Exhibition - Ephemeral Grace: Botanicals by Deb Ehrens

In describing her exhibition “Ephemeral Grace: Botanicals” photographer Deb Ehrens says that “we all have personal narratives, a collection of stories illuminating key moments in our lives. Our stories come from memories, truths, embellishments, and omissions.” Using light instead of words, Deb Ehrens has written imagined narratives for flowers from her garden. Studying that transformation from buds on the edge of an explosion to tissue-thin fibers holding the faded hues of past beauty is a meditation on life. It is a reminder to live fully in each moment. The narrative begins in total darkness as she accentuates and embellishes the flower form with fast-moving, strategically positioned hand-held lights. Each floral portrait is a combination of many digital negatives. Deb’s “canvas” begins with a layer of the darkest darks. Then, in the style of a Renaissance painter, she gradually paints in the light that reveals the form, detail and ephemeral grace hidden within.

In her image making, Deb Ehrens embraces both age-old artisan techniques and modern digital tools. She is an out-of-the-box thinker who pushes the boundaries of materials and processes to create a unique look. Although largely self- taught, an ongoing mentorship with painter Deborah Quinn-Munson has been instrumental in helping Ehrens develop her artistic eye. She has also taken classes at RISD and Maine Media College and studied with Harold Ross, Dan Burkholder, and Wendi Schneider. Deb is an Elected Artist of the Art League of RI, a Juried Artist Member of the Cape Cod Art Center, and an Exhibiting Member of the RI Center for Photographic Arts. A resident of Dartmouth, MA, Deb has been a solo and featured artist at galleries throughout the region and participated in numerous national juried exhibits. Her award-winning images are held in private, corporate, and Museum collections.