Dr. Tim Chandler featured in first Ira M. Taylor Gallery show of the Semester

(ABILENE, Texas)–Each year, the Ira M. Taylor Gallery in the Frost Center for the Visual Arts houses several art shows from artists working with a variety of media. Opening the ’19-’20 gallery lineup is a photography career retrospective entitled Look/See by Dr. Tim Chandler, a professor of communication at HSU. Chandler’s photography will remain on display until Friday, Sept. 20. On Thursday, Sept. 19, the gallery will host a reception for the show from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Dr. Tim Chandler, HSU professor of communication

The selection of photos in Chandler’s show span from 1975 to 2019, and range in subject material from nature shots to unique building facades. Also included are shots of found objects, wildlife, living history events, and people.

The theme Look/See is derived from a quote by American author and philosopher Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau states that “the question is not what you look at, but what you see.”

While any interaction with the world begins by looking at one’s surroundings, one must note the meaning behind what they are viewing in order to see. As Chandler quotes English writer Aldous Huxley, “sensing plus selecting plus perceiving equals seeing,” This simple yet profound concept provides a connection between all of Chandler’s pieces, as he aims to capture perspective to help people “interpret the world in ways you wouldn’t otherwise notice.”

When one views Chandler’s works, a common theme quickly becomes evident; Chandler enjoys showing a perspective not typically seen by the naked eye in his photography. “I like playing with light. I like playing with composition,” Chandler explains, “I enjoy photographing the side of nature and the side of life that most people wouldn’t notice.”

Chandler describes photography as an extension of communication on several pages of his book of photographs, published alongside the works exhibited in the Taylor Gallery, and on Chandler’s photography website. According to media scholar George Gerbner, communication is “social interaction through messages.” Because he utilizes perspective in his photography, Chandler invites viewers into a dialogue by which the messages are his works and the implied meaning each viewer perceives.

A large part of HSU’s strategic communication curriculum consists of social media marketing through a variety of channels. “All social media can be visually based,” says Chandler. “People want to use imagery.” Photography provides another tool for communicators to use to initiate discussion and understanding with their audiences.

“Keel” by Dr. Tim Chandler

Chandler began learning photography in 1975 during his undergraduate studies at Angelo State University where he was studying journalism. Photography was a portion of the journalism curriculum, but after Chandler attended a competition with the school newspaper and won several awards for one of his stories and one of his pictures, he decided to continue his photography journey.

“The more I learned, the more I enjoyed it,” Chandler explains. After graduating, he continued photography as a portrait and wedding photographer. “People kept hiring me, so I kept working… everywhere I went, I had my camera with me, so I kept shooting,” he says.

Later, Chandler worked with the West Texas Boys Ranch in Tankersley, Texas, on their quarterly newspaper. The ranch tasked Chandler with taking photos to use in their catalog, which served as their largest fundraiser each year. He continues to work with similar nonprofits, raising awareness and advertising for organizations around the state.

Photography allows Chandler “to see and show things you wouldn’t otherwise be able to see or show,” He says that each work “only exists the way I shot it,” due to the unique perspectives and angles he uses. Photography helped Chandler own his own business in Fort Worth while he attended seminary and allowed him to develop a “very handy” skillset, he says.

The black and white images shown in Dr. Tim Chandler’s art show

Chandler’s pieces are currently in the Ira M. Taylor Gallery and will remain until Sept. 20. Gallery hours are Monday–Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment. You can reserve a time by calling 671-2223 during gallery hours.

Along with the almost 100 pieces included in Look/See, a photo book and website both feature images not seen in the show. To see the website, click here. To see a PDF of the book, click here.