Paint Creek Center for the Arts presents, Sandi Wheaton: The Salton Sea

Friday, August 23 through Friday, September 20, 2013

Closing Reception Friday, September 20, 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.

Part of the Downtown Rochester Fall Gallery Stroll

The Salton Sea is a lake in the middle of the Southern California desert that was created by an engineering mishap in 1905. The lake was being developed as a resort destination during the 50s and 60s – but flooding in the 70s, pollution problems, and the high salt content over time made it unsuitable for use as the recreation paradise that had been planned. The developers packed up and left, leaving multimillion-dollar yacht clubs, marinas, and entire towns of empty streets lined with unsold lots to overgrow and crumble in the desert sun.

Sandi Wheaton (Windsor, Ontario) has been photographing this devastated landscape for seven years. For her solo show at Paint Creek Center for the Arts, she presents twelve archival inkjet prints of her digital photographs. They represent various aspects of this precarious environment, and traces of the abandoned human habitations. Her photographs offer a clear eyed look at a desolate landscape, and show stark beauty that can be observed in spite of the waste.

Sandi Wheaton earned her Bachelor of Applied Arts at Ryerson University in Toronto, Ontario. She has worked as a photographer, video producer and editor, and studio operator. She has exhibited her photographs and videos in galleries and museums nationally and internationally. She has received numerous grants and awards and had her work featured in many publications.

Please join us for a closing reception on Friday, September 20 from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. This reception coincides with the Downtown Rochester Fall Gallery Stroll. The public is also invited to attend an informal gallery talk on Saturday, September 21 at 2:00 pm. The gallery talk is a good opportunity to participate in a conversation with the artists and explore their work in a little more depth. The closing reception and gallery talk are free and open to the public.

This exhibit is supported by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, The National Endowment for the Arts and the Kresge Foundation.

 PCCA exhibitions are sponsored by Dokka Fasteners, the International Academy of Design & Technology, Rochester Hills Spine Care, Whims Insurance Agency and WiT.