Member Spotlight: David Mosher

Memories by David Mosher

 

Fine art photographer David Mosher is having a moment. He has three photographs in the Art League of Germantown’s 9th Annual Juried Exhibit at Kentlands Mansion Gallery in Gaithersburg, MD, one of which won best-in-show; a solo exhibit at Busboys and Poets restaurant in Takoma Park, Maryland; and received honorable mention for his dreamscape image Memories in our January Nocturne show.

“I’m inspired by nature and the landscape to create images drawn from my dreams and subconscious,” says Mosher. “I see the world as a magical place of surprise and mystery. I invite [viewers] to take a journey into my world of ambiguity and magic.”

 

Here, Mosher talks about becoming a photographer and why photography appeals to him artistically. He also shares and comments on some of his works on exhibit.

 

On becoming a photographer

 

When I was young, I was fascinated by nature and biology. I spent my days exploring the ponds and streams surrounding my home in Upstate New York. My parents gave me a camera when I was 13 and I’ve been shooting off and on since then. Life was busy when I worked a full-time job and raised a family. I started to pursue my art full-time when I retired two years ago. Photography is my full-time passion now.

 

I read a lot of science fiction and mystery novels as a youngster. As I developed as a photographer in college, I began to draw my inspiration from these genres. An art genre that constantly draws me in is surrealism, particularly the painters Magritte, Breton, Dali, and photographer Jerry Uelsmann. I studied their work until I began to find my voice as an artist. At the same time, I’ve focused on learning to remember my dreams to find greater self-understanding, as well as inspiration for my images. In my dream journal, I find ideas for images that are metaphorical, mysterious, and can only be explained in the subconscious mind. As Pablo Picasso once said, “Anything you can imagine is real.”

 

What he enjoys about fine art photography

 

Photography is the right medium for me because it gives me the freedom to capture scenes and subjects from the world around me and store them in image libraries to use later to create composite works in Photoshop. I start with background scenes as stages and add to them to create montages that seem real but don’t make sense to the rational mind.

 

It was once said that some photographers are focused outward on the world around them and some examine the world within them. I’m squarely in the latter group.

I don’t think that I could refrain from being a visual artist. I find creating art really fulfilling. I keep a notebook of visual ideas that come to me every day, especially as I meditate or settle down to rest. I especially like the act of putting images together in a montage and seeing how they interact and work together.

 

On being an Art League Exhibiting Artist

I’ve been a member since September 2021. I joined seeking more opportunities to exhibit my work. Entering juried exhibits each month has helped me to improve the editing, selection, printing, and presentation of my work to meet gallery standards.

 

Bonus Points: Mosher is also a proud dad

I have two daughters: Erika, who is married and works as an online user experience expert, and Julia, who is a few years out of college and headed for grad school to be a family counselor. Speaking of artists, Erika is becoming a great watercolor painter. Find her work on IG @Erikapaints.

 

On view

Portals is my body of work on view at Busboys and Poets restaurant in Takoma Park, MD. through June 13. Three selections from it— Abandoned, Adrift, and Enigmatic—are on exhibit in the Art League of Germantown 9th Annual Juried Exhibition at Kentlands Mansion Gallery in Gaithersburg, MD until March 29.

 

Abandoned (first prize, photography)

 

 

 

Adrift 

“This image is my testament to the beauty and precious nature of life. Life hangs in a delicate balance between our ability to destroy or preserve. Our world is precious, cherish and protect it.

 

 

Enigmatic

“Deep in the Low Country a flame emerges from the earth. No heat, just light, illuminates a secret place in the forest.”

 

Yearning

 

“We seek to connect with that which we can’t possess. We are incomplete, unfulfilled.”

 

Memories, January Nocturne Exhibit at The Art League

“In the groggy state of awakening from a dream, we hold impressions of scenes that can only exist in the irrational subconscious mind.”

 

Do you have exhibits or projects beyond The Art League? We want to hear about them! Please email our Communications Specialist Julia Chance at [email protected].

 

 

 

 

 

Artful Weekend January 29-30

"River of Lights," by Judy Miller, is on view in the January "Nocturne" Exhibit.

Welcome to Artful Weekend, our guide to fun and interesting ways to enjoy art in person or virtually.

 

This weekend: The January Nocturne Exhibit at the League; up-and-coming artists at Hamiltonian Gallery; the Banana Craze virtual exhibit; art against gender violence at Mason Exhibitions; and Breath at Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery.

 

Nocturne

Mott Street by Ashley Groves; Gouache

The period between dusk and dawn and all that it conjures is the inspiration for Nocturne, the first exhibit of 2022 at The Art League Gallery. It features a diverse collection of artworks—drawings, paintings, print-works, photography, sculpture, and ceramics—depicting the many dimensions of after-hours.

There are dark landscapes, starry vistas, and brightly lit cityscapes buzzing with activity. Night creatures—human and animal—are captured in repose, wide awake, or on the prowl. Dreamscapes appear in hazy recollection, and abstract works reference night in color, scheme, narrative, or emotive power. In Nocturne, night is serene, lively, mysterious, magical, and always captivating.

Nocturne was juried by award-winning children’s book illustrator and fine artist Becca Stadtlander and is on view through January 30. Here, four artists comment on their work in the show:

 

 

Antennas Up by Jimmy J. Greene; Acrylic, pastel

“I used a loose paint technique, ala Ashcan Style Impressionism. The, I turned the swirls of hair locks into patterns reminiscent of patterns found in African textiles. The night sky, with its distant stars, spirals into her hair like a cosmic connection coming from above. The title underscores its Afrofuturist mood with spiritual and speculative implications.”

 

 

 

Sunset at Canon Beach by Judy Guenther; Photography

“Oregon’s Cannon Beach is an iconic photo spot. I was there at sunset when the mist surrounding the rocks gave it an ethereal quality. I captured the small gatherings of families with children, couples walking hand-in-hand, dogs playing, and just enjoying themselves on a quiet evening in nature.”

 

 

Cicada at Night by Cheryl Bears; Oil

“During the spring of the isolating year of 2021, I was excited to visit the cicadas on my nightly neighborhood walks.”

 

 

 

Night Fishing by Ellen Yeager; Printmaking

“First, I did a line drawing, an Etching on my plate. Then I added Aquatint which gave me all my lights and darks. I inked it with black ink on a damp piece of paper. Next, I painted it as a night scene using watercolor.”

 

 

New. Now.

Saturday, January 29, is the final day to see New. Now., Hamiltonian Artists’ annual group exhibition debuting the work of Hamiltonian’s five distinguished 2021–2023 fellows—Kyrae Dawaun, Cecilia Kim, Ara Koh, Samera Paz, and Matthew Russo. There will be a closing reception at 4pm, 1353 U Street NW. You can also view each artists’ works and learn more about them here.

 

 

 

Banana Craze

República bananera from the series Abordando el Dorado by Carolina Durán Parias; Embroidered sequins on canvas.

Artist Maurizio Cattelan’s banana-themed artwork aside, Banana Craze is the first major study of how the popular tropical fruit has shaped the identities, ecosystems, and violence in Latin America. This virtual exhibition offers a full and comprehensive look at bananas in contemporary art, spanning decades and encompassing many countries as well as embracing artistic practices shaped by migration. View it here.

 

 

Walking together: for them and for us

Power Vest by Ana De Orbegoso

According to a United Nations’ statistic, gender violence is the leading cause of death for women ages 15 to 44. Walking together: for them and for us brings together a group of 15 artists from Latin America whose photographs, paintings, performance art and sculptures address the social and patriarchal constructs that perpetuate the subjugation of women the world over. It is on view through February 19 at Mason Exhibitions (George Mason University), 3601 Fairfax Drive, Arlington, VA. You can also view works for the exhibit and learn more about the artists here.

 

 

Breath

Wynton’s Tune; Serigraph, 30″ x 22″, LTD Edition 100, 2004.

Breath

Breath, a group exhibit featuring works by Jase Clark, Tim DeVenney, Nestor Gil, Mary Higgins, Curlee Raven Holton, Lisa Rosenstein, and Michelle Talibah, explores the value of breath as a metaphor to examine human existence and personal views of multidimensional manifestation. The works delve into themes of philosophy, emotion, physicality, mourning, and celebration. Also featured in the exhibit are limited edition prints by Faith Ringgold produced in collaboration with Curlee Raven Holton. Breath is on view by appointment through February 26 at Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery;1632 U Street NW. View the catalog here.

 

 

Tickets for Patrons’ Show 2022: Virtual Edition are On Sale Now!

The Patrons’ Show, our biggest fundraiser of the year, is just around the corner! It’s an excellent opportunity to acquire high-quality, original fine art at a bargain price while supporting a great non-profit organization and community of artists. In light of continuing restrictions surrounding COVID, we’re keeping a virtual format so nobody misses out on this perennial favorite. Don’t miss out! Learn more about The Patrons’ Show and purchase tickets here.

Stay warm and enjoy the weekend!