Happenstance Becomes a Work of Art - J. Avery Wham, photographer, is July's Artist

"I am always looking for the quiet moments when one feels alone, but not lonely; then again, I love going to places that I hear other people call desolate. What's even more fascinating is when colors mix with lines and angles so much so I can feel it enveloping me that I want to crawl into the photograph."

-- J. Avery Wham

Avery's ability to find those quiet moments we crave to experience during our hectic lives is quite extraordinaire. She is able to focus in, capturing that moment that we long for to just be able to clear our minds. Perhaps our souls bringing us to the edge of loneliness by taking us to places that are desolate, forgotten, empty. Even though each image shows sharpness, clarity knowing we have seen the place at some point, or showing the tangible long forgotten, ravished by the sea inviting you in, daring you to step over the threshold as it envelopes you.

A desolate "curleys" home to a tattered, dirty American Flag...is that where we are now? That edge of loneliness just beyond being alone feeling battered with the economy, politics, joblessness. Or is it a time gone by, a time when we used to celebrate enjoying what we had abandoning it to attain more?

"Long Beach - Stratford, Connecticut One"
photography - by J. Avery Wham

Perhaps, at one moment what looks like to be the utter vastness of Long Island Sound, could be solace knowing you are not alone afterall since Long Island is just over the horizon...

"Fire Island, Long Island"
photography - by J. Avery Wham

...or looking up to the Heavens at "11 PM" seeing the outstretched arms of a tree wrapping around the full moon, enveloping "luna" shows a vastness and yet a constancy of the universe, that you are a constancy within life's strategic plan...

"11 PM"
photography - by J. Avery Wham

...and even the "baroness" of being alone sometimes is as soul searching and healing than having friends around...even if a bit tattered.

"Long Beach - Stratford, Connecticut Two"
photography - by J. Avery Wham

Avery's capturing of the brink of loneliness, the brink of total abandonment brings a whole new meaning to the eye of the beholder; the eye of photography becomes a work of happenstance, a work of art.

Avery Wham studied photojournalism and advertising photography at Syracuse's Newhouse School of Public Communications before moving to Boulder, Colorado, then London, England, and then New York City, before returning to her home state of Connecticut. She worked commercially doing still-life, weddings, families and pets, all the while making time for city strolls at dawn or hikes at sunset, sometimes to the same places over and over again, hoping to catch perfect light on the scene.

You can see Avery's work at SoBoBo Gallery during the month of July. Come join us on Thursday, July 26th from 7pm to 9pm for an opening reception celebrating Avery's work of happenstance, works of art.