Photo exhibit at SNC captures the ruggedness of the West

Sierra Nevada College presents Great Basin Exteriors: A Photographic Survey, a free public exhibition of 30 photographs by three regional artists – Adam Jahiel, Daniel Cheek and Nolan Preece – which examines loss, change and abandonment in the American West.

In this exhibit, the Great Basin is roughly defined as the area between the Wasatch Mountains along the Idaho and Utah borders and the Sierra Nevada Mountains along the Nevada and California borders. The three photographers featured in the exhibit have independently concentrated on the documentation of subjects that are changing in or rapidly disappearing from the Western landscape.

Great Basin Exteriors: A Photographic Survey is on display through Nov. 15 in the Lake Gallery of Prim Library, seven days a week.

Geologically, the Great Basin is part of the Basin and Range Province that covers most of Nevada and more than half of Utah, as well as parts of California, Idaho, Oregon and Wyoming. Jahiel’s photograph of cowboys in Northern Nevada illustrates this rugged way of life and its marginalization in contemporary society. Cheek’s work celebrates the spaciousness of the Great Basin, which is then juxtaposed with small intrusions in the landscapes that are indicative of a changing West. Preece examines the rustic patina that is diminishing with restoration and development across the Great Basin.

The work of each photographer reflects a distinct style and technique, perfected during careers as highly regarded professional artists.

For group tours or more information, contact Library Director Betts Markle at emarkle@sierranevada.edu or (775) 881.7511.