The White River Valley Museum exhibits 28 photographs from Auburn’s most celebrated nature photographer George L. Kinkade.
The museum’s collection of Kinkade photographs, which spans over five decades, will be on display through April 28.
Exhibit curator Hilary Pittenger has paired a collection of Kinkade’s greatest panoramic photographs with his most intimate close-up shots.
Kinkade was born in 1905 and grew up in Auburn along the banks of the White River. He discovered photography as a teenager and began eagerly documenting his life and the sleepy town where he lived. An original weekend warrior, Kinkade worked as a typesetter for the Auburn Globe newspaper during the week and, in his spare time, hiked and belayed to astonishing alpine views capturing the essence of the great Pacific Northwest.
Kinkade’s eye was keen and the images from his outdoor adventures are equally powerful and endearing.
The exhibit features:
• Photographs of Mount Rainier’s ice caves and glaciers. Many of these sites aren’t accessible or no longer exist today and the views are very different now.
• An interactive Microcosm mini photo studio where visitors can use naturals objects, light boxes, gels and studio lighting to take cellphone images and create their own masterpiece.
• Inspirational photo pairings where textures and elements from Kinkade’s larger landscapes compliment similar themes found in his close-ups of the natural world.
Special museum events:
• 7 p.m. Feb. 7: free hike like a women lecture and Q&A
• 2 p.m. Feb. 17: Free Ansel Adams documentary film screening
• 2 p.m. March 10: Klondike: The Last Adventure (lecture included with museum admission)
• Noon-4 p.m. March 31: Youth in Focus Teen Digital Photography Workshop ($40 per student)
• April 10-14: Spring break, free admission for Auburn students and their families
About the museum:
The White River Valley Museum creates an engaging and educational experience for visitors through a series of award-winning exhibits and programs on regional cultures, arts and history. The museum’s artifact collections focus on Puget Sound history, Northwest Native culture, Japanese immigration and the Northern Pacific Railway.
The museum, at 918 H St. SE in Auburn, is open noon to 4 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday. On the first Thursday of each month the hours are extended from 6 to 8 p.m. Regular admission is $5 adults, $2 seniors and children, children 2 years of age or younger are always free. Admission is free for everyone all day on the first Thursday and the third Sunday of every month.
Call 253-288-7433 or visit wrvmuseum.org for event information.
