“Imagine a room hung with pictures that reflects what has delighted your passions and continually challenges you to grow.” That is an apt description of “Reflections and Memories – My Visual Memoirs,” a photography exhibition by Dr. Gene Ann Behrens. Behrens’ photographs reflect passion of her own.
Dr. Behrens is a professor of music therapy at Elizabethtown College, and while she is interested in music, it is not her only passion. She also has a love for photography. With this exhibition, she has a chance to showcase some of her pieces. “Reflections and Memories – My Visual Memoirs” opens with an artist reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27. The reception takes place in BSC 211.
Each photograph in the exhibit hangs in a different part of the gallery, based on its subject. Architecture, nature and light each have their own spaces. The photographs showcase memories of the professor’s travels at home and in the wider world. Some of the photographs are film originals, and all of them have a story behind them.
People often ask Behrens what she likes to photograph. It depends on what best represents her experiences in her life and travels, she said. In her photography, Behrens tries to capture the aspects of nature and life that leave an impact. “To me that’s the absolute joy of photography,” she said.
Behrens has been working with various types of art since childhood, and light, in particular, always has fascinated her. “That’s what defines everything,” Behrens said. Light and lines are some of her favorite parts of photography. Natural light provides contrast and natural lines can curve in the most interesting shapes. To her, nature is a form of art.
Behrens said she appreciates finding the little details in her subjects, such as the petals of a flower or a string of hanging lights. Many parts of her work go back to the components of lights and lines.
In this exhibit, Behrens has paired each of her photographs with a quote. The quotes are small enough that they do not overwhelm the photographs but, rather, are there to help people think about the art in different ways.
The title of Behrens’ exhibition is twofold. “Reflections” stems from the hope that her photographs and the quotations paired with them will help her audience discover new ways of thinking. “Memories” reflects that the photographs have been amassed over a number of years. Each one holds memories and imprints from different parts of Behrens’ life and travels, from childhood to adulthood. They are her visual memoirs, a record of all her travels and passions.