Introducing Gary Pilcher

Gary is a photographer and digital tech currently based in Lafayette, Louisiana. A graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design, his landscape and architectural photographs have been featured in both local exhibitions and in print—most recently, Pamplemousse magazine.

His primary body of work focuses on the transient nature of the natural landscape. Gary’s photographic series, Ecotones, explores the liminal spaces where ecosystems merge, boundaries dissolve, and the natural world exists in flux. With a 4x5 view camera, intentional camera movements and multiple exposures, he seeks to evoke the fluidity of these in-between spaces— swamps, marshlands, and wetlands—allowing the viewer to experience the passage of time as a tangible presence within the frame.

Who makes up your art circle?

I consider photographers and assistants I work with as a digital tech part of my art circle; I have the opportunity to work alongside very creative people. Upon moving to Lafayette, I felt an immediate connection to the art community as well.  Friends inspire me and of course, my wife Katie, a fellow artist and art educator. Long-distance artist friends include Scot Overholser and Zach Chambers.

How do you expand your art circle?

Attending events hosted by the ACA and Basin Arts has helped me establish my local presence, but as an artist, it is essential to continually seek out opportunities beyond one’s immediate area. I try to keep up with calls for entry in order to get the work out into the world. I plan on participating in Basin Arts' critique night.

What value do you see in having a creative community?

Establishing a community has given me a chance to test ideas and techniques and receive meaningful feedback from my peers. I think it is important to have a community of other artists to shape the work and provide constructive criticism.

How does your artistic approach contribute to  your community?

As climate change and threats to our coastal regions continue to accelerate, I aim to provide a meditation and a warning, reflecting on the fragility and resilience of nature’s threshold zones.  

Our weekly Art Circle series profiles artists throughout the community and is sponsored in part by Lafayette Visitor Enterprise Fund, managed by Lafayette Travel.