Adventure in Miniature

May's artist in residence is local photographer Jo Stapleton.  Jo is exhibiting a series of photographic Lith prints entitled 'Adventures in Miniature' she has created using using Schleich animal figures. She is showing "a series of animal portraits which though not exactly life like, aim to suggest a living presence" these include a shark, a zebra and a tiger. The exhibition will also show a selection of her photographs from 'the Dolls House Drama' series.

Since moving to Letchworth Garden City four years ago Jo set up a darkroom at home where she specializes in 'constructed reality photography'. Jo creates her prints using a 35mm camera, negatives, chemicals and a darkroom. Her work uses dolls house scale figures and objects, Hitchcock inspired lighting to construct minature narratives, in a style reminiscent of film noir. All of her images are developed manually in the dark room using now historic printing techniques and each print is unique.

Jo is a member of the London Independent Photography Network,and her photographs have been published in FLIP magazine and exhibited at London's Strand Gallery (Proud Central). She has exhibited as Letchworth Arts Centre and the Cactus Gallery in Brighton. As a retro photographer and film maker using formats such as Kodak Super 8 her work has appeared as part of installations and performances at venues including the Queen of Hoxton (London), Netty House (Earmenow Festival 2011, London) and Cowley Club (Brighton).

The exhibition runs from 5 - 31 May. Jo will also be running a solar printing workshop for children during May half-term (details to be confirmed).