Muse Gallery
A gallery, teaching, and creative space that highlights local artists and uplifts the arts as a way of life!
WHAT'S ON VIEW
Transcendence
November 23 rd, 2024 - December 31 st 2024
Annie Po Photo’s works are produced by former longtime Chapel Hill resident, Cindy K. Smith.
“I capture light and time.”
“I stop time through a lens.”
Cindy was gifted with a Kodak Instamatic by her grandma when she was five. She purchased her first 35mm film camera in 1977 with her high school graduation money. She dabbled for years before running the darkroom at The Village Companies in Chapel Hill. It was here she began to take herself seriously. She has displayed portraits at Durham’s old Carolina Theater, and photographed numerous Chapel Hill - Carrboro events. She refers to the last ten years as her “reincarnation,” a time of change, a time when she allowed herself to “undress” and share her photographs with the public. She has shown her work at The Annual Wooden Boat Show in Beaufort, The Core Sound Museum in Morehead City, The Crystal Coast Country Club and the Olde Beaufort Farmer’s Market. She has received several “Editor’s Picks” mentions from Frames Magazine’s on-line entries.
Artist Statement
I believe that photographs have the ability to capture moments that create memories of a time that will never again pass our way. There are no two identical moments and those moments pass with the speed of light. As Tolkien's wise Bilbo-Baggins said, "There are moments which can change a person’s life for all time." I believe that photos too, can do that.
I enjoy working within the philosophy of ostranaenie, an artistic technique of presenting to audiences common things in an unfamiliar or strange way so they may the subject in a new unrestricted light. It’s all about perspective. Perspective is what makes an image successful. There are infinite ways of “seeing,” and I want to share mine.
Now a resident of Beaufort, NC, she works as Naturalist where she can spend and share intimate moments with a wide variety of creatures, flora and fauna. You will find many images of coastal and Down East subjects that reward her with peace and gratitude.