© Barry Steven Greff.

Opening December 2 and continuing through January 7, 2012, in the main gallery of the The Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, Colorado, is the exhibition “Dreams.” The work is meant to explore the notion that “our conscious and subconscious mind produces dreams that consist of images, ideas, sensations and emotions. Often they represent our aspirations, goals, and fears both realistic and fantastic.” The exhibition was juried by Aline Smithson the one-time gallery editor for Light Leaks magazine, who writes and edits the blog, Lenscratch, and has curated exhibitions for a number of galleries and online magazines. The Center’s executive director is Hamidah Glasgow.

Featured here, “End of the Road, Florida Keys, 2010″ by Barry Steven Greff, is one of the images being exhibited out of some 2,500 submitted for consideration. More of his work can be viewed on his Web site.

© Hiroshi Watanabe. Above: Marina Ema & Kazusa Ito, Matsuo Kabuki, 2003. 10×10 inch gelatin silver print.

Panopticon Gallery‘s newest exhibition, Kids Are People Too, celebrates children in photography as explored through the vision of sixteen photographers, from the well known to the emerging contemporary artist. Inspired by Jason Landry’s own memories of youth, the gallery owner and curator, says, “When I was a boy there was a TV show called, Kids Are People Too. It was like a talk show for kids: a Sunday morning variety show.  My fondest memory of that show was the time that they had my favorite rock band on, KISS. Isn’t it interesting that some childhood memories are quite vivid, while others are long forgotten?” The exhibition is on view from June 8, 2011 until July 12, 2011.

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© Logan White

The group photography exhibit The Pleasure Is All Mine recently opened in Chelsea to a packed house. Organized by the curatorial duo Finch & Ada, the show is a direct response to a scarcity of happiness the curators had observed in the contemporary fine art photography landscape.  “We felt that at its core, an emotion such as happiness was not viewed as a serious topic. We set out to find artists with artworks that would create a “happy place” and illustrate happiness and pleasure in a variety techniques.”

Two satellite events hosted this week add to the festive mix, Wednesday evening’s emerging collector’s symposium Instant Gratification – The Pleasures of Art Collecting and an Afternoon with the Artists on Saturday from 3 to 5 pm. Full details are available on the Finch & Ada Web site.  -Jill Waterman

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All photos © Aline Smithson. Above: Moses and the Star.

Growing up a stone’s throw from Hollywood and Vine, Aline Smithson has always been intrigued by the real and the manufactured Hollywood. The ongoing series, Hollywood at Home, elevates family and friends into a false stardom. To see more of Smithson’s work, click here.

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