DNREC photo: Errol Ebanks

Winner to be Featured in Outdoor Delaware Article

To celebrate the ocean and the countless benefits it provides us, the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is seeking entries for a Delaware Ocean Photo Contest.

June is National Ocean Month and June 8 is World Ocean Day. Governor John Carney and Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long have proclaimed June as Ocean Month in Delaware.

DNREC’s Delaware Ocean Photo Contest runs from June 8 through August 31, and the winner will be featured in an Outdoor Delaware article.

As a coastal state, Delaware depends on the ocean and marine resources for its economic prosperity, particularly in terms of tourism, commercial fishing, recreation and shipping industries. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Economics: National Ocean Watch data, the total economic value of Delaware’s ocean-related activities is estimated at approximately $1.4 billion annually.

In celebrating all the benefits the ocean contributes to our lives and livelihood, the DNREC contest seeks photos that show a personal connection to the ocean.

“The state’s rich history has direct ties to the ocean, culturally, economically and as a destination for millions of visitors each year,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “Protecting and preserving these resources through active stewardship is essential to ensuring their viability for generations, and this photo contest is one way that we can help increase awareness of the importance of the ocean to Delaware.”

Potential photo contest subjects may include, but are not limited to, marine wildlife and habitat, recreation, fishing and marine transportation. Complete rules and a photo release form are available online.

All images must include the photographer’s name, a short description of what is shown in the photo, where and when the photo was taken. Submitted entries must include a completed photo release form. A legal parent or guardian must complete the release form for contestants under the age of 18. The deadline for submissions is 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 31, 2023.

Photographs must have been taken within the state of Delaware, or offshore of Delaware, and they must be original, previously unpublished and created solely by the submitting entrant(s). Only photos that meet the criteria, along with a completed release form, will be eligible.

Entries will be judged for composition and theme. Preference will be given to clear, good quality photographs.

About DNREC
The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control protects and manages the state’s natural resources, protects public health, provides outdoor recreational opportunities and educates Delawareans about the environment. The DNREC Division of Climate, Coastal and Energy uses science, education, policy development and incentives to address Delaware’s climate, energy and coastal challenges. For more information, visit the website and connect with @DelawareDNREC on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or LinkedIn.

Media Contacts: Michael Globetti, michael.globetti@delaware.gov; Jim Lee, jamesw.lee@delaware.gov

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On view from September 3-24, 2021

Wilmington, Del. (August 30, 2021) – The Mezzanine Gallery is pleased to present photographer Jason Jellick’s debut exhibition, Peninsula, from September 3-24, 2021. Jellick was named a 2021 Artist Fellow in Photography by the Delaware Division of the Arts.

Jellick began the artistic journey of this exhibit about a year ago, driving the meandering, contemplative two-lane roads of the Delmarva Peninsula, working mainly in Delaware and Maryland, but occasionally Virginia as well. It is a series about place, he says, but it is also about the metaphor of a peninsula itself — one way in and one way out — providing a means to express the gamut of the human experience and emotions.

His stark black-and-white images speak to the viewer both powerfully and purely. He creates that emotive feel through the use of 35mm cameras and Ilford HP5 film. The work is challenging, he notes, but “…it should be after all. To produce anything aesthetically high should be a huge challenge.”

On inspiration for his work, Jellick says, “I would say most of my influence comes from literature and poetry…I read a lot and I go into the world and make pictures with as few notions as I can.”

Originally from the Central Pennsylvania area, Jellick has been a Delaware resident for about six years, but has also enjoyed stints in Monterrey, CA; New York City; Portland, ME and even Switzerland and France.

Image in banner: Untitled, 2019, 35mm photograph, 11 x 14 inches

The Mezzanine Gallery is open to the public weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington.  Visitors must wear face coverings and maintain 3 feet distance from other individuals not in their household.

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Contact: Kaitlin Ammon, Program Officer, Marketing and Communications
302-577-8280, kaitlin.ammon@delaware.gov

The Delaware Division of the Arts, a branch of the Delaware Department of State, is dedicated to cultivating and supporting the arts to enhance the quality of life for all Delawareans. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit arts.delaware.gov or call 302-577-8278.

Wilmington, Del. (November 20, 2017) – People You Won’t Recognize will be on view in the Mezzanine Gallery from December 1-29, 2017. An opening reception to meet the artist will be held on Friday, December 1 from 5-7 p.m. The opening will include live music performed by Karen Mercer, the artist’s cousin.

Trepper received a 2017 Delaware Division of the Arts Established Fellowship in Photography. This exhibition features her black and white portraits of everyday people who stand out in a crowd because of their unique sense of self. Trepper explains that a successful portrait is the result of her establishing a relationship with the subject, “They trust me to portray them honestly; in turn, they give me their true self.”

Visitors to the Gallery will encounter dozens of Trepper’s portraits—some over-sized images printed on canvas and others displayed on pedestals. Trepper hopes this presentation inspires curiosity about the subjects of her portraits: “I documented stories about the people in the photographs in a special notebook available for visitors to read.”

Learn more about Trepper with our YouTube Meet the Artist video series. Image: Aria di Innocenza, photograph, 36” x 54”, 2013

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Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

For Immediate Release

THE MEZZANINE GALLERY TO EXHIBIT “JUST ABOVE WATER” FEATURING PHOTOGRAPHS BY MARK HOULDAY

The Delaware Division of the Arts Mezzanine Gallery is pleased to present Just Above Water, an exhibition of photographs by Mark Houlday. The exhibition will be on view from July 1-29. Please note: the Mezzanine Gallery will be closed on Monday, July 4.

The opening reception will be Friday, July, 8 from 5-7 p.m. in the Carvel State Office Building. The reception is free and open to the public and Mr. Houlday will be in attendance to discuss his series of low angle photographs of ponds, rivers, and bays in Sussex County captured from the bow of his kayak.

Mr. Houlday has been a serious amateur photographer for several decades. Although his subjects and method of photography have evolved over time, his love for this art form remains steadfast. His current body of work is about his connection with water and the natural environment and his concern over the on-going degradation of our ecosystem.

Mr. Houlday’s work has been shown in numerous group shows. His work has been exhibited at the Newark Arts Alliance, Biggs Museum, Helen Graham Cancer Center, Cecil County Arts Council, and the Yorklyn Art Center. Learn more about Mark Houlday with our YouTube Meet the Artist video series.

The Mezzanine Gallery is located in the Carvel State Office Building, 820 N. French Street, Wilmington, DE 19801 and open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

About the Delaware Division of the Arts

The Delaware Division of the Arts is an agency of the State of Delaware. Together with its advisory body, the Delaware State Arts Council, the Division administers grants and programs that support arts programming, educate the public, increase awareness of the arts, and integrate the arts into all facets of Delaware life. Funding for Division programs is provided by annual appropriations from the Delaware General Assembly and grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency. For more information about the Delaware Division of the Arts, visit artsdel.org or call 302-577-8278.

Contact: Leeann Wallett, Program Officer, Communications and Marketing
302-577-8280, leeann.wallett@delaware.gov

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