'Shadows of Spain' exhibit highlights ECC instructor's photographs

The one-person exhibition "Shadows of Spain" will feature the work of Travis Linville, head of the photography program in Elgin Community College's art department, from Sept. 1 to Dec. 1.

An artist's reception will take place from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, in the Building C Library gallery, on the college's Spartan Drive campus, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin.

In fall of 2013, as part of Illinois Consortium for International Studies and Programs, Linville taught art appreciation at the International College of Seville in Spain, using the entry-level digital single-lens reflex camera used by students in the photography program.

The exhibit captures the quality and character of light, neutral tones, and rich texture. The photographs were finished using a method called plaque-mounting, which allows a glassless, frameless presentation while protecting the image with a surface varnish.

"Though this collection of photographs is less characteristic of my typical personal work, it gave me the opportunity to practice photography in a different style," Linville said. "As an educator, I am also a perpetual student and regularly seek ways to work outside my comfort zone. In this way, I expand my knowledge of my chosen field both technically and creatively and can bring those experiences back to the classroom."

The Elgin resident received his bachelor of fine arts from Miami University in 1999, and a master of fine arts from Clemson University in 2003. He has been teaching photography and other art courses at the college level since 2000, arriving at ECC in 2009.

The exhibit is free and open to the public.

For information about the exhibit, contact Ed Krantz, gallery curator, at (847) 214-7405 or ekrantz@elgin.edu.