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THE RAC 5 – Arthur Nager
Exhibiting Member Arthur Nager’s photography journey reached another milestone in February with his exhibition “Building Stories” at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, CT. Nager’s work documenting the “social landscape” of the Naugatuck Valley places him in a new echelon – his show is right by an exhibition of legendary photographer Gordon Parks. Photo of Arthur here with his wife Mary Chandler in the Mattatuck Museum gallery.
What started you on your creative path?
As a teenager, I was fascinated by taking photographs with a 21/4 camera and I happily captured images mostly of people who were willing to be subjects. In 1965, I viewed a transformative exhibit in NYC of the work of Harry Callahan. Callahan’s ability to combine intimate studies of his personal life with a powerful sense of composition was instrumental in my decision to pursue a career in photography.
How do dreams play a role in your creativity?
At times I awake startled by a visual concept, idea or photographic image that that is compelling enough to wake me from a deep sleep. I visualize the presentation of the photographs, the scale and scope of the layout accompanied by the conviction that I should definitely pursue the approach. The excitement often leads me to pursue it.
What Inspires your artwork?
I have never lost my fascination with using a camera to select and extract visual information from the continuous theater we confront daily to refine and communicate what I find compelling and how I see the world. I appreciate the technology that has made this possible – whether through darkroom processing or digital printing. I am inspired by artists in all medium who dedicate their time and effort to actualize their personal vision.
What is the most challenging part of your creative process?
I have never struggled with knowing what to photograph or where to find subject matter of interest. With digital photography and social media, the challenge every photographer, including myself, faces today is how to develop a unique body of work that is relevant in a world where most everything has already been photographed. I strive to be relevant through a focus on documenting places and people that make up what I characterize as the social landscape.
Describe Your Artwork in 5 Words
Here’s Looking At You Kid
Follow Arthur on Instagram: @arthurnager
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