Grand Opening of F/30 Student Photography Exhibition

SAN MARCOS — The Photography building is launching its student photography exhibition gallery.

The gallery is located in room F-30 on the Palomar College San Marcos campus. F-30 is part of the photography lab suite of rooms, which includes a photography studio, classroom, and darkroom. The gallery space has been repurposed and converted from a workroom and storage area, which is how it was utilized for decades. The conversion of the space has been a project in the works for well over a year.

Photography students will be able to check out the exhibition space to curate and produce their own shows and exhibit their own photography. Students will be responsible for all aspects of their exhibitions, from printing and mounting their work to designing the show and hanging the photographs, and then promoting their show. Opening receptions are strongly encouraged and are also the responsibility of the photographer(s).

Students interested in exhibiting their work need to fill out an interest form, which is currently in development. Once completed, a link will be placed in the Palomar Photography Linktree (https://linktr.ee/PalomarCollegePhoto).

Staff and faculty will review the information, and work to get the show on the calendar. Student shows will run for 2 weeks. Exhibition hours will vary by semester. For Spring 2023, the space will be open Mondays and Wednesdays from 10:00 am-4:00 pm, and Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 am-3:00 pm.

The first opening show, called Femme and Fatalities by students Emma Mings and Alex Tomeo will open with a reception on Thursday, April 6 from 5:30 pm-7:30 pm, the reception will include an official gallery grand opening, complete with a ribbon cutting with giant scissors.

“We both came up with the title for the exhibit. While we have different differences in concepts, we share themes.” Alex Tomeo shares, “And having both of our series work with one another is important.” Emma Mings adds, “Alex and I believed that it showcases the underlying themes in both of our work.”

Alex’s purpose for black and white film lies with preference, ” I feel like it conveys emotion or feeling that other mediums don’t give.”

Both Emma and Alex are passionate about their project, them coming together worked out organically. “Alex and I have taken a couple classes together and really clicked. Ben King, the lab tech for the department, asked me and Alex if we wanted to do the first show. We were thrilled and started planning right away.”

“It wouldn’t have been possible without our professor, Ben King, who helped us navigate a whole new realm.” Tomeo shares.

Light refreshments will be served and there will be a show introduction and interview/Q&A with the artists. All pieces displayed in the show will be black and white, printed here in the photography department darkroom, made from film that the photographers developed by hand in the lab. The show will run from April 6-April 20, 2023.