From Sept. 6 to Oct. 25, the Chase Gallery hosted a 43-year retrospective of Rick Singerʼs photography in Spokane.
Singer, who has been featured by the gallery before, said his latest exhibit represents his passion for connecting with his subjects through the lens.
“I have always been a portrait photographer,” he said. “I relate well to people. The panel [on the wall] really bears my soul.”
In one corner of the gallery, a section displayed black-and-white prints, three of which highlighted businesses near Singer’s former studio on Main Avenue. Singer shared that portrait photography requires a connection with people.
“With being a portrait photographer, you’re really dealing with people,” Singer said. “So, the joke is, you steal their soul and please every relative you’ve never met in 30 minutes.”
Another area showcased photography focusing on women in Spokane, a project Singer began with his wife, Hillary. Singer explained that his wife, curious about the experiences of Muslim women in Spokane, contacted the local mosque.
“The woman that got back to her was so taken aback that somebody would actually ask their opinion and they became really good friends after that,” Singer said.
Singer noted that a five-minute video of this project, “Spokane Women Together,” is available on Vimeo.
After 43 years in photography, Singer said he now has the freedom to choose his creative pursuits, including music. Singer’s passion for music was showcased with a live performance from the band he is a part of.
“I’m also a musician and I play with these guys normally,” Singer said. “[We’re] called Haywire. We play every Friday morning at the Grain Shed Bakery from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.”
Devoted Pearson, one of the event’s organizers, said his favorite part of the collection was the Spokane musicians section, which emphasized the diversity of the city’s music scene.
Pearson also encouraged more visitors to explore the Chase Gallery, as it frequently features new artists and celebrates the history of Spokane.
“My favorite pieces have to be the one on Spokane Musicians,” Pearson said. “It kind of shows us how far and how diverse our music scene has come. We’ve been able to take photos from all different types of backgrounds, genres to recent ones. So far, that’s kind of my favorite.”
Eva Silverstone, among several exhibit volunteers who work on the Spokane Arts Commission, shared her admiration for Singer’s abstract work.
“My favorite pieces are his abstract pieces that are over there in that left corner, but there’s beautiful texture and lines and it’s just a gorgeous photograph,” said Silverstone. “I love to see not just the bread and butter that pays the bills as a photographer, but their artistic expression coming through.”
While Singer’s exhibit ended last Friday, the Chase Gallery will continue championing Spokane’s vibrant art scene with rotating exhibitions year-round.