Gadsden, AL- The Gadsden Museum of Art will be hosting an opening reception for the FOCUS Photography exhibit during First Friday, on July 6th from 5 to 7 p.m. The reception will also feature work from John DeMotte, Director at PaperWorkers Local; Jim Thompson; and the refugee students from Gadsden City High School.

FOCUS is an annual juried photography exhibition. This year over 70 photographs from across the United States were included in the exhibit showcasing all ages and skill levels. Cash prizes will be awarded to Best in Show, First Place, Second Place, Third Place, and Honorable Mention winners.

John DeMotte is a founding Director at PaperWorkers Local, a non-profit community-based printmaking facility in Birmingham, AL, as well as, the Vice President and Master Framer at the Atchison Gallery/Village Framers, Inc. He received his BFA from the University of Montevallo in 1987 with concentrations in photography and printmaking. Speaking on his work, DeMotte says “The process of creating a photograph transforms real spaces into flat pictorial space. Using photomechanical printmaking methods, I can combine images to create new pictorial spaces. Within these new spaces, I explore abstraction by mixing structural elements and more natural forms.” DeMotte’s work will be featured in the Leo Reynolds Gallery.

GMA Volunteer, Jim Thompson, is an amateur landscape artist. His work will be on display at the Gadsden Museum of Art for the first time.

Also featured Gadsden City High School’s Mural Project from the non-English speaking refugees which tells their journey from El Salvador and Guatemala to the United States.

The art exhibits are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served at the reception. For more information,  contact the Gadsden Museum of Art at (256) 546-7365.