PUC Art Major Ties for Second Place in Major Photography Contest

Jerry Dodrill, a senior fine art major at Pacific Union College, tied for second place in "The California Dream" student photography competition, sponsored by Mumm Cuvee Napa, the Academy of Art College, and by Canon. In addition to receiving a $1,000 prize and a Canon camera, Dodrill is displaying eight of his photographs in "The California Dream" art exhibition together with the contest judges, Ruth Bernhard, Robert Cameron, Galen Rowell, Robert Buelteman, and James Wood. Ngan-Ha Ho, who won first prize, and Shen-Fa Lin, who tied with Dodrill for second, are displaying works as well.

"I could hardly believe it when I heard that Jerry will be in an exhibition with Ruth Bernhard, Galen Rowell, and the other judges," said Tom Turner, assistant professor of art at Pacific Union College. "It's a real honor, almost like sharing an exhibit with Ansel Adams."

Most of Dodrill's photographs, which are gelatin silver prints, are taken outdoors."I really deal with texture, like the texture of corrugated metal," said Dodrill. "Usually my stuff is close up. I take a lot of pictures of old things, like old buildings or an old furnace door. Rock climbing is one of my main interests. I did a climbing shot at Yosemite at Leaning Tower, which I guess the judges totally loved. I also took a shot of Half Dome and the other Yosemite sights reflected in a puddle. Then I inverted it and turned it upside down. Now it looks really weird. It's not your usual Yosemite shot."

Mumm Napa Valley displayed "The California Dream" art exhibition from September 14, 1996, to January 1, 1997. The entire exhibition is being shown at the Academy of Art College Gallery (formerly the Maxwell Gallery) from January 5 to February 8. The Academy of Art College Gallery is located at 551 Sutter Street in San Francisco.