© John Wilmot
Since the early 1980's, Seattle's Photographic Center Northwest has provided opportunities for emerging and established photographers ranging from photography classes to community darkrooms, exhibition and studio space. Originally named The Exposure School of Photography, and later called the Northwest Center For Photography, the non-profit evolved from a small educational program into a vibrant, accredited institution, now led by Minor Matters Books founder, and former Aperture co-publisher Michelle Dunn Marsh, photographer Eirik Johnson, Terry Novak and Jennifer Brendicke. As the program has grown, they've been consistently generating some promising photographers, with this year's crop of thesis students rivaling many recent MFA graduates. Below are some highlights from the exhibition, which is up through August 10, 2017, alongside each artists's statement about their work.