Farewell to Castell

After six years of exhibiting what may have been the finest collections of photography Asheville has ever scene, Castell Photography Gallery is closing. The gallery will host its final reception and a tandem farewell event on Friday, June 19, before permanently shuttering.

“It’s been a roller coaster of emotions,” says gallery owner Brie Castell. “It’s grown into something so much bigger than we ever imagined, but it’s time for a change.” Castell is relocating to Belize in July.

The art space was set apart by its uncompromising focus on manual photography. Castell and gallery director Heidi Gruner championed skill, technique and cultural import over hype, status and locale. They also helped usher in the now-prolific return to hand-manipulated, experimental printing techniques first used in the 19th century. “Photography is an important fiber in our culture,” says Gruner, “and it’s important for gallerists and curators to advocate for artists making work that’s exciting [and] important.”

Throughout the years, the gallery also afforded area art enthusiasts the chance to see photography giants. None did so much as MERGE, a 2014 exhibition that thematically paired behemoths like Imogen Cunningham, Sally Mann and Henri Cartier-Bresson with emerging artists from across the U.S. “There’s a deep responsibility in showing art,” Gruner says. “We’re very proud of the vision that we crafted and cultivated together.”

The closing reception for The Portrait & Landscape in Contemporary Photography and gallery farewell event is on Friday, June 19, 6-8 p.m. castellphotography.com