Featured Artist: Mike McAllister
Beginning June 1, the beautiful photography of Mike McAllister will be available for viewing in the Gritty’s Art and Ale windoe, located at 68 Main St, Auburn. McAllister will feature photos taken while on holiday in Ireland.
Mike McAllister describes his philosophy, process and work as an artist best—
“The world rushes too quickly. I want to slow down. Step by step I walk or hike noticing things often overlooked. There’s beauty in the tiniest of things, sprigs of nature. Whiz by through the speed of a car and a whole world is missed. I have a different perspective than most. I take time to ponder. Take time to try to understand why a world spends so much time and energy on useless political things. Things you could pour so much of your own energy on and no matter how passionate you are on a subject or even if you had the answers to cure the world, the powers that be would never listen. I’ve come to a place of understanding. The joy of life is in the little things. Take time for friendships. Slow down and experience the sounds of nature. Watch a flower unfold or a blade of grass sway in the wind. Respect nature around you. Love.
A while ago, I visited Ireland for the first time and walked much of the soil of my ancestor’s homeland. Tourist busses whizzed by as fifty wide-eyed faces pressed to the windows. Everyone trying to see, yet missing everything. They were from away, perhaps the US. They reminded me of the rushing attitude I’m often surrounded with. But here in Ireland, the pace was different. The pace reminded me of my own. Step by step, walking. I felt at one with this land. A country I could easily move to. A country I could easily understand. People at peace, living off the land without destroying it. Respect for nature. I found it absolutely beautiful from every tiny stone to the majestic cliffs that braved the mighty Atlantic.
My camera recorded all I saw, as if an extension of my own vision. I took thousands of pictures. Beautiful pictures. Pictures I wish to share with everyone in silent hope that through them, they too will see the world as I do. Step by step.
My work is produced using a digital workflow. All darkroom work is performed in a dry/digital darkroom. Prints are produced using pigment inks on archival cotton rag paper.”
Gallery Images Coming Soon…