“Barns and Back Roads” features work by photographers Alan Vlach and Al Wachlin Jr. who both photograph the built environment of mostly rural landscapes, but approach the subject for different reasons and in different ways. The images from Wachlin’s portfolio document the changes in Maine potato barns, or “potato houses," of Aroostook County’s potato-farming industry. Wachlin represents the older, broken down structures through silver gelatin prints on hand-made, purposely distressed paper, while the modern structures are revealed to us in color, on aluminum. Alan Vlach’s photographs stem from a cross-country trip, showing images of Southern storefronts, decaying houses, and abandoned Midwestern farm buildings. The majority of Vlach's photographs are salted paper prints, while a few are platinum/palladium. Together the two bodies of work each present physical reminders of fading traditions and changing industries. 

About the Artists

Al Wachlin Jr. is a native Philadelphia fine art photographer. He first became interested in photography while attending Northeastern University. This interest continued and grew after transferring to Temple University where he studied finance. He is not just an artist, but also an organizer. In 2001 he co-founded the Light Room, a non-profit darkroom, with the mission to promote photography in Philadelphia through community outreach, public exhibitions, and darkroom facilities. He has coordinated studio tours and helped host artist exhibitions including two regional photography competitions. In the past 14 years he has been a part of numerous group and solo shows.

Alan Vlach is a fine art photographer with a deep commitment to the traditional darkroom while fully embracing new technologies. He works extensively with digital enlarged negatives and historical processes as well as digital printmaking. In 1999 he began a formal study of the medium with George DeWolfe. Since then, he has attended workshops with Marilyn Bridges, George Tice, Tillman Crane, Brenton Hamilton, Sean Kernan, Mark Nelson, Josephine Sacabo, Paul Taylor and Lewis Kemper. In 2004 – 2005 he attended the Certificate Program at Rockport College. In 2006 he began capturing images digitally, working in Photoshop to create enlarged negatives and positives for use in historical processes including platinum/palladium, kallitype, salted paper, cyanotype and, most recently, photopolymer gravure. He has been teaching at the Maine Media Workshops since September 2007. Alan resides in Trenton and Portland, Maine.

Runs Through Oct. 11.

Opening Reception | Friday, September 4, 5-7pm (During Portland's First Friday Art Walk)

Artist Talk | Sunday, October 11, 3pm