Reed Gallery Current Exhibit

Long Exposure is part of the 2026 Fotofocus Biennial: The Long View

The Long View
Biennial Opening Events: September 30–October 3, 2026

“The long view” is a phrase used to invoke a broader perspective. It suggests both distance and duration, i.e., looking far into the distance and looking for a long period of time. As an attitude toward history, the long view suggests a wise and measured perspective, one that takes into consideration both the distant past while also considering the distant future. The long view also describes in literal terms two primary functions of photography; photographic lenses both enable long-distance vision and long-duration viewing. The 2026 Biennial theme, The Long View, considers photography as a metaphor for our attempt to grasp our place within the durational sweep of history.

Investors take the long view to speculate about the future, to predict outcomes from actions made in the present day. In certain Indigenous cultures, the long view is expressed by the principle of Seven Generations, which instructs one to consider not only the present but also the future, to consider how decisions today will affect those seven generations from now. Another version places humans at the center of the seven generations, recognizing the three generations that came before and the three that will come after.

The Long View acknowledges the semiquincentennial of the United States, encouraging a posture of reflection in regards to the grand sweep of our country’s history, its past, present, and future. Photography can show us many moments from that history but it can also serve as a metaphor for how we understand our history and decide to shape it over time.

To elaborate, the theme considers aspects of time and perspective in photography and film, and how these mediums shape our understanding of the world. Time and perspective are fundamental aspects of photography. Time operates most essentially in terms of the duration of the photographic exposure. Early photographic technologies in particular were notoriously slow, requiring animated subjects to remain still for long periods of time, while faster films of the early-twentieth century allowed for instantaneous exposures, or snapshots. No matter the duration of the exposure, photographs, of course, once made, may be regarded for any length of time, for a split second, as for an Instagram post, or protractedly, for a photograph of an absent loved one.

Perspective is also an essential aspect of photography. The camera’s position in relation to subject matter remains essential in terms of the composition and, ultimately, the final impact of a photograph. Close up for greater detail, far away for greater context—these are also critical decisions in relation to photographic meaning. Furthermore, distance can be paradoxical: a telephoto view of the night sky, something far away but seen up close, will render stars and other bodies in greater isolation and detail, while an image of microorganisms can open entire biological landscapes not seen before.

The Dorothy W. & C. Lawson Reed, Jr. Gallery is located on the fifth floor of the DAAP Aronoff complex and is the largest of the DAAP Galleries.  Located at the heart of the DAAP complex, the Reed Gallery provides a vibrant setting for DAAP students and the regional arts community in which to engage in meaningful discussions about the current state of visual culture.  With a focus on current trends and practices, gallery exhibition themes range from Art to Fashion and address all of the fields of study within the college of DAAP.  While the focus of the DAAP galleries is contemporary practice, the galleries do present exhibitions that approach practice historically by examining a process, a school of thought, or an individual of significance that exemplify the foundations of contemporary practice.  Within an exhibition season, students and professionals alike are represented through a serious of group and solo exhibitions that address a wide range of visual media.

The location of the Reed Gallery provides countless opportunities for professors and students to engage in discussion within the gallery space.  Here they can directly address issues relating to their studies, as the gallery may provide examples of work to inspire dialogue and act as an extension and compliment to their class and studio work.  Additionally, the Reed Gallery is staffed by current students in order to provide practical experience working within a professional setting while aiding as a learning tool for individuals who are interested in the processes related to museum and gallery operations.

Click Here to See the Past Shows in the Reed Gallery

The Reed Gallery

Hours: Sunday - Thursday 10am-5pm

Phone:  (513) 556-2839

Address: Room 5275, 2624 Clifton Ct., DAAP Building, Cincinnati, OH, 45221

Location and visiting instructions for the Reed Gallery:

• When visiting the Reed Gallery enter the DAAP building by the third-floor entrance located at the bottom of Clifton Court next to the Clifton Court Garage. Proceed to the Reed Gallery located on the 5th Floor Rm 5275, and please wait outside the gallery for attendant to let you in.
• Metered parking is available on Clifton Avenue and Martin Luther King Drive; hourly parking is available in the Clifton Court Garage.
• Directions: From Martin Luther King Dr. turn right onto Clifton Ave. towards McMillan Ave. (DAAP will be on left). Street and garage parking are available (garage accepts cash or credit upon exit). Gallery is on the fifth floor.
• It may be helpful to view a campus map here