Houston photographer Troy Knight is the Galveston Art League’s Featured Artist from Oct. 3-27. Roughly a dozen of his pictures, from Asia, Europe, and local sites, will be exhibited and offered for sale in the league’s gallery, 2117A Postoffice St. in Galveston. Gallery hours are noon to 6 Thursdays- Sundays and during ArtWalk on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Knight started pursuing photography at age 18, when he was a soldier stationed near the demilitarized zone in Korea. “I decided to purchase a Kodak Signet 80 camera from the PX and take snapshots of my new and very unfamiliar environment,” he says. “Luckily, it was a great choice for a rank beginner.”
Knight’s black-and-white images from that time reveal bleak landscapes, Koreans living in desperate times, and sad-faced Army buddies. Later, as a civilian, his photos reflected “new babies, new cars, new houses, birthdays, and all those wonderful experiences that make life rich and full.” He filled albums with pictures.
He took a few classes taught by members of the community, and his interest in photography kept growing. “As I had the opportunity to travel more, my camera inventory increased,” says Knight, whose website is TroyKnightPhotography.com.
He bought a more modern camera and additional lenses, eventually moving from film to digital. “I finally realized that the camera could be an artistic tool and not just an instrument to record family activities.”
After he stopped by the Galveston Art League Gallery, Knight took the plunge and entered one of the league’s three annual juried contests. One of his photos was accepted and exhibited. “This opened a new world to me. Now more leisure time allows me to use my camera every day to capture the essence of a culture, the spirit of a landscape, and the heart of a story.
“It is a joy to know that some of my pictures have emotionally touched others and are now in their homes, that I get to share the story of these photos with others, and that I get to continue to grow as a photographer.”
Every month the Galveston Art League rolls out a new display as part of its goal to expand appreciation for visual arts and art education. Founded in 1914, the nonprofit organization has always been staffed exclusively by volunteers, and its operating budget depends on tax-deductible contributions, membership and sponsorship fees, and proceeds from a fall gala.
This year’s laid-back gala – open to the public, as always – will be 6-10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 26, in the San Luis Hotel Grand Ballroom. Tickets are available at GalvestonArtLeague.com or by calling 409-938-1671.
The gala will feature a gourmet dinner and open bar, auctions of artwork and local merchants’ donations of products an services, the raffle of a wheelbarrow loaded with spirits, and live music. For questions, you may also email gallery2117@gmail.com.
