This spring, the Carnegie Arts Center presents “Valley Focus: Bill Harris – From Life,” an exhibition of photographs, paintings, and prints by well-known Modesto artist Bill Harris.  The exhibition will be on view now through May 16 in the CAC’s Ferrari Gallery. A reception celebrating the artist will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  Feb. 20. The reception is free and open to the public.

The CAC’s annual exhibition series, Valley Focus, explores the work of important regional artists and their relationship with our communities. As both a photographer and a painter, Harris has been a fixture in the region’s art scene for 40 years. From his years as a young artist in the Bay Area to the incredible body of work he has created in the Central Valley, this exhibition surveys his career — always working “from life.”

“Through photography and paintings, Bill has been closely observing people and places throughout his long career. The relationship between what Bill takes pictures of and then what he chooses to paint reflects his interest in carefully representing his surroundings. His skill as a photorealist painter is remarkable; when you walk through the exhibition, you’ll be drawn in close to see whether you are looking at a photo or painting – it’s a fun challenge,” said Carnegie director Lisa McDermott.

In black and white photographs taken as a young artist coming of age in the Bay Area during the 1960s, Harris explores perspective, light, and composition while reflecting the mood of those turbulent times. After a move to Modesto in the mid-1980s, his subjects changed a little – rural and suburban landscapes took the place of urban neighborhoods – but his interest in capturing everyday scenes and people encountered on the street remained. 

 “Through street photography, translated into photorealist paintings and watercolors, I want to capture slices of life that, in the hurried pace of everyday living, are often overlooked or simply passed by. Across both photography and painting, my work encourages viewers to slow down, question what they are seeing, and experience an emotional connection with the image,” said Harris.

The Carnegie Arts Center is located at 250 N. Broadway in Turlock. The gallery is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.