Gallery of the Month: Flagstaff Photography Center

Flagstaff Photography Center (FPC) is located on Heritage Square in the Babbitt Building in downtown Flagstaff. The space was formerly known as Photography on the Square and before that was Sue Bennett's commercial photography studio.

Two years ago, Jason Hasenbank became Managing Director of FPC and the space transformed into a showroom for the display of fine art photography. Hasenbank spent his high school years in Flagstaff. After graduating he moved to the Northwest and became a commercial fisherman in Alaska and spent a decade on the water. Afterwards, he started managing the Benham Gallery for Fine Art Photography in Seattle where he gained knowledge of the arts and learned about the details and processes of running a gallery.

During his years away from Arizona he had kept in contact with local photographers Raechel and John Running in Flagstaff and the idea to open the Photography Center presented itself. Jason explained that the birth of the FPC happened quickly, one day the idea came up between him and John Running and the next day the plans were set into motion to turn the studio space into the Flagstaff Photography Center.

I asked Jason what it was about photography that got him started and he expressed that, "Photography is a tool that facilitates my memory." After working in Benham Gallery Jason started to become intrigued by the curating side of art. "Creating a forum to discuss ideas and artwork is what really interests me." Now as Managing Director of FPC, Hasenbank gathers regional artists to create shows and photography forums that display diverse styles and photographic approaches. If a gallery has one goal in mind it should be to exhibit work that is diverse not only aesthetically but also in ideas. The Flagstaff Photography Center definitely understands this concept keeping viewers and gallery goers curious about upcoming exhibitions.

Hasenbank has other motives for the Flagstaff Photography Center as well. He expressed that a major component of their programming is to expand their educational workshops and to create and maintain community partnerships. The FPC's mission is to enrich our community by conducting workshops and lectures in order to promote an awareness of the remarkable achievements of our region's many talented fine art and media photographers.

Plans for the future include the upcoming "Teens on the Go" workshops with the Flagstaff Public Library where kids will learn how to create images using the classic Holga camera. The images that are produced will then be put into book form and also exhibited during the September 4th ArtWalk. There is also a free workshop scheduled for Saturday, July 11th from 3-5pm with Jeff Kida, Photography Editor for Arizona Highways magazine, on "How To Make Better Travel Photos".

Jason and the FPC are trying to reach out to many groups and organizations within the Flagstaff community to promote art and photography. FPC and Pasto Restaurant have teamed up to display the photography of selected participants from FPC's Annual Portfolio Review. Every month a new photographer will be displayed in Pasto.

Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra has also been collaborating with the FPC and are using the photobooth to create images for the promotion of their upcoming 60th season. The more local participation we have, the better off Flagstaff will be. "We're trying to create awareness so that Flagstaff becomes a destination for art," Hasenbank said. Jason also feels that we need to keep the integrity of what the town has to offer. People come here to experience the uniqueness that only Flagstaff has to offer. As an art community we need to come together to promote that uniqueness.

An exhibition titled Summer Homework by Keiji Iwai will be displayed from June 17 through August 15. The opening reception will be Saturday, June 20th from 6-8 pm. This series of photographs, taken over a three-year period, document the idyllic childhood experiences that Iwai had during his upbringing in Japan.

For information on workshops, upcoming shows and other details surrounding the Flagstaff Photography Center please visit www.flagstaffphotographycenter.com.

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