Connecting with passion: Phillip Butler showcases at OkEq
Phillip Butler’s education in photography began when he was 17, as a volunteer photographer for his high school newspaper. During those years, he learned the rudiments of composition, exposure control, darkroom processing, and printing. Photography has been a part of his sense of self since that time. Connecting with his passion for exploration and adventure, he was soon traveling for photography.
The July Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) Tulsa showcase and exhibit of local artists features Butler’s works.
With the exception of a few courses, Butler has had no formal training. His work has been shown in a “student” exhibit at Philbrook and has won several local awards. Many of his compositions are in private collections in the homes of Tulsans who have purchased his work over the years.
Phillip says, “For me, a successful photograph is not of a person, or a place, or a thing, it is of a feeling, an emotion, or state of mind. Images that transcend the physical subject in this manner are those that endure. To be able to produce a few of these is my aspiration.”
The exhibit contains images from many sources but was inspired by a recent trip to Africa. The wildlife there typically receives center stage, and some is represented in this show; however, the vast Namibian desert (on the evening of, and the morning after a modest rain) provides the kind of light that transforms the landscape into something otherworldly. In these images, transcendence is found.
The show begins with a reception on Thursday, July 7 from 6 – 9 p.m. at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center (621 E. 4th Street in downtown Tulsa), where there will be a door prize drawn of the artist’s work; the show continues throughout the month. www.okeq.org.
Founded by a dedicated group of volunteers in 1980, Oklahomans for Equality/OkEq is Oklahoma’s oldest gay rights organization. From testing for HIV/AIDS and hosting the annual Tulsa Pride and Diversity Celebration to operating the Equality Center and documenting the Tulsa LGBT community’s rich history, OkEq works for social justice and full inclusion for Oklahoma’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) citizens and their allies. For more information, see www.okeq.org.
The Gayly - 7/2/2016 @ 8:00 a.m. CDT