Artist's Statement on Portraiture:

For me, a photograph is part of the poetic process. A poem explores the inner universe of life and, perhaps, gives a jolt of insight that changes our vision. The poetic photograph can nourish the mind and spirit both in its creation and finished form. Life at the heart is both the poem and the sacred.

In creating a portrait, I ask for authenticity from you and from myself. How do you want to be photographed? What do you want to show of yourself? What do you want to hide? If I photograph you with someone else, how does the invisible emotional bond show visibly? A pregnant woman shows her relationship with her unseen child in the placement of her hands, the turn of her head. Fine art portrait photography requires trust and safety. We collaborate together, you and I, to create an image that matters to you ~ a "perfect alignment," as Bresson said.

Art has the power to encourage us to live with more splendor and glory in a difficult yet amazing world. Seize the present!

Francine E. Walls     francinewalls@francinewalls.com
Word and Image Worker

Exhibitions

Two photographs of Paris selected for inclusion in Guide to Photographing Paris, book proposal, by Claire Garoutte, 2004.

Solo show. "Flowers of Rwanda" Curves (Ballard) Seattle WA. September 2003.

Photograph of a model in a hand-woven outfit for the book Sew Any Fabric by Claire Shaeffer, copyright 2003, page 47.

Group Show. "Scenes from Paris" Photographic Center Northwest, Seattle WA. (The show included two of my photographs as well as my poem "Souvenir de Paris.") June, 2001 - March, 2002.

Solo show. "Woven Journeys" Walter's Cafe, Seattle WA. November 2002.

Redwing Poetry Group Anthology. (Included five of my poems integrated with my photographs.) Red Wing Press, Seattle WA. 2001.

Group Show. "Take My Picture" Photographic Center Northwest, Seattle WA. September-October, 2001.

Group show. "Within/Without Cuba" Bumbershoot, Seattle Center, Seattle WA. (Five of my photographs were included in a group slide presentation as part of the larger print exhibition.) August 31 - September 3, 2001.

Group Show "Far & Near: Travel Photographs" Border's Books, Redmond WA. July 2001.

Solo Show. "Children of Rwanda and Burundi." Gallery f5.6, Bellevue WA. March 2001.

Solo show. "Portraits of Children." Life Mastery. Redmond WA. February 2001.

Group Show. "Mother & Child" FotoCircle Pushpin. February 2001.

Juried show. "Havana" Larson Gallery. Wenatchee WA. April 2001.

Group Show. "World View: Other Faces/Other Places" Photomontage Photography Gallery. La Conner WA. November 2000.

Juried show. "Donkey Herder/Rwanda." Edmonds Arts Festival 2000. June 16-18, 2000.

Group show. "Flowers Near a Mass Grave, Rwanda" Duvall Art Walk. Duvall WA. March 19, 2000.