Vanderlin exhibits ‘Photogenic Drawings’ in The Gallery at Penn College

When Keith Vanderlin, retired assistant professor of graphic design and photography at Pennsylvania College of Technology, was pursuing a master’s degree in science education at Temple University, Philadelphia, he studied the work of Jose Arguilles, who wrote “The Transformative Vision: Reflections on the Nature and History of Human Expression.” In the book, the writer and artist argues for the “blending” of art and science to restore harmony and sustainability to the world. 

Vanderlin has collaborated with naturalist Chris Slesar to create a series of photographs that synthesize art and science and, more specifically, blends nature and photography. The collection – “Photogenic Drawings” – will be on exhibit through Sept. 30 in the lobby of The Gallery at Penn College, located on the third floor of the Madigan Library. 

This is the first time Vanderlin has worked on a collection of images with another person. He and Slesar have vacationed together in Cape Cod near the National Seashore with their families for many years. The two share an admiration for the area, the surrounding ocean and all creatures great or small that inhabit the cape. They have worked on the project over the course of three years. Many of the subject-based images Slesar sent to Vanderlin were made by him while he was exploring the Cape Cod landscape. 

“I make many images of subjects – for example, water, ice, clouds, wall graffiti, land patterns, plants and animals,” Vanderlin said. “I also experiment with camera techniques using assorted light sources and long exposure times to create linework that appears to move. Many of these images are used for making what I call ‘blended images.’” 

A successful blended image, he added, has a combination of three qualities: subject, form and content, but it can be difficult to achieve all three in a single image made by a camera. Vanderlin uses Photoshop to successfully blend images. 

“I start with strong subject-based images, organize them within the frame of reference according to design principles – the harmonic armature, the rebatement, as well as color and spatial relationships,” Vanderlin said. 

The content, symbolism and meaning of the final image will vary accordingly, and the viewer’s experience will be different for each individual, depending on what life experiences that person brings to the image. More complex images may engage the viewer long enough for them to become intellectually or emotionally involved, connecting to colors or the formal design qualities of the image.

The Gallery at Penn College is open from 2 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 4 p.m. Fridays and 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays. It is closed on Mondays and Saturdays and Aug. 31.