Patrick Hinely Photographs from W&L Calendars

Washington and Lee’s Lenfest Center for the Arts is celebrating its 25th Anniversary and is featuring work in the Kamen Gallery by Patrick Hinely, W&L Class of 1973.  The exhibit, entitled “Photographs from W&L Calendars,” will continue through Dec. 15.

A reception for Hinely will be held Oct. 7 at 5:30 p.m. in Kamen Gallery.

The exhibit features 25 images, going back to the first W&L calendar (1979-1980), including five film originals among 25 digital prints.

The work of University Photographer Patrick Hinely has been featured on the Washington and Lee engagement calendar for more than 30 years. The exhibition comprises imagery from W&L calendars dating from the past year back to the days of film. While some of these views could also be on postcards, Hinely prefers to think of them as “tableaux for longer-term visual edification, a set of photographic meditations about our National Historic Landmark campus, hoping they are not only moments captured but also timelessness distilled.”

When asked, Hinely believes images that can speak across decades and evoke enjoyable recollections and a feeling of ongoing connectedness to W&L need not have any further agenda. This may be one of the reasons why the W&L calendar has consistently remained so popular.

Hinely says, “It reminds us warmly of this place, as much a place in our hearts as in more tangible dimensions. It’s odd to think that some of the views seen here are already gone forever, and while all of these moments are gone forever, it is reassuring to realize that there will always be more, long after we are no longer here to see them.” Hinely feels that, year in and year out, it is the nicest thing he does for his alma mater, and takes great delight in knowing that 80 percent of the alumni who receive the calendar actually use it.

Hinely counters the oft-heard and well-meant claim that he sees things others don’t by saying that we all see the same things, he just notices them: “This is a place like no other, and I am glad to be able to share some of my glimpses of its beauty with others who love this place as I do,” Hinely said.

He continued, “Alumni of all ages have told me how particular images have spoken deeply to them, some saying they’ve even framed a few of their favorites. I always thank them for their kind words, and tell them I hope to do better next year. So that’s what I’m doing here: framing a few of my favorites. I hope to do better next year.”

Hinely offers his thanks to the Publications Office and the Lenfest Center, Kevin Remington, Mary Woodson, Susan Wager, Laurie Lipscomb, Jeremy Leadbetter, Tom Litzenburg ’57, Pat Hobbs, Kyra Swanson, Garth Deacon and all his colleagues in University Facilities, the men and women who keep W&L photogenic all year round. “Last but not least, for its ongoing sponsorship of the W&L calendar, I thank and salute W&L’s Annual Fund,” Hinely added.

Kamen Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and open during performances.  

(Information about attached image: Spring front campus, 2007, digital photograph, 14x21 inches)