You can see his stuff every week - stunning photographs of Addison County that demonstrate an artist's eye and a mastery of the camera. Trent Campbell does more than shoot photos for the Addison County Independent, however. His body of work is large and varied, and has been featured in galleries and exhibits.
Campbell's latest work will be featured in a new exhibit at Town Hall Theater's Jackson Gallery, appropriately titled "Trent Campbell: Behind the Scenes".
Last May, Campbell covered auditions for the Middlebury Community Players production of The Music Man. Though he intended to simply submit a few shots to the newspaper, he was intrigued by the process and the huge community turnout. Campbell decided to follow the production, from the earliest production meetings, through rehearsals and set construction, and on to the opening night of this hit production.
After seven months he amassed thousands of photographs. They depict a community hard at work on a common creative project, with children, teens and adults experiencing the joy and hard work that comes with putting on a major musical. The process is captured with Campbell's usual eye for pattern, detail, and the hidden beauty in a moment.
"Trent Campbell: Behind the Scenes" will be featured in the Carolyn and Will Jackson Gallery from March 4 to May 2, 2010. The gallery is open from Monday through Saturday, noon to 5 pm. Admission is always free.
An Opening Reception will be held on Thursday, March 4, from 5-7 pm. Admission is free. A cash bar will be available, and hors d'oeuvres will be served.
Doug Anderson, director of The Music Man, has this to say about Campbell's photographs: "Each individual photo is gem, a little work of art that absolutely nails a fleeting moment. Taken together, they're more than just a chronicle of a production. They become a tribute to small-town life, a kind of hymn to a small community. The Music Man is long gone, but we're all so lucky to have it preserved in this really poignant way."
PHOTO CAPTION; Trent Campbell's photographic record of the creation of The Music Man will be on display at the Town Hall Theater Jackson Gallery from March 4 through May 4. Opening reception: March 4, from 5 - 7 pm.
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