America 250

GALLERY ONE PRESENTS “AMERICA 250” A COMMUNITY CELEBRATION OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND HISTORY

Gallery One invites the public to experience “America 250,” a free, family-friendly exhibition exploring American identity through contemporary photography, June 19–August 1, 2026. The program pairs national, award-winning work with local community participation to mark the nation’s semiquincentennial.

EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS

America 250: Photography — a national juried photography exhibition showcasing diverse perspectives on America. 

250 Years of Grand American Architecture — block prints of American architecture by South African artist Lounette Loubser.

Community Snapshots — For the duration of the exhibit, Gallery One invites residents and visitors to document Ellensburg in 2026 with Polaroid photography. Submit an existing Polaroid that features the local community, or borrow the Gallery’s Polaroid camera for up to two hours and return with your selected image (terms apply).

SPECIAL EVENT

Opening Reception and Awards: July 3, 5–7 PM — join us for a celebratory community gathering over Independence Day weekend. 

Join us in celebrating America’s 250th through the powerful lens of community and creativity!

 

Gail Gibson has worked in the gallery industry for more than 35 years, and her degrees in Art History, Painting, and Photography led her to the profession. From 1987-1991 Gail was the director of the Weston Gallery in CA, and then opened G. Gibson Gallery in Seattle in August, 1991. She is also a long time member of AIPAD. In 2019 the brick and mortar G. Gibson Gallery morphed into G. Gibson Projects, an online and ‘by appt.’ space. G. Gibson Projects curates and showcases physical and online exhibits through partnerships with local arts organizations and alternative spaces. The freedom from retail has allowed time for other projects and a larger chance for her to give back to the community when it’s needed.

Gail has lived along the west coast throughout her life – from Los Angeles, to Monterey, CA, and Seattle. Having dogs as added family members, getting into the woods as much as possible, and constant museum visits everywhere have been glorious distractions.

C. Meier (American, b. 1982, they/them) is a non-binary artist and curator based in Portland, OR. As Exhibitions Director at Blue Sky, Oregon Center for the Photographic Arts, they have organized over 90 photographic exhibitions since 2021. Additionally, Meier co-curated the 2017 exhibition re:collection at the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago (MoCP), and curated the 2023 exhibition Size Matters for Medium Photo, San Diego. Other professional roles include Collections Manager / Registrar (2018-2020) at the MoCP, and Studio Assistant to artist Barbara Kasten (2019-2020). Meier’s own art practice explores materiality, reveling in the hybridization of processes including drawing and photographic methods. They are especially interested in alternative and cameraless approaches to photography. Meier earned their MFA in Photography from Columbia College Chicago (2017) and BFA in Studio Art from Pacific Lutheran University (2004). They have exhibited at Candela Books + Gallery, Hyde Park Art Center, Mana Contemporary (Chicago), Filter Space, Nine Gallery, Solas Gallery, Carnation Contemporary, among others, and their work is part of the Permanent Collection of Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA).