Toy Boxes:
The Art of the Plastic Camera

April 7 – June 24, 2007

“All our joys
Are but toys”
– Thomas Campion

Toy cameras are not just for kids.

A new generation of photographers has adopted plastic cameras—such as the Holga, Lomo, and Diana models—as serious tools of their trade. The art of the plastic camera has become an international movement with an expanding number of exhibitions, catalogs, art books, and school courses (from elementary schools to colleges and universities) from around the world. The reasons why these toy cameras have become so widely used include low cost, simplicity, mutability, and unpredictability. And, of course, they’re just plain fun!

This exhibition, curated by Jack Cantey, will present high-quality photographic prints taken by area artists: Stephen Perfect, Jarrid Spicer, Cara Lee Wade, Aaron Walker, Josh Evans, Gary Inglese, Katrina V. Kieser, Andy Pauquette, Kevin Oswalt and Jason A. Swisher. Works by local students of all ages will also be featured. In addition to the photographs, the toy cameras used by the photographers will be on display, as well as a wealth of behind-the-scenes material, such as developed negative strips, interviews with the exhibiting artists, and how-to guides for using and modifying your very own toy camera. This exciting exhibition will provide photography lovers of all ages with in-depth information on the fundamental physical and creative concepts of photography.