Art Showcase and Reception at Ascend Day Spa Featuring

The Photography of LARAINE ANNE FLETCHER

on view 09/10/10- 11/07/10

The Ascend Day Spa, located at 82-62 Austin Street, in Kew Gardens, Queens, will be exhibiting artwork from local artists in an effort to give back to the community.  The Ascend Day Spa is an all natural green spa, focusing on mind and body wellness through relaxation and rejuvenation. Continuing the exhibition series, Ascend is offering its space for a selection of works by photographer Laraine Anne Fletcher; the opening reception will be on Friday, September 10th, 2010, at 8:00 pm. The artist will be in attendance. Wine and Refreshments will be served. The exhibition will be on view through November 7th, 2010 during business hours.

Laraine Anne Fletcher was born (1940) in Brooklyn, grew up in Ozone Park and currently resides in Kew Gardens.  She attended Richmond High School, received a B.A. from Adelphi University and a Ph.D. from SUNY Stony Brook. She has worked professionally as an archaeologist in Mexico, Guatemala, and Nicaragua and currently heads the Anthropology Department at Adelphi.  She has also been a photographer since 1970. Her last exhibit, "México Profundo," was held at the Swirbul Library Gallery, Adelphi University, Garden City. 

Fletcher began taking pictures with the reliable Pentax Spotmatic, using only available light with  the classic 50mm f/1.4 lens and shooting exclusively in black and white. She tried to follow Robert Capa's advice that “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you aren’t close enough”. The switch to digital came within the last decade, and with that, an interest in color, form, and finally, the use of the zoom lens with greater frequency.  This eclectic exhibit reflects some 40 years of picture taking in black and white and color, and covers a wide variety of themes.

For more information: (718) 846-4601