The Colonial Arts Center Gallery is presenting “My Photo Finish,” a solo photography exhibition by Buckhannon resident Al Tucker, on display through Saturday, February 28.
An artist reception will be held Friday, February 6 from 5-7 p.m., with an artist talk at 5:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. The CAC Gallery is open from 4-8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. All gallery events are free and open to the public.
Tucker’s journey to photography came late in life — a life that spanned early years in England, service in the U.S. Air Force and a career in engineering.
Born in England, Tucker immigrated to America with his family in 1954, settling in New Martinsville at age 11. He graduated from West Virginia University with an engineering degree and was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force. His military service took him to assignments across the U.S. and to Southeast Asia, Germany and the Pentagon during the first Gulf War.
In 2004, Tucker retired and settled in Buckhannon with his wife, Liva. He had planned a retirement of golf, fishing and travel, sprinkled with community work through Rotary and his church.
But turning 70, he realized there was more to give — and golf had lost its appeal. That’s when he fell in love with photography.
From 2012 until mid-October 2020, Tucker threw himself into the craft, focusing on West Virginia landscapes and nature. Eager to share what he learned, he also became a driving force behind the Buckhannon Upshur Camera Club, helping to make it one of the premier clubs in the state.
For more information about the exhibit, contact Gallery Director Robert Howsare at howsare_r@wvwc.edu. The CAC Gallery can also be found on Instagram and Facebook.
