Gathering: A Photographer's Collection

Gathering: A Photographer’s Collection presents a wide-ranging selection of photographs from the personal collection of Portland, Oregon based photographer and curator, Christopher Rauschenberg. Over five decades, Rauschenberg has compiled a truly distinctive archive of photographs encompassing a wide array of themes, styles, uses of the medium, and range of subjects and content. This important resource represents a diverse mix of international and nationally emerging and established photographers.

Rauschenberg typically acquires photographs directly from the artists or from non-profit community-based arts organizations exhibiting or representing their works. Rauschenberg has also traveled extensively and participated for decades as a highly regarded reviewer of photography portfolios at international gatherings of specialists who utilize and support opportunities for working creative photographers.

In Gathering, one will find a wealth of individual points of view that, when engaged, may broaden each of our own visions: whether those considered perspectives are personal, familiar, social, cultural, political, or spiritual.

Christopher Rauschenberg reflects on his building of the collection:

"At the core of what I’m doing is acquiring prints directly from photographers. That’s where I get my real satisfaction in collecting. With photography, one literally sees the world through someone else’s eyes, and we each have a different way of looking at the world around us. Having seen the work of thousands of photographers, I’ve had a great many opportunities to discover new ways of seeing. That has really been the primary enrichment of my life, and I am excited to share that with you through this exhibition."

Gathering: A Photographer’s Collection was curated by JSMA Associate Curator of Photography, Thom Sempere