North Gallery
Samuel Hagen
Western Oklahoma . . . Thru Mended Fences
May 1 thru July 2, 2006
Famed
landscape photographer Ansel Adams once said, “To photograph
truthfully and effectively is to see beneath the surfaces and record
the qualities of nature and humanity which live or are latent in all
things.” Samuel Hagen’s photography exhibit Western
Oklahoma.... Thru Mended Fences echoes this sentiment. His work truthfully portrays
his faithful relationship with the landscape of Oklahoma.
For seven years, Hagen patiently waited for the ideal moment to eternally
capture the beauty of a small pond in Western Oklahoma. He assiduously
studied the fleeting light as it danced upon the water throughout the
changing seasons. The result may arguably be his masterpiece, First
Light, which is glorious in its simplicity. Hagen’s irrepressible
talent for capturing magnificent images is evident within this image
of a white horse as it appears to consume the morning light that is
reflected in the small pond.
Hagen
moved to Oklahoma at age six and his childhood was stricken with hardships.
At age 23, he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s
Lymphoma. After six months of chemotherapy and 30 days of radiation,
Hagen returned to Erick, Oklahoma, with a new outlook on life.
Hagen’s
first photographs were taken when he was a feature writer for the Sayre
Journal. He has since been featured on Integris Health’s
Discover Oklahoma, a weekly televised travel program, and on KFOR-TV’s
Is this a Great State or What? Regarding the art of photography, Hagen
says, “Photography can mend shattered dreams or build a puzzle
where there is a missing piece. Memories and the past need to be preserved
on film. Preserving these memories for future generations is what drives
me every day of my life.”
More of Hagen's work can be seen on his website.
Sponsored by the Oklahoma Arts Council. For more information contact Scott Cowan or Karen Sharp at 405.521.2931 or scott@arts.ok.gov.