Just to let everyone know, this week is the last week to check out my FAA ONE art show at the Wounded Bookshop.

FAA ONE: Photographs of the first year of Fredericksburg All Ages
The Wounded Bookshop, 109 Amelia St., Fredericksburg, VA
Open 10-6pm, Now through Sunday, January 27

If you are a student an interested in purchasing a print from the show, special student discounts discounts are available. Contact me if you are interested.

Yesterday the article about my FAA ONE Art Show and Book and Fredericksburg All Ages was featured prominantly, on the front page of the Town and County magazine in the Free Lance-Star. It was a positive article that presented FAA really well. If you didn’t get a chance to see it in the paper, you can see it online at Fredericksburg.com. Thanks for the great article Michael!

Fredericksburg.com - HITTINGA CHORD Harmonious pairing of musicians and audiences brings life to downtown Fredericksburg CONCERTS ON TAP

Be on the lookout in the Free Lance-Star on Saturday, Jan 12 in  Town and County for a front page article about my FAA ONE art show and book. They will be publishing photos from FAA ONE and a photo of me.

Note to self: Shave and dress psuedo professionally, need to look good for the paper.

2007 Highlights

• Jamie & I celebrated our first wedding anniversary and took a trip to the Outer Banks in NC
• Bought a house in Fredericksburg with Ryan & Ashley
• Said goodbye to Chris, Natasha and Ester as they moved to Kansas.
• My Parents visited us and we checked out historic Williamsburg
• Became a full-time freelance designer!
• Designed a book cover for Youth Specialties (to be released in May ‘08)
  
• Panta Rhei Project did an interesting art Installation at Make A Difference Day
• Got a design studio at the Third Floor in downtown Fredericksburg.
• Became apart of Revolution.
• Fredericksburg All Ages turned 1.
• I turned 28.
• Launched my new website.
• Designed some other websites: VABB, Calypso Kennels, DarrenLipper.com.
• Donated a couple of paintings for the Fredericksburg Athenaeum Wet Paint 2007 art auction.
• Panta Rhei Project had a lock-in to create art for Wet Paint 2007.
• My dad published his Windows Vista book. (shameless plug)
• Had my first art show in Fredericskburg, FAA ONE, featuring my photography (on dispaly until Jan 27).
• Self-Published the FAA ONE Book of my photography
• Celebrated Christmas with my family in Indiana.

Life is so exciting! I’m Looking forward to an amazing 2008…

• I’m setting up a business for my Design and Photography work, stay tuned…
• My brother Jeremy is getting married in May!
• Helping Jamie start her tie dyed/silk screened baby clothes business.
• Celebrate our second anniversary and my 29th birthday (I’m getting old)
• Who knows…anything can happen

My FAA ONE book has been out for a little over a week, and people seem to be really enjoying it. I’ve gotten many compliments and I’ve had a few conversations with people saying how much some of the pictures captured the feeling of the shows.

Just to let everyone know, it is a available for purchase at The Wounded Bookshop and online for $25 (or drop me a line and I’ll snag you a copy). I’m a little frustrated right now since I’ve been waiting on a shipment of 70 books to get in…but I haven’t received them yet. When they get in they will be available at the following stores:

Purchase FAA ONE at the following stores in Fredericksburg:

• The Wounded Bookshop, 109 Amelia St.
• Apple Music, 1009 Princess Anne St.
• Riverby Books, 805 Caroline St.
• Visual Treats, 903 Caroline St.

Keep checking my blog. I’ll post and entry when the books are available at all the stores…before Christmas (fingers crossed)

P. S. Sean & Wen, thanks for coming out to the opening

The FAA ONE show opening went smashingly. We had a good flow of people coming out to see the show on Friday night, Jamie made/got some great snacks for everyone’s consumption and Ryan Poe let me display 4 of his videos from various FAA shows from the past year (check them out on YouTube). I sold some FAA ONE books and some 4×6 prints of the show images.

(more…)

Or why I’m doing the FAA ONE show and book

For the past year I’ve had the privilege to be involved in and observe a wonderful, blossoming music scene and youth culture in Fredericksburg. Thanks to the hard work of Adam Bray, the faithful involvement of local teens, young musicians, supportive parents and volunteers, Fredericksburg All Ages has put one some amazing shows in the past year. They featured not just local talent, but also DC favorites and prominent national touring bands. What makes these shows unique and special is the excitement, humility, and community that is present. They give youth a safe and a creative place to share their love of music and be apart of something bigger than themselves.

With my camera I’ve worked to capture this microcosm of downtown Fredericksburg through my often dark, noisy and moody images—revealing the rawness, youthfulness and spontaneity of these shows.

To me these photos and the FAA ONE book document a special time in the life of Fredericksburg; a year in which all who participated will fondly remember and cherish. I encourage you to share in this experience with me…All Ages are welcome.

» Ian Soper

I’ve got my FAA ONE book available for pre-order today! It will be officially released at companion FAA ONE art show opening on Decebmer 7 at the Wounded Bookshop in Fredericksburg. Click here for more info

For the past year I’ve been photographing an exciting and thriving music scene in Fredericksburg, VA via my good friend Adam Bray’s brainchild, Fredericksburg All Ages. And I’m having an art show/exhibit showcasing this documentary photography in Fredericksburg at the Wounded Bookshop. The opening is on December 7 from 6-9pm. In the spirit of the show and Fredericksburg All Ages, there will be an all ages show to follow at 9:00pm, featuring Bombadil and Paleo.

Also, I’ve been working on a companion book for the show featuring photos from the show and more, as a document of the first year of Fredericksburg All Ages concerts.

• More Info on the FAA ONE Photography Show
• Pre-order the FAA ONE Photography Book

For Immediate Release:
November 10, 2007
Contact: Ian Soper - 540-809-8020, me@iansoper.com, Paul Lewis - 540-373-1311

FAA ONE - A Photography Show at The Wounded Bookshop to Celebrate One Year of The Fredericksburg All-Ages Concerts.

On Friday, December 7, 2007, Ian Soper, Photographer and Co-Founder of the Panta Rhei Arts Project, a youth program for youth sponsored by The Fredericksburg Athenaeum, will exhibit a series of original photographs documenting some of the lasting images of the first year of the Fredericksburg All-Ages Concert series. The exhibit is titled, FAA ONE and will continue through January 27, 2008

The exhibit will include framed photographs and a monograph (book) which will be sold for the duration of the exhibit.

Ian Soper is a photographer, artist and graphic designer working in downtown Fredericksburg. Along with Ryan Poe, he is co-founder of the youth arts program, The Panta Rhei Project, which attempts to provide unique opportunities in the arts for Fredericksburg youth.

A free music concert featureing Bombadil and Paleo will follow the First Friday Opening reception @ 9 PM.

Event Details:
Friday, December 7, 2007 - January 27, 2008
Ian Soper - A Photography Installation

A photo exhibit of the first year of the Fredericksburg All-Ages Music Concerts at The Wounded Bookshop and The Third Floor.

First Friday Reception
December 7, 2007 - 6-9pm
A Music Concert to follow exhibit, 9pm
Reception Free - $5.00 at the door for music concert.

Where:
The Wounded Bookshop
109 Amelia Street, Downtown
Fredericksburg, VA 22401
540-373-1311

more info at: iansoper.com/photos