Bio. Publications, etc.
Thank you for viewing my website (bluestemgallery.com)
In July 2020, I began to develop my website (www.bluestemgallery.com) to highlight my photography. It’s still a work-in-progress. As of March, 2023, most of the galleries are complete and include captions, locations, dates, and up-to-date information for each photo. It will be included in the near future. Please feel free to contact me at bluestemgallery@yahoo.com. Currently photos are not available for purchase.
Michael Holtz
Photographing on the Greek Island of Santorini
Photo by Sallie Bernstein 2007
Michael Holtz Photographer
The photography showcased in Bluestem Gallery reflects my varied interests and pursuit to record them in photographs. Landscapes, flora, architecture, funerary art/cemeteries, gardens, cathedrals, graffiti/street art, cloisters/gargoyles are some of the subjects included. For many subjects, I find that black & white photography captures the true essence and mood of a scene. The lack of color focuses the emphasis on the light or shadows and its interplay on the subject. Many of my galleries display only black and white photography.
Many of the photos are from overseas travels, as well as near my Central Illinois home. The prairie landscape has its own beauty and numerous landscape photos will be included in the future. The name of the gallery -- Bluestem -- is from the native prairie grass Big Bluestem.
My landscape has been included in Allerton's Paradises, a "coffee table book" of photographs from Allerton Park & Retreat Center near Monticello, IL and Lawai-Kai, part of Kauai's National Tropical Botanical Garden.
2010 - Robert Allerton: The Private Man and the Public Gifts, (black and white photos complimenting the text, with color photos at the end of the book)
2011 - Allerton’s Paradises (coffee table book with my photography-see description above)
2012 - At Home in Central Illinois Magazine, “Splendid Landscapes,” Photographer’s work shows the beauty of Central Illinois
2021 - Robert Allerton: His Parks and Legacies (black and white photos complimenting the book’s captions and text)
Exhibitions
2023 – Photospiva, Joplin, MO: The Irish Sheep, a BW photograph was selected for their annual National Photographic Juried Competition and Exhibition, March 18 –May 13, 2023.
2023 – Galesburg Community Arts Center, Galesburg, IL: In the Shadow, a BW photograph was selected for GALEX 56, a juried exhibition, April 1 – May 5, 2023.
2022 – International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum, St. Louis, MO: The Zinnia, a BW photograph was selected for their Fall Juried Exhibition, December 7 – February 11 2023.
2013 - Illinois and Abroad in Monochrome, Illinois Museum of Photography
Featured in Photo Magazines
2015 - Black and White Magazine for Collectors of Fine Photography, Portfolio Contest Winners Issue, Merit Award
2021 - Black and White Magazine for Collectors of Fine Photography, Portfolio Contest Winners Issue, Merit Award
2021 - Monovision Photography Awards: Leading Black and White Photography Magazine, Winner in the Fine Art Series Category, Honorable Mentions, Submission Title-Funerary Art
2021 - Our Magnificent Planet: Single-Image Celebration of Lens Works Readers
Red House Gallery
2011-2014 - Owner and Manager of Red House Gallery in Monticello, Illinois (that showcased my photography and work of other visual artists)
Loading...