Now retired, George Williams can really focus on photography, his lifelong love. Williams’ work will be featured in the Depot Gallery, 200 South Jones, from January 8 through February 28. An opening reception will be held in conjunction with the 2nd Friday Circuit of Art from 6:00 to 9:00 pm on January 11. Guitarist John Calvin will provide music for the evening. Admission is free.

After earning a Master of Fine Arts in photography at Ohio University, Williams accepted an Audio-Visual Director position in Arkansas. Besides having a darkroom for doing all of the district's still photography, he was able to add video equipment to produce a local cable television show. “I had the best job that any "electronic gadgeteer/photographer" could ever dream of having” Williams says.

He developed a photography business on the side, keeping very busy shooting portraits using a home and backyard studio after school hours, doing weddings on the weekends. But as his business continued to increase, Williams sensed a new calling in his life: that of a pastor.

“I did very little photography during my ministry years. So, for over twenty five years I lost touch with the advances that photography made. After retiring from ministry in 2004, I purchased a Nikon D70, my first DSLR. I felt like Rip Van Winkle. The learning curve for me was much steeper than I had imagined. Terminology had changed and I was trying to learn how to operate a computer shaped like a camera. Fortunately, being retired I had lots of time” Williams says.

“The modern era of photography is a never ending educational journey. Because of the switch to digital cameras, photographers who want to push the envelope of creativity will never grow bored. Some of us ‘old heads’ may get confused or frustrated, but we never will get bored.”

“Being an amateur photographer I understand what it takes to make great images” says Rick Fry. “George Williams has put in the time and effort to make photography an art form. As director of the Depot Gallery my job is to exhibit some of the best artists in Oklahoma and I think we have accomplished that with this show. It is a must see.” Williams subjects include butterflies and birds, and anything else that interests him.

Gallery hours are Tuesday through Friday from 8 am to 3 pm, on Saturday from 10 to noon, and by appointment. Visit www.pasnorman.org or phone 307-9320 for additional information. Exhibits at the Performing Arts Studio are made possible by a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council and generous private donors.