After a long absence from my public art career I have recently returned with a new fervor to create and to share my fine art photography.
Historically my work has involved the use of traditional film and darkroom techniques, generating gelatin silver prints and using various chemical tinting processes or the application of various artists pigments by hand. The work has always been exploratory in its nature and has at times incorporated both photographic and hand-rendered imagery via drawing, collage or other multi-media applications. All of my current work involves digital imagery, which often is then intentionally altered or manipulated into a very different version of the original image by using various software applications and editing tools. Since 2019 I have experimented with and frequently utilized an iPhone camera to explore both its capabilities and its limitations. There is an immediacy of the moment that often can only be captured when one always has a camera in their hands. We routinely use smart phone technology as documentary and social connection devices in our daily lives, but they can also be powerful creative and communication tools for artists.
Regardless of the tools or techniques I use, my personal aesthetic almost always incorporates overlapping themes that explore the visual poetry of a place and the passage of time. Subject matter varies depending on the theme of a series of work, but my primary subject matter has long been focused on the natural world, which remains as fascinating, inspiring, and intimate as it did when I first began exploring it as a child. My work has been described as an interweaving of our very personal human experiences in the external physical landscape with elements of the inner emotional landscapes of our lives. For me, creative expression is an ongoing, cumulative process of acquiring and absorbing experiences in our world, exploring our actions in it, and trying to understand our connection to it and to one another. Therefore, some of the series that I create are left open-ended as they evolve and are added to over time.
I believe that the manner in which we consume and appreciate visual art is very much a personal experience. Even though I entitle my images, those notations are not meant to influence the viewer's interpretation or experience. They are primarily a reference point. Although, in many cases a title can and will influence interpretations. I much prefer that the viewer bring their own experiences, ideas, emotions, and perceptions to my work. I personally believe that the most interesting visual art quietly entices us back to not only look at it again, but to really see it with more than just our eyes...to absorb it, to feel it, digest it, ponder it, question it. I hope that you will revisit here periodically to continue to explore a favorite image, a series or new work that will be added to the gallery. If you are interested in making an acquisition of a work or would like to discuss an image or series please get in touch with me. I would love to hear from you.
The quality of any print you acquire is extremely important to me. That is why I handle purchases myself directly with my clients. Most of my work is available as limited edition fine art prints, which are signed and numbered by me. All are reproduced with the highest attention to quality and longevity. I use only archival pigment inks for their stability and accuracy across the color spectrum. Prints are produced on Hahnemühle Museum Etching Paper or Hahnemühle Cotton Photo Rag Paper which are both a natural white cotton art paper with an inkjet coating specially optimized for fine art printing. These heavyweight textured papers do not contain optical brighteners and are characterized by their high level of stability. The finely textured surface with fine felt structure lends added depth and richness to the finished print. Combined with the pure cotton base, this creates a wonderfully soft tactile feel and artistic impression. Fine art prints generated in this manner are calculated to have longevity rates of at least 100 years. When matted and framed with archival materials and displayed under UV protective museum quality glass they will retain all their tonality and details well past 100 years.
Whether it be for exhibition prints or those for a client's collection I entrust all of my fine art printing to Agave Print Studio in Austin, Texas. Peter Williams is a master printer as well as a photographer and he cares as much as I do about the quality of the final print. Please visit their website or contact them for your own fine art printing needs. They also do exquisite exhibition quality framing in their studio.
Donna Dangott received her BFA in photography from Austin Peay State University in 1988. Previously she pursued a BFA at the same institution in Graphic Design/Illustration. She worked as a medical illustrator at Vanderbilt University Medical School in Nashville, TN 1978 to 1987. She also worked as a free-lance illustrator and graphic designer 1978 to 1988 in Nasvhille,TN. She recently retired from a 30 year career in healthcare and has returned to her creative art career. She opened D.Dangott Studio in January 2020. She has work in private, public and corporate collections around the country.
Recent and Upcoming Exhibitions
Trees
an international juried photography
competition and exhibition
Photo Place Gallery
Middlebury, VT
April 2 to April 25 / 2020
Juror Wendi Schneider
Allegany National 2020
a national juried photography
competition and exhibition
The Allegany Arts Council
Cumberland, MD
http://www.alleganyartscouncil.org/
April 4 to May 2/ 2020
Juror Brownie Harris
Domicile
an international juried photography
competition and exhibition
A.Smith Gallery
Johnson City, TX
June 26 to August 9/2020
Jurors Amanda Smith & Kevin Tully
Works On Paper 2020
a national juried multi-media
competition and exhibition
Long Beach Island Foundation of
The Arts & Sciences Gallery
Loveladies, NJ
http://lbifoundation.org/events/artist-application-works-on-paper-2020-national-juried-competition/
June 26 to July 27/2020
Juror Sarah Suzuki
Photo National 2020
a national juried photography
competition and exhibition
Dallas Metro Arts Contemporary Gallery
Plano, TX
https://www.dmacontemporary.com/
July 1 to July 25/2020
Juror Byrd Williams IV
Water: Element of Change
an international juried photography
competition and exhibition
Photo Place Gallery
Middlebury, VT
July 2 to July 25/2020
Juror Hannah Frieser
The Land And The Light—Two Viewpoints on the Southern American Landscape
A Joint Exhibition of new photography by
Donna Dangott and Susan Bryant
An international annual juried portfolio performance competition and exhibition
A.Smith Gallery
Johnson City, TX
July 10 to August 2/2020
Jurors Amanda Smith & Kevin Tully
Archway 12th Annual
a national juried multi-media
competition and exhibtion
Archway Gallery
Houston, TX
https://www.archwaygallery.com/archway-12th-annual-juried-exhibition-2020.html
July 5 to 30/2020
Juror Wayne Gilbert
The 2020 National
a national juried photography
competition and exhibition
Society of Arts & Crafts and
The Stonehenge Gallery
Montgomery, AL
https://www.stonehengeinc.com/921-2/
July 11 to July 31/2020
Juror Angie Dodson
*Best in Category Award for
The Manipulated Image*
Transformations 2020
an international juried photography
competition and exhibition
Plymouth Center For Fine Arts
Plymouth, MA
July 15 to August 31/2020
Juror Tony Andrade
The Shadow Aspect
an international juried photography
competition and exhibition
The Praxis Gallery And Photo Arts Center
Minneapolis, MN
https://www.praxisphotocenter.org/
July 25 to August 17 / 2020
Spanish Peaks Arts Council
2020 National Photo
a national juried photography
competition and exhibition
SPACe Gallery
La Veta, CO
July 28 to August 29/2020
SCA: 52 International Open
an international juried multi-media
competition and exhibition
Society Of Canadian Artists / Papermill Gallery
Toronto, Canada
August 1 to October 31/2020
Western National
an international juried multi-media
competition and exhibition
Dallas Metro Arts Contemporary Gallery
Plano, TX
https://www.dmacontemporary.com/
August 4 to Aug 29 / 2020
Juror Ann Zembala
American Landscapes
a national juried multi-media
competition and exhibition
Maryland Federation Of Art / Circle Gallery
Annapolis, MD
August 13 to September 12 / 2020
Juror Lillian Bayley Hoover
Nothing In Nature Clashes
a national juried photography
competiton and exhibition
The Cape Cod Cultural Center Gallery
South Yarmouth, MA
From August to October 2020
Muse
an international juried multi-media
competition and exhibition
Art Fluent Virtual Gallery
Boston, MA
https://www.art-fluent.com/muse
August thru September 2020
Juror Jackie Reeves
2020 National Fine Art Show
a national juried multi-media
competition and exhibition
The Lincoln Gallery
Loveland, CO
September 4 to October 2/2020
Juror Suzanne Farris
Street Photography
a national juried photography
competition and exhibition
New York Center For Photographic Art
New York City, NY
September thru October 2020
Juror Michael Itkoff
*Received Jurors Selection Award*
Still LIfe
a national juried photography
competition and exhibition
SXSE Center for Photography Gallery
Molena, GA
September 15 to October 31/2020
Curated by Nancy McCrary
Texas Photographic Society
33rd Members Only
an annual juried photography
competition and exhibition
The Center for Contemporary Arts Gallery
Abilene, TX
September 17 to November 14/2020
Juror Bill Wright
Making Strange
a national juried photography
competition and exhibition
The Praxis Gallery And Photo Arts Center Gallery
Minneapolis, MN
September 19 to October 13/2020
Juror Douglas Beasley
Finding Joy
a national juried photography
competition and exhibition
Photo Place Gallery
Middlebury, VT
October 1 to 23 / 2020
Juror Amy Holmes
Light
an international juried photography
competition and exhibition
A.Smith Gallery
Johnson City, TX
October 2 to November 15/2020
Juror Richard McCabe
Contemporary Arts National 2020
a national juried multi-media competition
and exhibition
Center For Contemporary Arts Gallery
Abilene, TX
October 22 to December 11/2020
Curated by Thomas Motley
Art Through The Lens
a national juried photography competition
and exhibition
The Yeiser Art Center Gallery
Paducah, KY
October 23 to November 28/2020
Curated by Lauren Chambers
Abstractions
a national juried multi-media competition
and exhibition
Cultural Center of Cape Cod Gallery
South Yarmouth, MA
October 28 to November 22 / 2020
Director's Choice Selections
Old Myths & New Stories
a national juried multi-media competition
and exhibition
Sponsored by The Women's Caucus for Art
Curtis Cultural Arts Center Gallery
November 7 to December 23/2020
Jurors Chris Stevens and Jennifer Perlow
Love & Loss & Resilience
a national juried photography
competition and exhibition
SXSE Center for Photography Gallery
Molena, GA
November 11 to December 31/2020
Curated by Molly Roberts
CPA International 2020
an international juried photography
competition and exhibition
Center For Photographic Arts
Carmel, CA
November 14 to December 20/2020
Juror Aline Smithson
Narratives
an international juried photography
competition and exhibition
The Praxis Gallery And Photo Arts Center Gallery
Minneapolis, MN
November 21 to December 14 / 2020
Juror Sandrine Hermand-Grisel
iMotif
a national juried photography
competition and exhibition
Sohn Fine Art Gallery
Lenox, MA
January 15 to April 12/2021
Curated by Cassandra Sohn
and an anonymous peer panel