For the Reporter
The first public showing of Alpine Photography of George L. Kinkade opens at the White River Valley Museum on Jan. 15 and coincides with a new pricing structure and new museum hours.
Those changes in pricing and hours will allow more access for local families with free evening museum hours on the first Thursday of each month and free regular hours every third Sunday.
Kinkade worked as a typesetter and printer for the Auburn Globe Newspaper from the 1930s to 1940s. Shortly after Kinkade passed away in 1975 his daughter-in-law, Georgia Kinkade, gifted his photo archive consisting of 369 prints of his original images to the museum.
The breathtaking photographs featured in the new exhibit are those that Kinkade selected himself to display in club exhibits, contests, and had published in the Photographic Society of America Journal from the 1930s through the 1950s. Each image is accompanied by a brief comment from Kinkade’s own writings, discussing his photographic process, wilderness experiences and general philosophies on photography and life.
Also on display is his early numbered REI membership card and ice axe.
Kinkade shot in locations considered inaccessible by many today, hiking into the mountains without advantages like logging or Forest Service roads, high-tech equipment or modern outerwear. Among the dozens of images on display are a series featuring ice caves and glaciers, many of which are either no longer in existence or deemed so unsafe that they are off limits to todays’ hikers.
Museum director Patricia Cosgrove puts this local photographer’s work into context:
“His photos have the type of detail that shares the vastness of the mountain environment while also humbling the viewer as they stand there in the warm, dry gallery. At other times, his work appears abstract because of his unique cropping – one does not generally expect these qualities of a nature photographer in the 1930s and ’40s. I believe Kinkade’s photographs are artistically well ahead of their time.”
Friends of George Kinkade and the Snoqualmie Indian Tribe are sponsoring Kinkade’s exhibit.
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Alpine Photography events:
Great Photos with Any Camera
Feb. 11, 18, 25, 6-8 p.m.
In this series of classes you will learn photography basics, including camera functions, composition and image editing. Whether you have a point and shoot, digital SLR, or even an iPhone, instructor Cary Davidson will teach you how to maximize your camera to get great photos.
Class Fee: $40 for individual classes or $100 to attend all 3, registration required
Hiking with your Camera
March 8, 1-3 p.m.
The Tacoma Mountaineers will teach you about taking wonderful pictures in the beautiful landscapes of the Pacific Northwest, covering the basics of correct exposure to some of the equipment and techniques of capturing images while out hiking.
Free with regular museum admission or museum membership
Art and Nature Slide Show
May 15, 6 p.m.
Join nature enthusiast and published photographer Steve Le Penske as he examines the elements and principals of design in nature. The slideshow features photographs depicting natural landscapes across the United States and Europe taken by Mr. Le Penske.
Free with regular museum admission or museum membership
About the White River Valley Museum
The museum creates an exciting and educational experience for visitors though a series of award-winning exhibits and programs on regional cultures, arts and history. Museum collections focus on Puget Sound history, Northwest Native culture, Japanese immigration and the Northern Pacific Railway.
New 2014 hours
The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. On the first Thursday of each month the hours are extended to include 6 to 8 p.m. The museum is at 918 H St. SE, Auburn. Regular admission is $5 adults, $2 seniors and children. Children 2 years of age or younger are always free. Admission is free all day on the first Thursday and the third Sunday of every month. Call 253-288-7433 or visit www.wrvmuseum.org for event information.
