Moon When Cherries Turn Black

Moon When Cherries Turn Black I

I just released five new photographs in my Adventures in Celestial Mechanics project. The five photographs are named after the Sioux name for the August Full Moon, Moon When Cherries Turn Black. Enjoy!

Moon When Cherries Turn Black II

Moon When Cherries Turn Black II

Moon When Cherries Turn Black IV

Moon When Cherries Turn Black V

Critical Mass 2017

Rice Moon I

Critical Mass has always been one of my favorite contests, and I'm proud to be included as one of the Top 200 finalists this year (the final 50 of these will be announced next month). I submitted a selection of my Adventures in Celestial Mechanics series this year, and if you are curious as to my group of ten that I submitted, I've included them below.

I was also extremely happy to see so many friends and clients on the list, too, including (but not limited to!) Diana Nicholette Jeon, Kent Krugh, Amy Rockett-Todd, Sean Sullivan, Peter Ydeen, and Jane Yudelman.

Moon of Wakening II

Dancing Moon I

Bright Moon

Quiet Moon I

Quiet Moon II

Buddha Moon III

Buddha Moon II

Buddha Moon I

Summer Moon I

New Work - The Euclidean Sonata

Euclidean Sonata #4

I've just published here the first images in my new piece of my Harmony of the Spheres project. The new piece is called the Euclidean Sonata and is still a work in progress. In a big departure for me, each photograph is a cyanotype (and created using the light of the Sun, our closest star). Enjoy!

Lecture at Acadia Night Sky Festival

Nightfall, Otter Cliffs, Acadia National Park

The annual Acadia Night Sky Festival takes place this coming week with a whole range of events, including a lecture on Wednesday night (Sept. 20th) by Nate Levesque and myself, each on our respective night sky photography. The lecture is free to the public and from 7-8 pm (and created in partnership with Maine Media Workshops and College). And while you are up there, you can check out many of other great events planned (and hopefully the weather will be clear for the night sky ones).

The Door Between Exhibition at Maine Media Gallery

Euclidean Sonata #1

Opening today at the Maine Media Gallery in Rockport is a new exhibition of handmade works (photographs and books) from a variety of artists, including two photographs from myself. My two cyanotypes are from my new Euclidean Sonata in my Harmony of the Spheres project. I definitely look forward to seeing all of the displayed work. The opening is tonight, August 16th, from 5-6:30 pm, and the exhibition extends until October 6th.

Cosmos Exhibition at Camerawork Gallery

I'm very excited to announce that a solo exhibition of my work, entitled Cosmos, has just opened at the Camerawork Gallery in Portland, Oregon. The exhibition extends until August 25th. Cosmos includes 20 larger pieces from my Adventures in Celestial Mechanics and Harmony of the Spheres projects, and I love how the combination of the two projects came out.

If you live in the Pacific Northwest and get a chance to check out the exhibition, let me know what you think!

Soho Photo Gallery National Photography Competition

Prelude #4

I'm a bit late in mentioning this, but one of my pieces is included in the National Photography Competition exhibition at the Soho Photo Gallery in NYC. I'm particularly excited that juror Aline Smithson awarded my photograph the Third Place price as well. I wasn't able to make it to the opening, but if you are in NYC you can see the exhibition through July 22nd.

Nightvisions 2017 Exhibition

Ouroboros #1

Three of my newest pieces are in the Nightvisions 2017 exhibition at the Coconino Center for the Arts in Flagstaff, Arizona. The three pieces are from Ouroboros, part of my Harmony of the Spheres project. The exhibition opens to the public tonight and the exhibition will continue until July 29th. I wish I could see this one in person!

Exhibition at Carver Hill Gallery in Rockland, ME

Untitled #15, East of the Sun, West of the Moon project

Eleven pieces from my East of the Sun, West of the Moon and Codex Natura projects will be on display at Carver Hill Gallery in Rockland starting this Friday, with an opening reception from 5-8 pm. The opening for the exhibition is First Friday in Rockland so there will be all kinds of great shows to see - I hope to see you there!

Ouroboros Sonata

I recently released the beginnings of a new piece in my Harmony of the Spheres project, the Ouroboros Sonata. I have three photographs in this piece so far and it is very much still a work in progress, but I'm extremely excited about its potential. You can see all three here. Let me know what you think!

Ooroboros #2

Presentation & Discussion at the Boston Athenaeum

"Untitled #20", East of the Sun, West of the Moon project

Tuesday night, April 18th (okay - that is tonight!), I’ll be part of a public discussion of science and photography at the Boston Athenaeum from 6-7:30 pm. Bob Hesse, Thibault Roland, and myself will each make a short presentation and then engage in a round-table discussion regarding the impact of science on our creative processes.

Opening at Boston Athenaeum April 5th

Next Wednesday night I'll be at an opening at the Boston Athenaeum for the New England on Paper opening exhibition that includes two of my pieces from their collection. The exhibition will go from 5:30-7:30 pm on Wednesday, April 5th. I look forward to seeing what should be a great exhibition!

Talk at Capital Area Camera Club on April 4th

Mourning Moon I

I'll be making a presentation at the Capital Area Camera Club in Augusta, Maine next week on April 4th. The presentation is from 7-9 pm and is located at the Kaplan University Augusta campus, and is open to the public. I'll be talking about the progression of my work over the last 10 years, particularly with respect to photographing the night. Hope to see you there if you are in the area!

Environmental Fundraiser Results

Chaste Moon I

The results are in from my environmental fundraiser, and thanks for all who participated or considered doing so! Together we raised $850 (17 prints) for the cause of the protecting the environment in these challenging times.

I've done quite a bit of research in deciding how best to distribute the money, and below I'll list each organization I chose and why. I'll of course include a link, too, if you'd like to check them out yourself or support them directly, too. All of these charities are very highly rated and 94% or more of contributions go to their efforts rather than marketing and administrative costs.

First up is Earthjustice ($250) -- which I somehow had never heard of before. They had me at their slogan - Because the Earth Needs a Good Lawyer - and they serve to support other environmental organizations by providing free legal services from their 100+ lawyers. Lawsuits are such an important tool in the environmental fight, and Earthjustice is fighting the good fight.

Two of the best general purpose environmental advocacy organizations are the Natural Resources Defense Council and the Environmental Defense Fund ($200 each). The NRDC works internationally to help combat climate change and providing clear air, clean water, and preserved lands. The EDF works in similar areas with a science focus, and both of these organizations are heavily engaged with partnerships with other organizations and local forces.

The Sierra Club Foundation ($100) provides funding for other environmental organizations, including the Sierra Club. As a public charitable organization they can efficiently raise funds for other organizations.

Last but not least, I chose The Conservation Fund ($100) for its focus on emphasizing mutually beneficial and collaborate solutions with local governments and corporate interests, such as their big project with Apple and the state of Maine (and many others) to help protect over 32,000 acres of working forests in northern Maine.

Thank you again to all who participated, and I encourage you to learn more about these organizations by following the links if you are interested.

Celestial Solo Exhibition at Unity College

We just installed a solo exhibition of my work at the Unity College Center for Performing Arts in Unity, Maine. I'm excited about this show as it presents pieces from all five of my bodies of work for a total of 23 pieces.

There will be a reception on April 13th from 4-6 pm, and I've included the press release below:

Friday, March 10, 2017 to Sunday, April 16, 2017

The Leonard R Craig Gallery at Unity College presents:

Jim Nickelson: “Celestial”

A show of work by Jim Nickelson. The show will run from March 9th to April 16th.

A reception for the artist will be held April 13th from 4:00-6:00 PM. Refreshments will be provided. The reception is free and open to the public. 

In his work, Jim Nickelson creates photographs based on his interest in science and nature, with particular interest in the way we as a species grapple with the unknown and our relationship to the Universe. The exhibition includes work from five distinct bodies of work.

Adventures in Celestial Mechanics centers upon the full moon and the way various cultures relate to its cycles through naming conventions. Pyrotechnic studies natural forms found in abstracted fireworks, reminiscent of how we find familiar forms and comfort wherever we look. East of the Sun, West of the Moon explores landscapes evocative of fairy tale and myth, tools we have used for millenia to explain the unknown. Codex Natura addresses forms in nature suggestive of the shared celestial origin of all matter on Earth. Harmony of the Spheres is inspired by the idea, dominant for two thousand years among thinkers ranging from Pythagoras to Aristotle to Plato to Kepler, that objects spin in the night sky to create celestial music in harmonious relationship with each other, the natural world, and the human soul.

For more information contact Ben Potter, Professor of Art / Curator of the Leonard R. Craig Gallery at 207-509-7239, or e-mail bpotter@unity.edu

Fundraiser Sale for Environmental Causes

The Tarn, Copyright Jim Nickelson. All Rights Reserved.

I've decided to offer a selection of my prints as a fundraiser for environmental organizations that will be helping to fend off the coming assaults on the environment. Here's how it works: each print is offered for $50 (domestic shipping included) as a signed open edition, and I'll donate 100% of the proceeds to a variety of environmental organizations.

You can find and order the photographs (and find more information) here. Thank you for considering this, and please let me know if you have any questions.

Pairings Exhibition at 555 Gallery in Boston

Pyrotechnic #141, Copyright Jim Nickelson

My work is included in the new and interesting group exhibition at 555 Gallery through April 30th. The exhibition, entitled "Pairings", includes curated pairings of fine art photography and contemporary furniture.

New Codex Natura Work

Codex Natura #20

I'm finally starting to update my galleries with work from the last year, and I'm kicking things off with two new photographs from my Codex Natura project. You can see these and other selections from the project here.

Codex Natura #21

Article in Digital Output Magazine

February's issue of Digital Output magazine features me in an article about artists who do their own large format fine art printing. I'm not sure if the screen capture above is actually readable, but I'm excited to be featured in the magazine!

Order and Chaos Exhibition at Eastern Kentucky University

"Prelude #3", from my Harmony of the Spheres project

I'm pleased to announce that a piece from my Harmony of the Spheres project will be included in the Order and Chaos exhibition at the Giles Gallery at Eastern Kentucky University as part of their Chautauqua Art Exhibition series. There is an opening reception this Thursday, Jan. 26th, from 5-7 pm, but I unfortunately will be unable to attend. The exhibition extends from Jan. 23rd through February 22nd.