Greetings!

There was a definite chill this weekend in Arizona: cool temperatures (40s) here in Sonoita and frost in Flagstaff. The cool/cold morning temperatures result in part from the return of extremely low humidity (low water vapor content increases night time radiational cooling) and with dryness, comes crystal clear blue skies. We enjoy many such days in October through March, but sadly, true 'crystal clear' conditions have become rarer and rarer on the whole, as dry weather cannot compensate for the increasing particulates carried eastward from China and SoCal. And so we celebrate - with reverence - those special days.

The past several weeks have been filled by shepherding Steve's book Sand Mirrors through final printing (thanks to Gregory McNamee at Polytropos Press and Sheila Johnson at Arizona Lithography!) , to preparing for his retrospective at Verve as well as various juried exhibition, and oh yes, beginning work on several new series.

Karen has added images to her portfolio of Islamic tile studies based on photographs from taken in the Alcazar and Alhambra during our recent trip to Spain. She has focused her energies on exploring an approach that builds on her Structure of Nature series, but with a twist: using as the base geometric patterns, the incredibly varied and compelling tile constructs in the Andalusian mosques.

Steve has begun work on an architectural series - a response to some of the incredible examples of modern architecture found throughout Spain.

A retrospective exhibit of Steve's 35 year photographic career will be held at Verve Gallery in Santa Fe from October 19 to January 19, 2013. The opening reception will be on 26 October at the gallery. Steve will give a presentation on his work in conjunction with the Marion Center for Photographic Arts at Santa Fe University of Art and Design: Saturday, October 27, 2012, 3pm at Tipton Hall. Please see the gallery press release for more details.

A catalog for Steve's upcoming retrospective is now available. The 162 page, 8x8" catalog includes images spanning his 40 year photographic career, and is graced by an introduction written by Rebecca A. Senf, Norton Family Curator at the Center for Creative Photography in Tucson and the Phoenix Art Museum. A print copy and/or digital (PDF) version of the catalog can be ordered at this link.

Retrospective

A Photographic Search for Harmony: 1978-2012

Throughout Stephen Strom’s photographic career there have been constant threads, ideas that have sustained his work through many varied projects, and bind 34 years of photography into a cohesive body. Among these is his attitude toward experimentation…

An e-book for the iPad is also available at the Blurb online store.

One of Steve's images from his "Earth Forms" series was selected by Rebecca Senf (Norton Family Curator of Photography at the CCP in Tucson) for inclusion in the Center for Creative Photography exhibit Made in Arizona, Photographs from the Collection; the exhibit runs through November 25.

Steve and Karen both have two images on exhibit at the Timeless Meditations exhibit at the Tubac Center of the Arts. The show opened on October 12 and runs through November 11. We attended the opening reception and were extremely pleased with the high quality and diversity of the work. We are proud to be included in the show.

Steve has been named one of 15 finalists from 960 entries in the GuatePhoto 2012 Festival in Guatemala City. We will be traveling to Guatemala to attend the festival and to give a joint full day workshop on November 10. Following the festival we will visit Tikal and other sites in Guatemala, Antigua and Belize.

A preview of Steve's upcoming retrospective exhibition at Verve Gallery has been added to his website. You can follow the arc of his photographic vision and view a sample of the images to be shown in the show and in the catalog discussed below.

Both Steve and Karen have created Facebook pages devoted solely to photography. We have each populated a 'timeline' where you can trace the development of our very different visions. For Steve, we invite you to visit: http://www.Facebook.com/StephenStromPhoto/ and for Karen, http://www.Facebook.com/KarenStromPhoto/). The 'milestones' on each of our timelines is generally accompanied by selections from an associated portfolio; we invite you to 'have a look' and, if so motivated, send feedback. The pages also provide a quick reference for upcoming events. If you like what you see, please take a nanosecond to click the 'like' button. Doing so will not only provide an 'instant high' for us, but more importantly, help to build a community: one where we can easily see and marvel at what you are doing as well. You can also follow our progress and view larger portfolios of images by visiting our websites: http://www.karenstrom.com/ and http://www.stephenstrom.com/.

Both Steve and Karen have 2 pieces accepted in to the Member's Juried Exhibit at Tubac Center for the Arts. The show runs from November 16, 2012 - January 7, 2013. Steve has two of his architectural interpretations from our trip to Spain and Karen has two from her Islamic Tile Study series in the show.

Steve will be included in a two person show at ArtsEye Gallery in Tucson with an opening on December 3. This show will include much new work, including three dimensional screens. We will have more information soon.

Several of Steve's images will be included in the Desert Grasslands exhibit at the Tucson Museum of Art, January 26 - July 7, 2013.

The complete archive of our newsletters is now available on both of our websites.

To order Steve's books through Amazon, click on the book cover.