All That Remains

All That Remains

The Photography of Jim Westphalen

Showing Sept 2024

Reception Sept 6 5:30 - 8:00 

Vanish- Dissapearing Icons of Rural America offical trailer 

About All That Remains

Throughout history, man, in his innate determination, has attempted to build

structures that will forever stand the test of time. But invariably, what the

hands of man construct, the forces of nature will slowly yet relentlessly

dismantle. However, in between these two conditions lies the fading imprint

of those who built their lives and livelihoods there.

What do you see when looking at these withering buildings? Is it a lifeless

jumble of wood and metal or is it something more? Although the whispers

of the past might be faint, if you lean in closely, can’t you still hear the

laughter of the children in the schoolyard, the singing of those who

worshipped in the prairie church, the lowing of the cattle in the barn?

We are living in a period of profound loss of these American icons as these

buildings, the very foundation that our rural heritage and economies were

built upon, are disappearing at an alarming rate. So let me leave you with

this encouragement. The next time you pass by that old grain elevator or

that abandoned cow barn, consider giving it a second glance. Think not

only about the time-warn beauty in what remains, but also about the people

who lived and worked and played and worshiped in and around these

fading treasures.

Jim Westphalen's Process

I create my photographs using a vintage 4x5 view camera. This gives me

unlimited control to shape and focus the elements of each captured scene.

I’ve adapted this camera body to state-of-the art digital hardware which

renders remarkable detail and sharpness. It’s this marriage of classic

hardware and vintage lenses with the new digital technology which gives

the images their painterly appearance. The prints themselves are made

using pigment inks (incredibly stable and essential for archival print life) on

100% cotton rag papers. Optically clear varnish is then applied to protect

them from the elements and UV rays.

What is an Archival Pigment Print?

The pigments used in archival pigment prints are microscopically small

encapsulated ink particles that, when laid on paper, are just large enough

to bind with the surface of the paper (as opposed to becoming absorbed

into the paper as with dye based inks, which is far less stable). It is this

process that enables the image to maintain incredible sharpness while

retaining a painterly softness when used on cotton-based rag papers.

Pigment prints will not fade or shift color for a remarkably long period of

time - guaranteed 100 years when varnished and thus classified as

archival.