The Open Shutter Gallery. Durango, Colorado, 2014
UPDATE: Sadly, Open Shutter closed it’s doors on November 30, 2016.
Who would have thunk it. In Durango, Colorado–a sort of an out-of-the-way (if trendy) place, as far as places go–you’ll find one very high-quality photography gallery: the Open Shutter. Just stroll Main Street and you’ll eventually find their front door.
Now, if you are looking for the typical, postcard-imitation, tack-sharp, highly-saturated, super-giant Colorado landscape print, this isn’t the place. (Yes, there is a place for these types of images, but it isn’t here.) In this case, I’m talking about photography that is serious, meticulous, contemplative, sometimes cutting-edge and uncomfortable, documentary, artistic, international, and always of a very high standard.
To give you an idea, here is a short list of some of the photographers represented by this gallery: The Westons (you’ll see a print of Pepper #30 there), Henri Cartier-Bresson, Paul Caponigro, Suzi McGregor, Elliott Erwitt, Nick Brandt, Lois Greenfield, Jimmy Williams, et al.
Among those who have exhibited here: the above, plus…Edward S. Curtis, Vivian Maier, David Collier, Heinz Plenge, Tony Stromberg, Frank Jackson, Christofer Dierdorff, Dan Eldon, Frank Jackson, Gleb Derujinsky, Michael Plyler, Pentii Sammallahti, Roman Loranc, Liu, Cole Thompson, Gunnar Conrad, Fran Foreman, Michael Yamashita, Brian David Griffith, Hal Gould, Jan-Oliver Wenzel, Cara Weston, Craig Semetko, et al.
Google any one of those names and you’ll find a very, very accomplished photographer and an interesting portfolio of images on your screen.
For us mortals among the masses, the gallery does occasionally promote exhibits open to us. You can even submit a portfolio for their review and possible acceptance for an exhibit. Details at their website.
So, if you ever find yourself in southwestern Colorado, stop in and gander about the gallery. I’d say, this has to be one of the few dedicated photography galleries in the West that rivals (surpasses?) even the big museums in terms of dedication to overall quality.
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