How did you get into making art?
A career as a professional skier exposed me to photography from the other side of the lens. Over time, I developed an interest in what was happening behind the camera and was fortunate to find a mentor in a photographer with whom I’d worked extensively as an athlete. Over time my career segued from skiing in front of the camera, to using my mountain skills to create art photography, celebrating the ethereal moments and environments in which I’ve enjoyed some of my most transcendent moments.
What are you currently working on?
My current onging project is the growth and development of a brick and mortar photography gallery which I opened a year ago in a rapidly growing mountian town in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains of Washington State. We’re exhibiting four new bodies of work each year, so there is an endless need for creation, curation, production and marketing of each collection.
Much of my work falls under the broad conceptual umbrella of ‘Art Through Adventure’ which was born of my background as a mountain athlete.
Scott Rinckenberger
What inspired you to get started on this body of work?
The gallery, while not a specific body of work, is a place where the many collections I’ve been developing over the course of the last 20 years can exist in a realm beyond the reach of the algorithms. It’s a space designed to celebrate the art and craft of fine photography which encourages the viewer to slow down and study the intricacies of a well composed image, to take the time to enjoy the unexpected discoveries that can stay hidden when photography is reduced to a scrolling glance. Bringing community together to truly appreciate beautiful photography of nature’s wonders is proving to be an exceedingly inspirng process.
Do you work on distinct projects or do you take a broader approach to your practice?
Much of my work falls under the broad conceptual umbrella of ‘Art Through Adventure’ which was born of my background as a mountain athlete. I still look at the natural world as a canvas for creativity, both as an artist and as an athlete. As such, much of my work is created in the midst of wild mountain adventures in the Pacific Northwest and around the world. Over time, consistent themes have developed in my photography, so I’ll find myself working on my ‘snow study’ work whether I’m in my local hills or the Japanese Alps, or my ‘granite study’ work in the North Cascades or the Norwegian Arctic.
What’s a typical day like in your studio?
I try to be consistent with my studio time, keeping normal working hours when I’m not on assignement or adventuring. My days are a mix of editing, printing, framing, meeting clients in my gallery, and the never ending stream of business minutiae and marketing required to keep a business afloat as an independent artist.
Who are your favorite artists?
I’ve always been drawn to artists who mix their craft with an immersive relationship with nature and adventure, so my inspirations include Bradford Washburn, John Muir, Ansel Adams, Edward Weston and Renan Ozturk.
Where do you go to discover new artists?
Books are my favorite quick escape, so I find an immense amount of inspiration in reading about other artists and perusing the art books of a good book shop.
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