It’s a friendly exhibit for three photographers who have spent decades honing their craft. But you can’t fault them if it feels a little bigger than that. Ashton Thornhill, John Wylie, and Sam Elkind met and became friends on the Eldorado studio art tour, and when they stage their Visual Journeys exhibition at Nocturne 818 Gallery this month, it will mark the first time any of them have had a exhibit like this in Santa Fe.
“We’ve all shown elsewhere. We’ve shown in group shows here,” says Elkind. “But it’s great to be in charge of our own — what would you say? ‘Destiny’ is probably too strong a word, but it’s great to be in control of the work.
” “We get to pick what we want,” adds Wylie, “and hang it how we want to.” The trio of photographers recently spoke with Pasatiempo for a boisterous conversation about their inspirations, their roots, and how this exhibition came together. To answer the last question, Wylie says a few years ago he saw a newspaper article about John Barker, painter and owner of Railyard art space Nocturne 818.
“He had done a post-COVID show of artists who were not represented by galleries,” says Wylie. “So I called him one day and asked if we could come to talk to him. We all went in, and he was happy.
He’s got a beautiful gallery space around the corner from La Choza [Restaurant], and we made a deal to rent the space out for June.” Visual Journeys: Three Santa Fe Photographers June 1-30; an opening reception i.