Cole Swavely, Keep Moving, 2018, silkscreen collage, 12" x 12"
Reception: Saturday, December 8, 3:00 to 6:00 p.m.
In the tradition of great landscape artists and photographers, Clara Young Choi seeks to capture the sublime — that sense of awe and wonder we feel in extraordinary places. “When I face nature, I always feel humble and small,” she says, “There is nothing but a Creator and a Creature. Coming back from a photo trip, I am always grateful for the rest of my life and gain the energy to live again.” The Sublime and the Beautiful brings together photographs taken on Choi's travels in the US and abroad. These are photographs that truly capture the atmosphere and feeling of extraordinary landscapes. “It would be great to be able to always take photos in the most appropriate weather with the best light,” Choi says. “But when I am on a trip, there are many days when the wind blows, and it is cloudy and rainy. I have learned that the light comes not only on a sunny day but from the sun shining behind clouds.”Choi makes her travels a constant search for the right place and time for a photo. "The wonderful scene of the moment never waits for me so I chase along trying to find it as much as I can," she says. “Taking a right scene in the right place is like hide-and-seek of the moment. The same moment does not come back again. Every moment comes only once.”
On December 7th, from 5-8 PM, visitors can see this remarkable exhibit during the Georgetown Galleries Winter Art Walk. See www.georgetowngalleries.com for info. It is the same night as Georgetown Glow All Night.
Clara Young Choi, “There They Are”, 40"x18.5" photograph
About the Artist
Clara Young Choi grew up in Korea and studied musical performance at Yonsei University. Her musical background plays a crucial role in her way of capturing images and moments. She believes that the elements that constitute an image, such as colors, lines, shapes, brightness, and contrast, all contain their own notes and beats in a very orchestral way. These qualities piece and work together in harmony to produce a beautiful image and work of art. Choi's work has been exhibited internationally in group and solo shows and has won numerous awards, including silver, bronze, and grand prizes in national photo contests in Korea.