Exhibitions

Melinda Hurst Frye and Jenny Riffle

Picturing Trails

The distinct photographic perspectives of Melinda Hurst Frye and Jenny Riffle bring King County’s Regional Trails System to life in Picturing Trails.

Melinda Hurst Frye. Arboretum Trail, 2018. Archival Inkjet print. 30 x 40 inches
  • February 6 - 27, 2020
  • Opening: Thursday, February 6

The King County Regional Trails System (RTS), one of the nation’s most extensive off-road networks, offers more than 300 miles of terrain for public recreation and active transportation. Inspired by the photographs of Johsel Namkung who documented area parks in the early 80s, Melinda Hurst Frye and Jenny Riffle have explored and captured the zeitgeist of these trails through dramatic variations in site, season, and light.

Picturing Trails, commissioned by 4Culture and King County Parks, comprises a suite of 36 unique images that will become part of the county’s art collection after exhibition at Gallery 4Culture. Hurst Frye’s work highlights the ecosystems of the RTS in 12 intimate vignettes. She used a flatbed scanner (in addition to a camera) to reveal scenes above and below ground. Riffle’s complement of 24 photographs celebrates the mystery and dreaminess of our Pacific Northwest landscape, emphasizing the border between the urban and natural worlds.