017, Walter Greer Gallery, Hilton Head, SC, May 2017
Camera USA 2015: National Photography Exhibition, The von Leibig Art Center, Naples, FL, July 2015
LaGrange National Biennial XXVIII, The Lamar Dodd Art Center of LaGrange College, LaGrange, GA, February 2014 (Purchase Award)
Open Art 2011, Juried Exhibit, Jepson Center for the Arts, Savannah, GA, November 2011
World Photography Gala Awards, Madrid, Spain, July 2011 (First Place, Fine Art Photography)
Experimentelle 2010 Invitational, City Gallery, Markdorf, Germany, July 2010 and Art
Hall, Marburg, Germany, December 2010
World Photography Gala Awards Exhibition, Circle of Fine Arts, Madrid, Spain, June 2010, (Honorable Mention)
Wild Places, Gallery of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, February 2009 (2 artist exhibit)
Foray, The Garden Gallery at King’s Bridge, Atlanta, GA, November 2008 (solo exhibit)
21st Annual Juried Fine Arts Competition, Arts on the River, Bergen Hall Gallery, Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, GA, May 2000
4th Annual Juried Telfair Artfair, Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah, GA, November 1998
16th Annual September Juried Competition, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA, August 1998
New Places, Group Exhibit by the Members of Gallery 209, Jewish Educational Alliance Gallery, Savannah, GA, January 1998
Southern Exposure, Works by Nine Regional Artists, Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah, GA, November 1997
Coastal Georgia Art & Photography Exhibition, University of Georgia Marine Extension Service Gallery, Skidaway Island, GA, November 1997 (Best of Show)
Coastal Group Sierra Club Photography Exhibition, Fine Arts Gallery, Armstrong State College, Savannah, GA, October 1997 (First Place)
Decatur Arts Alliance 9th Annual Juried Visual Arts Exhibition, Decatur, GA, May 1997
Recent Works, Members Show, Light Waves Gallery, Savannah, GA, April 1997
Hilton Head Art League 7th Annual Juried Regional Exhibition, Walter Greer Gallery, Hilton Head Island, SC, March 1997 (First Place – Photography)
Coastal Georgia Art & Photography Exhibition, University of Georgia Marine Extension Service Gallery, Skidaway Island, GA, November 1996 (Best of Show)
2nd Annual Juried Telfair Artfair, Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah, GA, October 1996 (Merit Award)
The Red Clay Survey, Fifth Biennial Juried Exhibition of Contemporary Southern Art, Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL, September 1996
15th Annual September Juried Competition, Alexandria Museum of Art, Alexandria, LA, September 1996
Georgia Arts ’96 Juried Exhibit, Jordan Hall Gallery, Morris Brown College, Atlanta, GA, July 1996
17th Annual Juried Fine Arts Competition, Arts on The River, Hamilton Hall Gallery, Savannah College of Art & Design, Savannah, GA, May 1996
Southeastern Triennial Juried Exhibition, Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, AL, April 1996
66th Annual Savannah Art Association Fall Show, November 1995 (Best of Show)
The November Show Juried Exhibit, Hastings Seed Building, Atlanta, GA, November 1995
1st Annual Juried Telfair Artfair, Telfair Museum of Art, Savannah, GA, October 1995
Thomasville Cultural Center/Arts Guild 2nd Annual Juried Photography Exhibition, Thomasville, GA, August 1995 (First Place)
Decatur Arts Alliance 7th Annual Juried Visual Arts Exhibition, Decatur, GA, May 1995 (Purchase Award)
16th Annual Juried Visual Fine Arts Competition, Arts on the River, Savannah, GA, May 1995
The Hilton Head Art League 6th Juried Regional Exhibition, Hilton Head Island, SC, March 1995
Tybee Tour of Homes, Dolphin Watch (home of Colonel & Mrs. LuAnn Harris), October 1994 (solo exhibit)
Sea Serpents & Other Sightings, Lighthouse Gallery, Tybee Island, GA, August 1994 (solo exhibit)
1994 Maritime Festival Exhibit, The University of Georgia Marine Extension Service Gallery, July 1994 (one of two artists invited to exhibit)
15th Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibition, Arts on the River, Savannah, GA, May 1994 (Best of Show)
Hilton Head Art League 5th Juried Regional Exhibition, Hilton Head Island, SC, March 1994
Coastal Group Sierra Club Photography Exhibition, Savannah, GA, September 1993 (First Place)
A Unique Body of Work, Group Show, Artists in Residence, The Art Center at City Market Gallery, Savannah, GA, August 1993
Decatur Arts Alliance 5th Annual Juried Visual Arts Exhibition, Decatur, GA, May 1993
Scenes from Tybrisa, Light Waves Gallery, Savannah, GA November 1992 (solo exhibit)
Photographer’s Forum 12th Annual Spring Photography Contest, June 1992 (Honorable Mention)
13th Annual Juried Fine Arts Competition, Arts on the River, Savannah, GA, May 1992
20th Juried Photography Exhibition, Jewish Community Center, Houston, TX, April 1992 (a Fotofest exhibit)
Coastal Group Sierra Club Photography Exhibition, Savannah, GA, September, 1991 (Chairman’s Choice Award)
Artist Tags:
photography, the american south, coastal, landscapes, conceptual, fine art
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