The Sheldon Gallery Presents Circus Flora Photographs by Scott Raffe 6/4-9/18

The Sheldon Art Galleries presents Scott Raffe: Circus Flora, a selection of portraits of Circus Flora performers by Oklahoma-based photographer Scott Raffe, June 4 - September 18, 2010 in the Ann Lee and Wilfred Konneker Gallery. Please join us for an opening reception on Friday, June 4 from 5 - 7 p.m.! The photographer will be in attendance. Also opening on June 4: Jay Wolke: Architecture of Resignation; Erik Spehn: Tape Drawings and Wallace HernDon Smith Paintings. Gallery Hours are Tuesdays, Noon - 8 p.m.; Wednesdays - Fridays, Noon - 5 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. and one hour prior to Sheldon performances and during intermission. Admission is free. For more information on the exhibition visit the galleries' website at www.thesheldon.org/galleries.asp.

Raffe has photographed Circus Flora for more than a decade and this body of work is unified by theme and sensitivity, revealing the photographer's passion and intense interest in the circus, matched only by his mastery of the craft. Raffe's intent was to "document the circus as an important part of our shared cultural heritage and to capture and preserve the humanity and the artistry of these extraordinary people through portraits and images of the 'decisive moment' during performances." In addition to preserving the history of the circus, each year, Raffe has approached the performers with a new photographic technique-sometimes winding up only with a single Polaroid to capture the moment. The 2009 photographs were all made using an iPhone.

Circus Flora is a one-ring circus based in St. Louis, Missouri. Distinguished by its skilled performers, Circus Flora is a classic European style circus that offers the audience a very intimate experience. Viewers in the last row are no more than 40 feet from the drama of the ring. Circus Flora remains a lively troupe of consummate artists that enchant and entertain audiences through true feats of strength, beauty and daring, rather than commercialized spectacles.

Scott Raffe grew up in a northern suburb of Chicago, Illinois, and became interested in photography at an early age. His first pictures, taken with a 110 camera, were made when he was in 8th grade and captured dramatic close-ups of Chicago Cubs players while he was waiting for their autographs. He became involved more seriously with photography in high school and went on to receive a degree in photography from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. After college, he returned to Chicago for six years and operated a commercial photo studio. In 2002, he relocated his studio to Tulsa, Oklahoma, after spending time in St. Louis, Missouri and Denve , Colorado.

In addition to photographing Circus Flora since 1996 and Zoppe-An Italian Family Circus since 2006, other personal projects include cemeteries from around the world and the release of his first book Oklahoma-A Portrait Of America. Samples of Raffe's photographs can be viewed at: http://www.raffephoto.com.

The not-for-profit Sheldon Art Galleries exhibits works by local, national, and International Artists in all media. Over 6,000 square feet of the galleries' spaces on the 2nd floor are permanently devoted to rotating exhibits of photography, architecture, jazz art and history, and children's art. A sculpture garden, seen from both the atrium lobby and the connecting glass bridge, features periodic rotations and installations, and the Nancy Spirtas Kranzberg Gallery on the lower level features art of all media. The Sheldon actively supports the work of St. Louis artists in all mediums and features a dedicatEd Gallery with museum-quality exhibits by St. Louis artists, past and present.

Financial Assistance for this project has been provided by the Missouri Arts Council, a state agency. Support is provided by the Regional Arts Commission and the Arts and Education Council.

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