VISION 2020
A Little Help From Our Friends
Milwaukee Photographers Lew Cadkin, Cindy Hansen, Kristine Hinrichs, and Carol Starrr came together as part of a “salon” group “Vision 2020” in April, 2020 – at the dawn of the pandemic. The purpose of the group was to find a place to share their work with other accomplished photographers who could provide meaningful and honest feedback.
Each member of the group has a distinct style and artistic process.
Despite the differences in style and process, each member of the group benefits from the feedback of the others. Through this process, their work has improved in a technical sense and, more importantly, is more complex, interesting, and nuanced.
The common thread in the exhibition is this work produced through the collaborative process – the magic of a fresh eye, feedback from other accomplished photographers, committed to providing meaningful and constructive feedback. The themes depicted focus on images related to contemporary issues they see today - a shrinking industrial base, health issues like dementia, feminism, street life scenarios, and hidden abstract images.
Carol Starr
Carol Starr is a photographer currently residing in Greenfield, Wisconsin. Her main focus is on abstract photography. Although she uses digital capture, her intent is to create images that require little digital manipulation. Abstraction allows her to interpret, not just document, things that she sees. She oftentimes photographs just a part or small section of a larger object. She finds beauty and interest in that which no one else might notice. Her intention in not to create something that is recognizable. Shapes, colors and patterns are what draw her in. Because much of what she photographs is metal, impermanence is a hallmark of her photographs. How something looks today might not look the same tomorrow; in fact, the subject might no longer even be there.
With her photographs, she strives to capture the viewers’ attention and interest, to draw them in to the image like it has drawn her in. Her work has been accepted into a number of juried shows in the area, including the Racine Art Museum, Plymouth Arts Center, Walkers Point Center for the Arts and Gallery 2622.
Cindy Hansen
Wisconsin based artist and photographer Cindy Hansen uses staged self-portraiture, performance, and surrealism to explore issues of feminism, justice and aging. Self- taught, Cindy works alone doing all the costuming, makeup, backgrounds, camera-work and post-production. Her photographs have been exhibited in galleries around Wisconsin and the Midwest, as well as in Moscow and Barcelona.
Kristine Hinrichs
Kristine Hinrichs is a Milwaukee-based photographer whose work focuses on the urban landscape. It often makes use of reflections and shadows to highlight how elements of the city affect and are affected by each other – much like a funhouse mirror, one element reverberating off of the other. She believes that these elements do not exist by themselves, but only in context. She has also recently begun to print her images printed on silk –three silk panels hung in series providing a three-dimensional effect. She wants viewers to stop and wonder - what are they seeing - what is behind each layer - how does it move? She finds that the use of an ancient fabric like silk contrasts interestingly with her camera’s digital technology. Kristine has shot and posted to social media every single day for more than fourteen years, providing for a level of continuity that allows her to notice and document subtle changes in the urban landscape. Often the images find her as she moves through the city. Kristine’s award- winning work has been exhibited nationally.
Lew Cadkin
“In the right light, at the right time, everything is extraordinary” Aaron Rose. Lew Cadkin is a photographer who really practices this declaration. Lew grew up in Chicago and Evanston, Illinois and is now based in southeast Wisconsin. His unusual images display structure and contradiction, and are best shown in his Industrial Landscape, and Natural Landscape images. He was trained in photography as a college undergraduate in Design. His goal is to tell stories through imagery, and builds mini portfolios to explore topics. Lew’s approach is usually working with a project plan that seeks to engage both the site and the subject in order to fully tell the story. Lew’s background in manufacturing management and consulting helps him dig deeper for important details. He is currently starting a project on Tattoo art. He frequently exhibits in juried shows in Southeast Wisconsin. Some examples are: Racine Art Museum/Wustum Museum, Trout Museum of Art, Plymouth Arts Center, and Walker’s Point Center for the Arts. As an avid cyclist, he finds and explores potentially interesting people and locations. Lew is always looking for opportunities to explore.