The Benham Studio Gallery had its farewell party Sunday night. Its doors close for good December 24th, 2009.
Marita outside Benham 12/08
WOW!! What a party and what a run!!
As usual, Marita provided a venue for the creatives of Seattle to celebrate, catch up, swap stories, and exchange a few ideas. The gallery doors will soon be closed but Marita Holdaway, the gallery owner and driving force of Benham, is still around. You will now find her roaming the San Juans, involved with arts groups or virtually at http://www.benhamgallery.com. Marita provided many, many things to the Seattle art community. However, for me, the gallery space represented an extension of her ability to bring people and ideas together. Of course, there are several other wonderful photo galleries in Seattle but to my knowledge none have created the unique environment that Benham Studio Gallery provided.
The Gallery was the conduit to meet local as well as out-of-town photographers.
It’s doors opened the opportunities to share dinners, drinks, tell a few jokes and explore ideas. That will be missed. Over the years I connected with photographers from around the globe. Many of which I have stayed in touch with and have even created meaningful friendships with a few. The 90’s at the Benham through Marita were a great time for social networking…Perhaps Benham Studio Gallery was one of the first “social networking” media, years before the internet made the term common place.
Benham Studio Gallery will be missed.
I’m confident that Seattle will spawn another meeting place for us photographers. Perhaps it’s here and I haven’t found it yet! Regardless, Farewell Benham Gallery and
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