Edmonds Photographer, Artist Jim Ballard Opens New Show

Edmonds artist Jim Ballard has a new abstract photography series showing at the Edmonds Library starting Tuesday, Dec. 18.

Known for his work as a photographer, sculptor and teacher, Ballard “explores abstract designs, colors and patterns of various subjects” in his new Rust Series exhibit, according to a statement from the Edmonds Arts Commission announcing the show.

Here's some more detail about the work from the commission:

(Ballard) enjoys finding hidden landscapes and dream-like qualities in the details of walls, sheets of metal, the bottom of trowels, and many other found objects. He doesn’t believe it is necessary for the viewer to know precisely what object they are examining, but rather the shapes in a photograph suggest different forms and landscapes. He hopes that his photographs will evoke a sense of wonder or mystery and that the viewer can find new landscapes or figures within each work.

Ballard is also known for the Community granite stage and figures installed at Meadowdale Playfield Park in Lynnwood, which he created with stone sculptor Richard Hestekind, commissioned by the cities of Edmonds and Lynnwood in 1993.

The exhibit runs from Dec. 18 through Jan. 30 at the Edmonds Library, 650 Main St. Library hours are Monday-Thursday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.