Expect the unexpected at whimsical new portrait exhibit

By Heidi Bell Gease, Journal staff | Sunday, March 18, 2007

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RAPID CITY — As a commercial photographer, Chris Benson shoots portraits every day — senior pictures, cute babies and family portraits.

But as an artist, she loves taking things one step further, whether that means shooting models among the crocodiles at Reptile Gardens or ballet dancers perched on Badlands outcroppings.

Benson’s latest work falls along the lines of photographer Annie Leibowitz, who specializes in finding unique ways to portray well-known people in unusual settings.

“It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, because it’s my very favorite kind of photography,” said Benson, whose solo show, “Chris Benson: Fifty Portraits,” opens Friday, March 23, at Dahl Arts Center.

“The main thing is I have photographed people in ways you don’t normally see them.”

Benson has spent the past year shooting both color and black-and-white portraits of local residents. Her subjects range from politicians to chefs, from artists to Benson’s own daughter. They posed in trees, on a rooftop and in studios.

Tattoo artist Matt Thrash posed with his new baby. Chris of Chris Roberts Salon appears in a line of beauty school mannequins. Dog groomers Jackie and Melissa Smith pose in a vintage convertible with two fluffy poodles.

One shot, of local artist Richard DuBois, recreates his well-known painting of a man feeding pigeons.

Some of the pictures were digitally altered. Others appear just as Benson shot them.

Benson, who owns CB Photo, left little to chance. She had most of the portraits meticulously planned before ever approaching her subjects about the project. “A lot of this series I had the locations picked out before I had the people,” she said.

Although a few people refused her requests, most welcomed the invitation — even if it meant leaving their comfort zone.

“I got people to get naked,” Benson said, sounding a little bit surprised by that feat. (She’s quick to add that all nudity is tastefully done using strategically placed props.) To do that, “they have to really trust me. And that feels really good.”

As it turns out, Benson had no trouble finding 50 willing subjects. In fact, she had people asking her to include them in the show, which she did. It seems she’d have little trouble doing a second exhibit of “Fifty More Portraits.”

By the way, if you count, you’ll actually find 51 pieces in the Dahl show.

“I don’t know how I came up with 51, but now I can’t get rid of one,” she said. “What everybody went through, as far as my subjects, there’s no way I can cut anybody out.”

If you go:

— What: “Chris Benson: Fifty Portraits”

— When: Opens Friday, March 23, with an exhibit reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. There will be a gallery talk at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend and meet the artist. The show runs through Saturday, May 5. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday.

— Where: Dahl Arts Center, 713 7th St., Rapid City

— Other: Benson’s show is sponsored by Stanford Adelstein, David Cameron and Connie Lane, and Jim and Eileen McKeon.