Meet photographer Robert Coomer at SSCC arts event

Here’s your chance to meet local photographer Robert Coomer, whose images are on display in the Learning Resources Center (LRC) at Southern State Community College’s South Campus, 12681 U.S. Route 62, Fincastle. A meet-the-artist event will be held 6 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 12, in the South Campus LRC.

“Above+Below Appalachia” is a collection of photos and artwork by Coomer that reveal mysterious and beautiful images from beneath the earth’s surface, as well as the natural beauty of forgotten rural barns and back road landscapes of Appalachia. The exhibit will be on display through Dec. 4.

A selection of images from Coomer’s “Below the Surface” series is also on display. Combining cave photos and medical scans, this series challenges the viewer to consider our relationship to the world around us, and how we interact with it.

Coomer grew up on a farm in Brown County and art has always been a part of his life. In 1994, he graduated with a degree in graphic design from University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Art, Architecture, and Planning. He currently lives in Batavia.

He enjoys nature and scenic fine art photography—especially cave photography—and works with several non-profit caving groups and cave conservancies. Over the last five years, he has won five national best of show medals from the National Speleological Society’s annual photo print salon.

When not shooting underground, he spends a lot of time drawing from his farm roots and shoots images of old barns and covered bridges in southwestern Ohio, especially around Adams, Brown and Clermont counties. Many of these old building are disappearing quickly from neglect or are being torn down. He wants to record their unique beauty before they are gone.

A portion of the proceeds from work sold during this show will go to help preserve caves and karsts through a donation to the Rockcastle Karst Conservancy.

To learn more about Coomer’s artwork, please visit www.robertcoomer.com. For more information about Southern State Community College, call 1-800-628-7722, email info@sscc.edu or visit www.sscc.edu.