Of the three photographers currently exhibiting at Blue Sky Gallery, the work of Fritz Liedtke stands apart. His portrait series Astra Velum, Latin for Veil of Stars, is a study of freckles. Walking through the small territory that Liedtke’s portraits occupy, I am surrounded by glowing skin speckled with flecks of brown and gold that create an intricate map of texture on the human body. The pale eyes of the women stare enchantingly back at me, giving the disturbing impression that they are able to penetrate my soul. A strange intimacy emerges, as I become the object gazed upon by these many freckled women.

The photographs are hand-printed using photogravure, an intricate process that adds luminosity to the image. This process also mirrors the careful emergence of photography as an art of its own. Defined as the link between printmaking and photography, photogravure requires the artist’s skillful hand as much as any oil painting. Liedtke, using a process called chin-collé, carefully layers the inked image onto a copper backing plate and impresses a second sheet of handmade Japanese paper onto the stack. The stack is then sent through a hand-cranked press to emerge, in all of its delicate beauty, from the other side. The result is an image marked by imperfections and yet wholly beautiful in its flaws. The fingerprints of the artist, flecks of ink from the press and somewhat-unfocused images are a distant cry from today’s sharp digital prints, yet this process seems to offer a more truthful glimpse of our gritty reality.

This show is a perfect fit for Blue Sky Gallery, an exhibition space that focuses solely on photography. Since its invention in the 19^th century, photography has struggled to be viewed as an art form in its own right. Blue Sky, self-described as “a nonprofit exhibition space and community research center dedicated to educating the public about photography,” helps give recognition to this somewhat underappreciated art form.

The gallery was originally founded as the Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts in 1975. While often featuring Pacific Northwest artists, it has expanded its repertoire to include international artists as well. Indeed, November’s exhibition includes Japanese artist Takeshi Shikama and German-based artist Andrej Krementschouk. Takeshi’s Silent Respiration of Forests offers a dark glimpse into the mysterious, organic matter of the forest. His small photographs of dense foliage, tangled branches and light pooling on leaves are a meditation in and of themselves. Meanwhile, Krementschouk’s colorful photographs of his Russian homeland are snapshots of isolation, nostalgia, secrecy and faith.

Blue Sky has a particular fondness for photographers from the Pacific Northwest and its Pacific Northwest Drawers Viewing Program is a unique way to showcase these artists’ work. Wandering through the gallery, one stumbles upon a roomful of drawers, each with a different artist’s work inside. Should you wish to see more, just ask the gallery assistant. Many of the works are for sale, but exploring the contents of the drawers is an adventure worth pursuing even if you are not looking to buy.

In addition to its First Thursday art opening every month, Blue Sky Gallery also hosts lectures that are free and open to the public. Exhibiting artists are often invited to speak, while November’s collaboration with the Oregon College of Arts and Crafts’ lecture series featured artist Alfredo Jaar. Details on artists’ lectures are usually posted monthly. Be sure to check out blueskygallery.org for more information.

While this gallery is always worth wandering into on any First Thursday, December’s opening should be particularly striking. Artist Joakim Eskildsen spent six years traveling through Eurasia, seeking out the Roma, a population that has been traditionally disenfranchised throughout Europe and Asia. Although the photographs are understandably different as they represent one country to the next, there is a similarity in their portrayal of the poverty and temporality experienced by the Roma. Likewise, Eskildsen’s photographs present us with an intimate look at the Roma’s expressive culture and remarkable strength of character. The Roma Journeys, opening December 1^st, promises to be a powerful and insightful exhibition.

As an exhibition center and community space, Blue Sky Gallery combines the best of art and education and offers their programs free to the public. The curatorial committee’s excellence in selecting unique and innovative photographers to highlight makes it well worth the trip to see what this gallery has on display.