Statement
A central theme of our project is the struggle to comprehend the implications of human constructions that significantly alter forces of nature. The 14 dams on the Columbia River are heralded for massive energy production and economic benefits, but they also incur environmental costs to the river basin, reducing wildlife and aquatic habitat, and impacting the lives of many in the region. Approaching the dams as both cultural phenomena and as a metaphor for large-scale intervention into nature, our project explores aesthetic responses as a means to reflect the character and ecology of the Columbia River landscape over time.
Bio
Originally from Lakewood, Washington, John Holmgren spent six years in the
United States Coast Guard. His last two years of service were aboard the Polar
Class Icebreaker the Polar Sea, on which he traveled to Antarctica and the Arctic.
He then received his Bachelor of Arts from Central Washington University in 2004,
and in 2007 received his Master of Fine Arts in Photography from the University of
Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. In 2010 he accepted a position at Franklin &
Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He has exhibited his work nationally
and internationally and has been awarded many grants and awards. Holmgren has
taught a variety of photography, mixed media and printmaking courses at numerous
institutions, including the University of Minnesota, College of Visual Arts, University
of Oregon, Prescott College and Wright State University. He currently lives in Packwood, Washington, with his wife, dogs, cats, birds and horses.