Garnier and McCulloh's exhibit CAMERASKYOCEANLIGHT arises from their simple idea to visit beaches and capture the essence of beach patrons. They see the ocean's edge as a place of freedom and desires and feel the camera is a natural addition since beaches are part voyeurism and part display.

McCulloh states, "We have a simple strategy. We take a fixed location on the sand and post a sign inviting all who pass to have their photograph taken. We sample the passing parade like a scientist dipping water out of a flowing stream." As they photograph the flow of subjects, they attempt to emulate the unique relationship of the surfer and the ever changing waves.

Garnier and McCulloh utilize a single camera and lens: a medium format Mamiya 67 with a 180mm portrait lens. They construct their studio lighting set up directly in the sand and occasionally the rising tide swirls around the base of their light stands. The beach and the ocean act as their backdrop and from what writer Mike Davis calls Southern California's "master dialectic of sunshine and noir," Garnier and McCulloh opt for the opulence of color film.

CAMERASKYOCEANLIGHT is built on the bases of chance. For surrealists chance is the purest method of encountering what Andre Breton calls marvelous beauty. He writes that the perception of this marvelous beauty is akin to fear or sexual desire - a primal experience beyond the intellectual realm. Breton holds that beauty cannot be deliberately created but only released or discovered by accepting the offerings of chance. Garnier and McCulloh emulate these philosophies when creating their works.

In capturing the subject by chance, they feel each interaction is beyond prediction like the movements of a surfer on a wave. Like the surfer, Garnier and McCulloh attempt to engage the shifting circumstance of the world before their lens with perception, flexibility, responsiveness and balance. They capture the particular ­ growing series of individuals and believe that if enough chance particulars are accumulated then the portrait of the whole can be created.

The CAMERASKYOCEANLIGHT exhibit will be featured in the media lounge at [seven-degrees] in Laguna Beach opening April 3, 2002 with an artist reception from 6pm-9pm. The exhibit will be open to the public Monday through Friday from 11am - 6pm, on Saturday from 11am - 3pm, and Sunday by appointment. [seven-degrees] is a multi-media art and event venue that defines experience. The 25,000 square foot facility is located in the heart of the Laguna Beach Civic Art District on Laguna Canyon Road and is comprised of an exhibition gallery, four visiting artist work/live studios, a technologically-equipped media lounge and an outdoor terrace reception area.

For further information on Jacques Garnier, Douglas McCulloh, or [seven-degrees]
call 949-376-1555