FRANK focuses on photography

FRANK gallery is focusing photography in the minds of the community.
The Franklin Street art gallery is the force behind FRANK: In Focus, a festival that works to build community partnerships centered around photography.

Local photographer Barbara Tyroler began planning the festival — which runs through Nov. 1 — six months ago.

“My idea was to bring photography to the Triangle, to have a larger presence for the photographers that were in all the disciplines — fine arts, documentary, commercial, journalistic, medical even — and also to get a connection with the University here,” Tyroler said.

Bryce Lankard, a UNC alumnus and an ArtSchool photography instructor at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, joined Tyroler in organizing the festival four months ago.

Lankard, who developed a photography festival when he lived and worked in New Orleans, said the previous experience helped expand FRANK: In Focus.

“I saw what they had in the works,” Lankard said. “We started brainstorming and making contacts with artists and institutions throughout the Triangle.”

Tyroler said the festival has enabled FRANK to collaborate with the UNC Art Department and the Ackland Art Museum.

Strengthening the University connection is senior Kaitlin Knapp, an intern at FRANK who Tyroler said acts as a liaison between the gallery and UNC.

Knapp is curating an exhibition in the festival that will feature the work of UNC undergraduate artists.

The Oct. 12 show, “The American Landscape,” will explore the cultural and political landscapes of the United States, Knapp said.

“The works that are in my show are either works of photography themselves or they’re works that have photography as the main element,” she said.

Knapp, a studio art major, said the festival is a great way for students to have their work seen.

“We have all these great events, and lots of famous photographers are coming through,” she said. “A couple events are interactive.”

There will be an outdoor slideshow open to submissions Oct. 13 that Lankard said is an opportunity for community members to share their work. Lankard said the festival will also have panels and forums with professional photographers.

“Photography is everywhere, so people think they have at least a general knowledge about photography,” Lankard said.

“But there’s so much to learn about it — the social change, the
ancient alchemy, magic and mystery of it, how to value a photograph and how the public reads imagery.”

Contact the desk editor at arts@dailytarheel.com.