Published: December 04, 2008 08:07 pm         

‘Photography by T. Alan Russell’ exhibit to open

The Bicentennial Art Center & Museum at 132 S. Central Avenue in Paris, Ill., will host a reception Sunday from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. to open their current exhibit, “Photography by T. Alan Russell.”

This reception is open to the public. The exhibit showcases both black & white and color photography by Russell, who is a Paris resident. His photographs have been taken locally, as well as in other states and countries.

Russell has been a local businessman and civic volunteer since coming to Paris in 1978. His business career started in public accounting and then private industry. He was president of Illinois Cereal Mills, Inc. until it was acquired by Cargill, Inc. in 1996. He presently serves as the chairman of the board of Liberty Fund, Inc., an educational tax-exempt operating foundation in Indianapolis as well as chairman and chief executive officer of the Pierre F. and Enid Goodrich Foundation, a non-operating foundation located in Indianapolis.

He believes his most significant contribution was his involvement for 20 years with the Hospital & Medical Foundation of Paris Inc. He retired from this pro bono position in April 2000 after having served the last 11 years as chairman and chief executive officer. The Hospital Board recognized his service by naming him chairman emeritus.

He is a woodworker and genealogist.

He is married to Christie Ann (Hill) with two surviving children, Scott (married to Madelyn Parker) and Sheryl (married to Chris Clark). He has four grandchildren: Kendrick, Grant, Claudia and Evan. The Brian K. Russell Academic Achievement Award, the Jazz Band Instrumentalist Award and the Infusion Clinic at Paris Community Hospital are named in honor of his son Brian, who passed away in May 1983.

As a youngster Russell began taking photographs with a Kodak Brownie. After college he purchased his first 35mm single lens reflex. In 1966, he completed a beginning photography class at the Jewish Community Center in Kansas City.

In the early 1980s he moved up to using a 2-by-2 (medium format) camera and then in 1986 he began using a 4-by-5 format camera. In 1976, he installed a darkroom in his house to process his images.

In 2000, Russell started to use a digital camera for genealogical work. By 2006, he became completely digital and converted his darkroom into a lightroom. The images in this show have been taken with both film and digital cameras. He presently uses a Leica M-8 11mp rangefinder and a Hasselblad HIIID 31 mp medium format camera.

In 1986, he took a Fred Picker Zone VI Workshop to learn about the 4-by-5 camera and to improve his images. In 1996, he attended John Sexton’s The Expressive Print Workshop and in 2006 he completed a Fine Digital Print Workshop with George DeWolfe.

The Art Center is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, or by appointment.