L. Parker Stephenson Photographs is pleased to announce Ray Mortenson’s third solo exhibition at the gallery. In this series, Cedars, American landscape photographer Mortenson (b. 1944) explores the many guises of the eastern red cedar tree, a ubiquitous fixture across eastern North America. 

A pioneer species, Juniperus virginiana is amongst the first trees to grow in neglected pastures, roadsides, and similarly untended sites.  In this case it was Conanicut Island (also known as Jamestown), Rhode Island, where Mortenson spent seven years (1998-2005) and completed several other series among them, Rocks, which the gallery exhibited in 2019.

Contact printed on a scale intended for personal reflection, the “portraits” consider these natural forms as individual entities. The unique character of each evergreen is further honored by the choice of process. The physical act of manually painting platinum emulsion onto its paper support is manifested by presenting the entire print, unmatted and unframed. In this work, Mortenson’s versatility with the medium merges photography and painting.  Additionally, a unique handmade book of gelatin silver prints also titled Cedars was produced by the artist in 2003.

Recognizing that we are surrounded by individual living non-human beings compels us to consider a less anthropocentric perspective of our environments.

Since the 1980s, Mortenson’s work has been shown in museums across the US and is presently held in over 40 collections in the US, Canada, and France.

With the purchase of each Cedar Tree Portrait, the gallery will plant a native hardwood tree in NY state.

For information on this exhibition please contact: info@lparkerstephenson.nyc or call (212) 517-8700.