By BONNIE MCKENNA
Chronicle correspondent

Photographs of celebrities, pigeons, artifacts, city life, abstract creations and experimental printing techniques represent just a glimpse of what can be seen at the Fine Arts Gallery of Lone Star College-Kingwood.

The gallery will be hosting one of the venues of Houston’s FotoFest 2010 Biennial.

The first FotoFest biennial was held in Houston in 1986. The photographic art programs are known as a platform for cutting-edge ideas, and combining art with social and esthetic issues. Priorities are given to works of importance from little known photographers from around the globe.

“Art venues and galleries, citywide, are invited by FotoFest to take part in the biennial event. Participation is voluntary, but it is very desirable for the artists and the art galleries to host a venue,” said Kris Larson, gallery director. “I was initially inspired to have LSC-Kingwood participate because of my interest in the innovative methods available in the medium of photography.”

The theme of this year’s exhibit is “Modus: Contemporary U.S. Photography,” highlighting four exhibits of photography by invited artists from various areas of the country. The primary exhibits feature the works of 45 artists and are accompanied by a fifth, non-thematic exhibition, ‘Discoveries of the Meeting Place,’ showcasing 10 artists from the previous biennial portfolio review.

“LSC-Kingwood will have a cross section of art forms not to be seen in any other gallery,” said Larson. “For FotoFest, I was after a wide range of points of view.”

The college venue will feature the photographic work of LSC-Kingwood professor of art Mari Omori. Her work will be part of a group exhibition with six other artists from around the country.

Omori, born and raised in Japan, has always been interested in art but did not begin to take it seriously until she was in graduate school. After graduating with a Master's of Fine Arts in painting and drawing, she began working at California State University Northridge and San Diego University as an art instructor while continuing to practice her craft.

“Teaching and making art is sort of a dual identity that seems to nurture both my students and myself,” said Omori. “My work is evolving. It is no longer a piece of art on the wall, but a more dynamic and engaging experience of a place and at a specific time.”

Omori’s photographs in the exhibition are a result of five years of work. They are presented in two series: formal and site specific. Against a red silk background, she has documented site specific objects held in her open left palm. The color red is auspicious to Asian cultures, reserved for formal and official situations. The open palm symbolizes appreciation, respect and honor to the giver.

“As I look at these images, they seem to reveal more details than objects themselves. The length and shape of my nails are different in appearance from one picture to the next. My hand and fingers are wrinkled, swollen, reddish or pale depending on the location and timing of when the photographs were taken. Over the five year period, my hands even show signs of aging. Aside from these physical changes, emotions can be seen through these series of pictures. Some hands express reservation, tension, affection, pride and joy. They have become a series of self-portraits, staged in time and place,” Omori said. “The composite images are in a grid format with suspended color panels. These represent the state of order and structure that is prevalent in Japanese culture and my identity.”

On March 4 at LSC-Kingwood, the FotoFest biennial artists will speak about their works with the public. Omori will speak at 1:45 p.m., Schulman and Gilbert will talk at 5 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively. The community is also invited to attend a reception with the artists from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The FotoFest exhibitions include more than 80 independently organized photographic venues citywide; forums on contemporary curating; the world’s largest portfolio review for artists; an international fine print auction; programs for art collectors; films; and evening receptions with the artists that are open to the public.