Local Photographer Teams With Habitat for Humanity

Hurricane Katrina now seems a distant memory, but the relief and rebuilding effort continues. As time passes the funding becomes harder to find as it is no longer top of mind to many of us and we give to other causes.

To remind us of the devastation wrought by Katrina to the Gulf Coast and to raise funds to continue the rebuilding effort, Nazareth resident Rick Smith has teamed with Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley to create an exhibit titled "Broken Levies: New Orleans".

All proceeds from an opening night Silent Auction Fundraiser will benefit New Orleans recovery. Creole Cuisine and beverages, live music, raffle and a silent auction will be held. For more information please contact gallery owner Christa Meyers at 484-707-3805.

The opening reception and fundraising event takes place on Friday, May 18, 2007 from 6-10 p.m. at Peach La Tree Fine Art Gallery, 458 Main Street, Historic Bethlehem, PA 18018 (610-867-4040) and the exhibit runs from May 18th through July 10th 2007.

Also according to the release:

"Rick Smith will be unveiling a new portfolio of photos that's both a dramatic departure from his previous work on rodeos and farmers, and a renewed commitment to using photography to plumb the depths of the American character.

"Like many Americans, Smith, an assignment photographer based in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, watched in sadness and horror as Hurricane Katrina ravaged New Orleans. He had seen the
damage flooding could wreak in the Lehigh Valley, and wanted to learn more about the
national tragedy.

"So he took the plunge and headed south to New Orleans in early 2006. The result is
'Broken Levies: New Orleans, Photographs by Rick Smith.' The photographs he will be
showing at the Peach Le Tree Fine Art Gallery beginning March 18th tell the story of
people who have lost everything."

"Proceeds from the event will benefit New Orleans recovery though Habitat For Humanity."

To preview images from this show visit Rick's gallery site here. Main page of his site is here.

Rick Smith is a graduate of Nazareth High School, where he studied photography under Dave Sestak, and the Art Institute of Philadelphia. As an assignment photographer he has worked locally for the Morning Call and nationally for the AP and many media publications. According to his site, "Rick's personal project large format 8x10 work in documenting the Character of America has taken him into the souls of the American Farmer, the hearts of the rodeo cowboy, and most recently, the victims of Hurricane Katrina."

Disclosure: Rick Smith is a personal friend who has been hired periodically by my employer for assignment work.