Don Dexter Gallery is pleased to present “A Quiet View”, a solo exhibition of recent photogravure editions by Ray Bidegain, on view in Eugene at 2911 Tennyson Ave #202, from October 21 through December 29. An opening reception will be held on Saturday, October 21 from 4 to 7 PM.

Ray Bidegain is a well-known Portland-based photographer and printmaker. His show, “A Quiet View”, at Don Dexter Gallery is a feature of his recent editions of photogravure prints. This process is very labor-intensive and expensive. It was invented in the 19th century but fell out of vogue in the 20th century as more modern techniques arose and is only practiced by a limited number of artisans today. The resulting images from the photogravure process have a soft, calm finish that is stunningly beautiful.

For Bidegain, who enjoys making things with his hands, the inherent beauty of hand-pulled photogravure prints has a particular allure. He has worked as a fine art photographer for over 22 years, using large-format negatives to produce platinum prints. In the last five years he has worked with polymer plate photogravure prints. He worked on it and decided he wanted to make a change and a commitment to working as a printmaker producing photogravure prints. His printmaking company, Cascabel Press, revolves around hand-pulled printmaking and related objects. His work is not just important to him; it is an important part of who he is. For him, the act of photographing and the process of making prints is a deliberate, contemplative experience.

In his first exhibition at Don Dexter Gallery in Eugene, Oregon, Ray Bidegain features 26 framed recent editions of his photogravure prints. The hands-on process of photogravure printing lends itself to working in small batches, meaning that these pieces are often limited to between 8 and 15 prints. For his subjects, Bidegain finds something beautiful, often an everyday item or scene, that he finds soothing. Considering the image he wants to record and imagining that it may be soothing to his viewers is just the beginning. The making of the prints is a large part of the joy for him, and the very tactile, handmade nature of the photogravure is soothing in another way. The resulting object communicates calm in a way that lets Bidegain share this feeling with his viewers. 

Bidegain takes comfort in knowing that other people view his work and make it part of their lives. “A Quiet View” includes mesmerizing landscapes, like The Columbia River Gorge, a print that captures how the landscape is dramatic and serene at the same time. Other works capture the soothing nature of beautiful things and Bidegain’s desire to reveal the beauty in ordinary things. When the artist received a simple indigo slip, it called out to him to photograph it in his studio and print it the same day. The resulting print, Indigo Whispers, is produced with a lush blue ink that was a first in his journey as a printmaker. For the artist, the process is as much a part of the resulting image as the subject itself. In his work At the Rodeo, he draws from his belief that there is beauty in everything and is struck by the patience of the animals and the will of the cowboys.