By Lookout Staff

May 26, 2022 -- Three photography exhibitions featuring the work of Santa Monica College (SMC) students in genres that include fine art, portraiture and still life will open next month, school officials announced Thursday.

The SMC Photography Department's 43rd Annual Juried Student Exhibition, a Retrospective Portfolio Exhibition and the Bi-Annual Spring 2022 Student Portfolio Exhibition will hold free opening receptions at two locations on June 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The Juried Student Exhibition will be presented in SMC's Pete & Susan Barrett Art Gallery at the SMC Performing Arts Center, 1310 11th Street, and will run through June 20 by appointment only.

"The juried exhibition will display 181 prints from 68 SMC student photographers, along with a 97-image looping slide show highlighting work from 40 students in the Photo 1 class," according to publicity for the exhibit.

The exhibition will also display prints from 15 students who completed the SMC Photography program in 2020-2021.

Appointments to view the exhibit after the opening reception can be scheduled by sending an email to SILVER_EMILY@smc.edu.

The other two exhibitions will take place in the SMC Photography Gallery, located on the second floor of Drescher Hall on the main SMC campus

The Spring 2022 Student Portfolio Exhibition -- featuring work from the school's most advanced photography students -- will present 28 professional still life and product photographs by Linn Bjoerkstroem, Bailee Garver, Renee Hulett and Ericka Young.

The four students are completing the SMC Photography program and the Photo 43: Portfolio Development classes this spring, Department officials said.

After the opening reception, gallery viewings can be arranged through June 11 by appointment only, which can be scheduled by sending email to NELSON_HANNAH@smc.edu.

The Retrospective Portfolio Exhibition will feature the work of students who completed the Photography program during the spring 2020, fall 2020, spring 2021, and fall 2021 semesters.

“This will be the first in-person exhibition from the Photography Department since 2020, when COVID forced us online," said SMC Photography and Fashion Department Chair Josh Sanseri.

Most of the photographs were taken for classes held online, Sanseri said.

"We're extremely proud of these photographers, their determination, and the accomplishments they've achieved," he said.

Selected images will be awarded special recognition by SMC Superintendent/ President Dr. Kathryn Jeffery, Vice President of Academic Affairs Bradley Lane, and Dean of Academic Affairs Jason Beardsley.

Each year, the award recipients are honored for their accomplishments at an upcoming meeting of the SMC Board of Trustees.

For more information, call 310-434-4289.