Contained within the photographs lining the walls of the M2 Gallery is an entire city – one that many drive through everyday but never really see. In 600 sq mi: Photos from Houston, Houstonist.com, a city Web log, has taken everything from the city’s best-known landmarks to its insects and individuals, pressed them between sheets of glass and wooden frames, and offered viewers an in-depth look at the fourth-largest city in the nation through the work of 42 local phogographers.
The exhibition captures Houston in its entirety: The skyline, the Astros, the art, the people, restaurants and heat, are all found within the beautiful photographs that make up the show.
"In the call for entries, we said that we wanted to see photos that represented all aspects of Houston, from your iconic shots like the skyline and the water wall, down to the people and the freeways and fruit stands," Houstonist editor and communication senior Jim Parsons said. "It’s that diversity that really makes Houston an interesting place to be, and we wanted photos that reflected that diversity."
While there is an enormous range of subject matter in the show, the photographs interact with one another wonderfully: one may showcase a small detail of the city, such as the Tracy Manford’s "Rice Paper," a close-up shot of a butterfly, while others frame the architecture and buildings. Together they create a larger image of the city as a whole.
Photographer Elaine Mesker-Garcia, whose work is included in 600 sq mi, said that photography is a good way to capture details such as these.
"Photography has the power to show everyday sights in a new light, and Houston is an amazing city with such wonderful photographic opportunities," she said. "Houston is often underestimated, and photography is a perfect way to show off the city’s assets, as well as its dark side."
The idea for the exhibition was born from Houstonist’s regular contact with local photographers who contribute work to an account on the photo-hosting Web site, flickr.com. From this account, Houstonist chooses photographs for the site.
"As that pool of photos grew, we started to understand how many really good photographers there were in the city who we didn’t know about because they’re at the beginning of their careers," Parsons said. "The real first goal for the show was to allow some of these people, early in their career, to have this kind of exposure that a gallery show would give."
An independent jury, composed of painter Ellen Orseck, photographer Kathy Adams Clark and Executive Director and Curator of the Houston Center for Photography Madeline Yale, chose about 60 photographs for the exhibition from more than 200 submissions of both professional and amateur photographers.
"The jurors each had their own background and their own expertise. And I think that helped to really get a dynamic group of images because they came at it from different directions," Parsons said.
A photograph’s only requirement for submission was that it had to be taken around the Houston-metro area.
"There are some things you wouldn’t immediately look at and know that it was Houston, but they are Houston, just different aspects of it," Parsons said.
Mekser-Garcia said she enjoys focusing on some of the city’s lesser-known aspects in her work.
"One of the many things I have learned while photographing the city is that there are so many hidden treasures here in Houston, and I take pride when someone sees an image of mine they like and exclaims, ‘That’s in Houston?’"
For Mesker-Garcia, both the photographs and the photographers who took them represent the city.
"Houston is a city full of amazing photographers. Having met many of the photographers participating in the 600 sq mi exhibit in person, I feel very comfortable boasting about the talent we have right here in this city," she said. "They are from all walks of life, all ages, all colors – reflecting the diversity of the city."
Houstonist hopes to make the exhibition an annual event, and Parsons said that in future years the theme might be narrowed to a specific facet of the city, such as architecture or nature.
Houstonist’s opening reception for 600 sq mi will be from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at M2 Gallery, 325 W. 19th St. All of the photographs are for sale, and admission to the gallery is free. The exhibition will be on view through Oct. 7.
