A Virtual Experience
Many followers of Scooter in the Sticks unable to physically visit the Art Alliance Gallery Downtown have asked that I post a virtual experience of the exhibition. I’ve endeavored to provide a feel of the space along with a close look at the content of the show. And I’ve also created a ZenFolio website where you can purchase prints from the show along with many others. The prints will be shipped directly to you and printed by the same company I use for prints not made myself.
There’s a video walk through of the show installation at the end of the post.
This post is very long. A lot of material to get through. Someone more technically proficient would probably have found a simpler and more efficient way to present the show.
So without further ado, welcome to my exhibition.
The Space
The Art Alliance Gallery Downtown is a small space at 123 Fraser Street in State College, Pennsylvania. When you walk into the gallery the first thing that strikes you is how bright the illumination seems. A combination of LED track lighting along with one wall of windows creates a larger sense of space to the 20′ x 30′ space.
I’ve divided the gallery, and the work into discrete sections — Riding, Seeing, Winter and Risk — with a brief text introduction summarizing my feelings for each.
Riding: Awakening to the World
What began as a pleasurable pastime gave way to a slow and quiet movement through the mountains and valleys where I live.
As if emerging from sleep, I awakened to places of light and weather, fragrances and air flows, details invisible and missed traveling by car.
Riding opened a door through which I could better appreciate the world around me.
Blue Sky, May 2017
Morning Fog, June 2007
Joy, March 2007
Freeway Interchange, September 2013
Vespa Landscape, February 2018, 40″ x 60′
Fog on Morning Ride, September 2007
Sunrise, September 2007
Night Ride, August 2013
Clearing Storm, May 2016
Seeing: Witness to My World
Away from freeways and traffic, I find unknown roads winding through sights, sounds and smells of mysterious landscapes. I forget the noise of daily life.
Day or night, through fog or under dazzling blue skies and across snow swept horizons, the views along the road are often quiet, peaceful gifts to a would-be explorer.
Turning away from the frenetic pace of living opens a door to more fully experience what passes before me. It takes time and practice, but the view through new eyes is worth the effort.
Copse of Trees, February 2018
Round Bales, December 2015
Island in Snow, April 2016
Road, Trees, Fog, September 2017
Vanishing Road, September 2016, 30″ x 40″
Susquehanna West Branch, July 2017
Fog and Trees, December 2015
Moshannon Fog, July 2017
Trees, Seven Stars, March 2016
Winter: On into the cold
I ride year round.
Riding in winter is demanding, especially when the temperature drops below freezing. The biggest challenge is mental — accepting a cold, harsh environment that challenges both body and machine.
For those unable or unwilling to ride well below the speed limit, or to pull over repeatedly to allow traffic to pass, I advise against riding in winter. If you’re unwilling to stop to puzzle out the road ahead, hazards like sudden snow, freezing rain, black ice and worse can defeat an unprepared rider.
Despite the threats or preparations needed to ride in winter, the bleak, inscrutable landscapes that present themselves merit the stretch.
Icy Morning, April 2016
Sudden Snow Squall, March 2017
Rothrock Squall, December 2013
Riding in Snow Squall, December 2013
Snow in Rothrock, December 2013, 40″ x 60″
Snow on Mountain, March 2017
After the Snow Storm, April 2018
Christmas Day, December 2015
Little Flat Approach, December 2015
Risk: Choices
Riding involves risk.
No one should ride without a clear understanding of the risks involved.
I manage what’s in my control. Alcohol, speeding and lack of skill are major factors in motorcycle crashes. A helmet can save your life.
I make choices to reduce risk. After years of riding, I still practice basic skills like emergency stops, swerving to avoid obstacles. And I play through scenarios and imagine how to handle them. The unexpected actions of other drivers, congested intersections or the sudden appearance of wildlife or debris on the road.
With experience, it’s possible to manage and reduce risk.
Road Hazard, August 2012
Miscellaneous Pieces
Additional photographs filled small wall spaces and others replaced photographs sold and taken immediately during the show.
Vespa in Fog, June 2016
Frigid Morning, December 2013
Tussey Mountain Sunrise, November 2013
Mountain Road, December 2014
Forest Darkness, October 2016
Out of the Mist, February 2018
The show will continue through August 26th with the gallery open Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday, noon to 6pm except Sundays when it is noon to 4pm. I’ll be sitting in the gallery on weekends.
Ordering Prints Through my ZenFolio Site
If you want to order prints or other items related to the photographs in the show you can find those options at stevewilliams.zenfolio.com.
Video Walk Through
This short video will give you a sense of what it would be like to walk through the gallery and provide a sense of the space.
As I awake to go get coffee and ride home to end a three day scooter adventure, I am again in awe of your work. How you have captured my thoughts in words and your pictures have captured what I see is amazing. I am now anxious to get home and see this post on the big screen.
Great job!!
Thanks for your kind words Ken. I hope they hold up on the big screen!
A three-day scooter adventure — that sounds great. I need to do something like that soon. Working in the garden this morning in the growing heat. It’s as far from adventure as I can imagine…
Great work and really nice exhibition. Thank you for taking the time to share it with us.
Vasco
(Portugal)
Thank you Vasco. I’m glad to be able to bring all the pieces together.
Beautiful Pictures Steve. Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy them on line. I’m still hoping I might get to State College in time to see them in the Gallery and possibly meet you in person.
Doug
Let me know if you think you’ll be in town. I’ll try and make sure to be around.
Steve: Yep, color me gobsmacked. As much as I’ve been admiring your words and photography since discovering your blog, this collection kicks stuff up another notch. You’ve pretty much captured the gestalt of the riding experience in general, and the unique experience of the Vespa in particular. Bravo!
Thanks for your kind words. As I looked at the show I realized how much time and energy, not to mention miles, have passed to get to that point with the pictures on the wall. What I hoped to do was, as you say, capture the gestalt of the riding experience from the back of a Vespa. It was not the first idea I had but after much floundering it emerged as the message.
It’s gratifying to know that you saw things as you did.
I’m lost for words, Steve.
Beautiful, thought-provoking? These adjectives hardly do it justice.
Outstanding? Getting closer….
Thank you so much for this post. The images are stunning and I now feel that I know you much better.
A picture paints a thousand words.
Well done, my friend.
Keith
You’re too kind Keith. I’m glad you find some value in the exhibition. It now opens the door for some new project. The dogs are staring at me now. They think that project should be taking them for a long walk in the mountains…
Beautiful!
Thank you for posting them.
My pleasure.
Fantastic pics
Thank you Chuck.
Really great images Steve! Most are familiar to me but of course its the Winter riding ones that I like the best…for those who don’t know your wanderings, seeing the Vespa in the midst of snowy conditions must spark intense curiosity and wonder.
Thanks for this virtual exhibition, wish I’d been able to attend!
I’ve had some interesting conversations in the gallery about the winter riding. Not much about safety but more about the winter landscapes and the environments I found myself in. People were interested in what they seemed to miss while during winter.
>The prints will be shipped directly to you and printed by the same company I use for prints not made myself.
Are these of lesser quality?
All the prints in the show were made by MPIX.com. I didn’t print any of them myself for this show. The quality would be the same.
I considered printing them myself on my Epson photo printer but I just didn’t have the time, and it would have increased the price a lot. I was quite happy with all the prints I’ve had made. Generally, from a color standpoint, my work is subdued. I don’t produce images with high color saturation or engage what I consider heavy-handed filters. MPIX has produced prints that are true to what I sent them. And what I send are digital images that closely match what I believe to have been my human experience of the scene.
Anyway, hope this helps.
steve
WOW! They are all absolutely beautiful Steve. Anyone should be proud to hang one of your photographs on their wall. I am sure your show will be a success. How could it not? Good luck with the rest of the show.
Thanks for your kind comments about the photography. It has been, for years now, a labor of love.
Just opened the doors to the gallery a few minutes ago. Volunteering to sit here on the weekends has the old familiar feel of going to a job. Feels good.
This is absolutely wonderful Steve! Far from Florida, I’m so pleased to walk through your virtual exhibit! Thank you for sharing your passion with so many of us.
I’m happy to be able to share these photos, and riding experiences in general, on my blog. Glad you’ve found something positive from them.
Steve,
An outstanding exhibit!
I spent quite a few years enjoying your “job-related” professional photographic work. I couldn’t help but noticing all the, agronomy, water quality, forestry, and other agricultural real estate that seems to be present in all your work. Is it a coincidence, a carry over from all the job related assignments, or something else?
Keep it up, Steve!
Regards,
Bob
Your observations about my recognition of the agricultural landscapes are correct Bob. After so many years of prowling them for Penn State they’ve become second nature and a part of what I see. And prefer I suppose. It’s nice to know what I’m looking at while I ride through the rural countryside. Haven’t seen any potato fields in awhile. Suppose I need to ride further east.
Good seeing you comment Bob. Perhaps our paths will cross again somewhere on the road.
Simply stunning! It pains me that there is no way for me to break free and witness this first hand.
Thank you so much for sharing your art here.
I think that your blog was the first I began following when I first dared to think I might be fortunate enough to commute to work on a Vespa.
Very nicely done.
No worries David. You’ve been down this way plenty.
The blog has been a strange project. On some days I’m still not sure why I’m blogging. But I can say I still love riding!
See you next Monday. I think you’ve done well.
Looking forward to seeing you and to a fine ride through the sticks!
Wow. Amazing pics once you put them in the form of an exhibition. I have seen some of these before, but they take on a whole new meaning now.
Greetings from Cape Town, South Africa, and keep up the good work.
Regards
Brad
Thanks for the kind words Brad. I appreciate them.
Wonderful work, Mr. Williams, and thanks for posting so we can all enjoy. Your photographs are like your writing, thoughtful, intelligent, and compelling. It makes me want to ride not to just get somewhere, and to bring a camera along, too. Now, to be less lazy and make that u-turn after zipping past an interesting spot.
I hope you find riding and photography as beneficial as I have. You’ll see more and more in the most ordinary places.
And thank you for the kind words about my posts. I appreciate them.
I see ConchScooter is on the road for his Iron Butt attempt.
A photograph of the two of you with your two steeds?
Maybe a photograph of the two of you with your dogs?
The advertising material arrived, thank you.
The items are in the process of being framed.
Shall send photographs of same after completion.
You’ve completed the first week; has the attendance been consistent?
Michael arrived safely and we had a fine visit. That story will appear in an upcoming post. Unfortunately I didn’t photograph him with the dogs. He likes dogs — they got along famously.
Attendance we good on the weekends when I sat in the gallery. Saturdays saw between 20 and 40 visitors. Sunday about 20. Good I’m told for that location. Lots of fine conversations about riding, photography and the Vespa.
Glad the material got to you in good shape. A mere echo of the show itself.
Howdy! This is my first time here and it is a pleasure to read your stories and look at your wonderful pictures. I ride an old BMW R100GS and also have an old East German scooter ( a Schwalbe), and share many of your thoughts about how riding enriches life. My wife often says I won’t need a therapist as long as I keep riding, and there is definitely a good deal of truth in this.
Long may you ride and write!
Hello David. I’m glad you find some value in the things I share on Scooter in the Sticks. Looking at your blog, it’s obvious we share a kindred connection to riding. And I confess a secret love of the BMW bumblebee coloring. And strongly considered acquisition of a 1988 BMW R100 GS. But as you share on your blog — the difference between that vintage bike and a contemporary GS (for me the F650GS at the time) was enough to not pull the trigger. Still — I love the idea of that old GS.
Your wife can probably see a difference in you when you ride and don’t ride. I won’t go as far as saying riding would replace therapy, but for me it has a profound effect on my outlook on life.
I’ll keep riding and writing until the thrill is gone…
Steve;
Reading your posts, I have always been left with the feeling that riding with you would be a beautiful thing. Now, having seen your show, I know that to be true.
Thank you for taking us all along on numerous adventures. Your work is beautiful in the extreme. If I were the folks at Vespa NA, i’d be knocking on your door and talking about mounting that show in dealers across the country.
Looking forward to more.
Central Pennsylvania certainly provides the canvas to create beautiful rides. Weather helps form the images and as you know, the photographer can manipulate perception of a scene by what is chosen to include or exclude. My own bias tends to eliminate evidence of traffic from pictures which can create a mood of isolation that may be different when standing there. But even then, this is a beautiful place to ride.
The folks at Piaggio know about the show and the work I do but I suspect it’s far afield of their marketing strategy and product positioning. An old guy wandering the sticks isn’t a big sell.
Now that the show is over I’ll have some extra time to ride again. Or more importantly, think again. Weird how draining it all was. In a good way. But still it robbed me of a lot of desire to get away on the Vespa.
Steve, I love the whistfulness of your photos. I takes me to a distant land that I want to discover on my vespa.
I try to duplicate the look of your photos but my iphone7 just doesn’t do it — I suspect I don’t have the eye either.
Anxious to see more of your adventures.
Thank you for your kind words about my photographs. Discovering the landscape on the Vespa is a central aspect of my riding and photography. I’ve made photos with the iPhone — it certainly has adequate resolution and would be fine for a lot of what I do. Occasionally though I need a telephoto lens to create the perspective I want. I use a point and shoot camera for this. Cameras aside, the biggest challenge is selecting the scenes and composing things to help reflect what you feel in the world. Looking back at my early riding photos I can see how things changed with practice.
More adventures are sure to come.
Steve, it has taken me till today (after your show closed) to have the dedicated time required to virtually review the show in detail. Just outstanding! I wish I could have seen it in person, but the video walk-through was the next best thing.
And you, sir, are hardly a “would-be explorer”!
Thanks for your kind words about the show, and apologies for the delay in responding to your comments. Regarding being an explorer. If I were a real one, I would be riding a 50cc scooter around the world!