Faces of the Arts – an exhibition of photographic portraits
This collection of photographs is a portrait study by one of Bangor’s own photographers and multidisciplinary artists Rachel McCarthy, honouring just some of those faces that shape the creative and cultural landscape of Bangor and beyond.
As a habitual people watcher, Rachel notices the subtle changes in unspoken emotion and expression, often deliberately capturing the person as their eyes drift away from the direct gaze of the lens, drawing the viewer into wondering what the person in the frame might have been thinking and what their story is. That’s fundamentally what portraiture is for Rachel and regardless of the scene being well curated or not, those in between moments seem to be where the most magnetic portraits happen.
Inspired by the likes of Dianne Arbus and Henri Cartier-Bresson. Rachel has kept different cameras in her pocket for majority of her life. She gained a deeper love for photography whilst studying at Bangor Tech in 2006, using a budget SLR and developing her black and white 35mm film images in the college dark room. Her work later evolved into moving picture, making her own music videos with The Darkling Air. For the past year she has been turning her lens to other visual artists, musicians, actors, writers and dancers, especially those who call this coastal town home.
Rachel’s intimate and atmospheric approach to photography sees an organic collaboration between her and the creative sitter. These portraits are not merely likenesses; they are soulful interrogations of identity.
This exhibition launches on 30th July as part of Late Night Art and runs until the end of August upstairs at the Court House.
Please note this is a festival event and an Open House Festival Ticketsolve login will be required to be book tickets.
Please note this event is mix of seating and standing room. If you have any accessibility requirements please get in touch with us here.
Free event, All ages welcome but under 18s accompanied by an adult.