PADA Turns 20!
The Photographic and Digital Artists (PADA) group, one of the artists’ groups under the Palos Verdes Art Center, was formed 20 years ago. The following text is excerpted from a draft PADA press release of March 2006, at about the time that PADA was formed. Although this is not the final press release, it shows the thinking of the founding members at that time. Thank you to Judy Herman for supplying the text.
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New Photographic Arts Group Forms at the Palos Verdes Art Center
March 2006
Photography — film or digital, traditional black and white or computer-remixed color— is hot on the art scene. Galleries and museums are showing more photographic images than ever. At the same time, advances in digital photography and software are stimulating amateur and professional photographers to experiment with the evolving art form.
A handful of artists of the Palos Verdes Art Center decided the time was ripe for a group specializing in photography to join the seven artists' groups affiliated with the center. The painters and potters had groups in which they could exchange ideas, critique one another's work and otherwise promote their artistic growth. Why not the photographers? Now, for the first time in 15 years, the Palos Verdes Art Center is adding a new artists' group: "Photographic and Digital Artists" (PADA).
The founding members chose to include the word "Digital" in the name to indicate that they welcome computerized photographers who manipulate their images on their desktop as well as practitioners of unaltered "traditional photography" and everyone in between. As founding member Allan Conrad, a longtime photographer and proficient user of Photoshop, notes however, "A camera must be part of the process” in creating artwork which represents the group.
PADA is the brainchild of Pauline Falstrom, a photographer noted for her classic black-and-white images, who missed the inspiration, guidance and camaraderie she experienced with a similar group in Orange County.
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In addition to participating in group critiques, PADA members will share knowledge about new equipment and software, hear guest speakers helping them hone their craft and exhibit in galleries and at fine art festivals
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[The new president Catherine] Balcom hopes PADA’s artistic support and activities will inspire members to move into new levels with their artwork and passion for photography.
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The nine founding members included:
Catherine Balcom
Pauline Falstrom
Henry Pearson
Jean Alexander
Allan Conrad
Joyce Weiss
John Wessel
Judy Herman
Albert Wasney
Shown below is the show announcement card for PADA’s first show. The show included artwork from all nine founding members. The opening reception was on July 22, 2006 at The Distinctive Edge gallery in Rancho Palos Verdes. Happy 20th anniversary PADA!
PADA show card from 2006
PADA show card from 2006