In December of 2013, the Gallery at SALT Studio set up shop at 805 N. Fourth St. with the ambition of introducing Wilmington to the photography of local, regional, national and international artists as the area’s only fine arts gallery dedicated solely to camera work.

A year and a month later, the Gallery at SALT Studio presents “SALT Studio: Year 1,” a collection of photographs shot by SALT owner and resident photographer Kelly Starbuck during her studio’s inaugural year.

The exhibition opens with a public reception 6 to 9 p.m. Jan. 23 in coordination with Fourth Friday Gallery Night, a monthly, self-guided art crawl throughout downtown Wilmington’s studios and art galleries. Fourth Friday is organized by the Arts Council of Wilmington and New Hanover County.

“It’s interesting to see how just starting this business, and having an actual brick-and-mortar space has pushed me to a different place with photography,” Starbuck said. “I’m still in a way working freelance, but it just put me in a different place to where I did get some referrals and opportunities that came my way that weren’t really happening before.”

In the past year, Starbuck produced editorial work for magazines like Focus on the Coast and Wilmington Magazine; created a series of abstract, nighttime images; and compiled an extensive portfolio of expressive portraiture, shot with her approach of framing in close on her subjects, but not too close.

“When I want to do a formal portrait of somebody,” Starbuck said, “I always go in waist up, and I want to fill it tight, almost fill the frame. But give them a little bit of head space. Sometimes I will come in closer, but it’s just a good distance, I feel like, that kind of shows the person and their personality, and maybe a little bit of attitude.”

“SALT Studio: Year 1” hangs through Feb. 23.

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KELLY STARBUCK “SALT Studio: Year 1” Photography Exhibition
The show hangs through Feb 23, 2015.

SALT Studio Photography
805 N 4th Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
http://saltstudionc.com
910 367 5720

Photographer, Owner, Curator: Kelly Starbuck

Monday – Friday   12:00pm – 5:00pm
Saturday & Sunday by appointment
SALT Studio is a working photography studio and business. Please call ahead (910.367.5720) to confirm the gallery is open and that we are not on location for a photo shoot. Appointments welcome!