It was inevitable, here on the Monterey Peninsula, that the complementary activities of two of our finest photographic organizations, the Center for Photographic Art (CPA) and the ImageMakers would be joined in a functional (and practical) way, as we are doing with this exhibit. We are grateful that the CPA has honored us with this opportunity to showcase the diversity and creativity of the ImageMakers and its membership who recently celebrated the 13th anniversary of our founding in 1996.

Photography at Sunset Center began in 1967 when Ansel Adams and Cole Weston (then Manager of the Sunset Center) felt the need for a high quality photographic gallery to exhibit the rich collections of fine-art photography in this region. The Peninsula had become a major photography center during the middle of the 20th Century with many prominent photographers living or having connections to this area. The Friends of Photography (FOP) was founded in the summer of 1967 with Ansel Adams as its first Chairman and Brett Weston, Wynn Bullock, Morley Baer and other local photographers filling the remaining seats on the board. This gallery space is one of the longest–lived, independent, non-profit photography galleries of its kind. Over the course of the past 42 years the board members have changed, as has the gallery name, but the mission continues on unabated to the present day. The current board of the CPA continues to work tirelessly in an effort to adhere to the goals set by Ansel Adams and the FOP—an effort that continues to define photography as an art form on the West Coast.

An independent photography gallery is only part of the local equation needed to inspire a roust photography community. It was also clear that there was a need for a venue where creative fine-art photographers could gather and share their knowledge of the craft and passion for the art. There have been small groups in the past that have addressed this need including the many successful Member Workshops organized by FOP. With over 125 in attendance at some of these workshops, groups of photographers were given an opportunity to share ideas with one another.

It was in April 1996 that six photographers gathered in a living room to critique each other’s recent photographic work as well as share their thoughts and the current state and creative potential of their chosen craft. That evening the ImageMakers would be formed—a group whose mission it would be to ensure that photography, as a vital art form, continues to thrive on the Monterey Peninsula and a forum that nurtures the free exchange of artistic ideas and provides inspiration to its membership. From that nucleus of six in 1996, the ImageMakers have grown to an enthusiastic 60 members.

For this exhibit, the marriage between the CPA, with their fine-art gallery and organization, and the ImageMakers, with their group of creative photographers, represents an important union. The importance of working together towards this current exhibit is only the visible part of our merger. We will continue to mutually share our memberships, our financial support, our attendance at workshops and lectures, along with our service as docents, and in many other ways. Both groups are required in order to have a unified, singular, and cohesive involvement within all aspects of fine-art photography as it moves forward on the Monterey Peninsula.

The ImageMakers wish to thank you for supporting this collective photographic exhibit; Luminosity: The Art of ImageMaking