Photographer captures reflections of the city's present to illustrate its past for centennial.Photographer captures reflections of the city's present to illustrate its past for centennial.By Kelly Strodl, Daily Pilot
Barbara Higgins' photographs offer reflections on the local landscape -- literally.
"Newport Beach Reflected," a collection of the local artist's black-and-white photographs now on display at the Newport Beach Central Library, presents familiar landmarks as seen through reflections on glass.
The Newport Beach Arts Commission chose Higgins as the commemorative artist for the city's centennial celebration, and the exhibit shows the results of her year of work documenting the city.
"When I first started the project, I was planning to just document the city and take pictures of places we all know and love, things typical of Newport," Higgins said. "As I was shooting I liked capturing the reflections because there was more to it than just a picture of a building."
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The moment that helped Higgins define the work's direction came while shooting Blackie's by the Sea, a local bar that's been around since 1953.
"When I noticed you could see Balboa Pier through the reflection, it just sort of made sense," she said. "I decided reflections would be appropriate because we are looking back at 100 years of the city's history."
Higgins has experimented with reflection photography since living in Paris five years ago.
After her return to the U.S., she began shooting local landmarks as a personal project. In 2004 she brought her work to Jana Barbier, cultural arts coordinator for the city, and asked how she could get involved with the city's arts program.
"I was doing it regardless," Higgins said. "Sometime last year, Barbier had me bring in my work to show for a jury, and they selected me as one of the few artists the city presents at the library each year."
Of the works in the show, her favorite captures the reflection, in the lens of a coin-operated telescope, of a couple on their wedding day.
"That was a serendipitous moment," she said. "I was just sitting there shooting."
"Newport Beach Reflected" will be on display until May 31 in the Newport Beach Central Library's Friends Meeting Room.
Higgins will be at the library for a special exhibition from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on April 25.
The artist plans to donate 10% of the show's proceeds to the Newport-Mesa Unified School District arts program.