The BPA Gallery is offering another exciting exhibition. We are lucky to be able to see some of the amazing photographs of Michael Nalley, a consummate professional photographer who relocated his company, Wax Exp, to Bainbridge Island eight years ago. He is showing works from several nature themed collections, the main feature being photos from his “Pangea Series.” The Pangea Series is based on an enhanced, surreal nature theme. It is calmly fantastical.

The premise is this: Some time ago, between the Paleozoic era and 1973, an imagined land bridge joined Bainbridge Island with Africa. Many people already have a magical sense of the Bainbridge Island landscape. This series makes it so. As you visit the Grand Forest and other areas in these photos, you will find yourself walking down a familiar trail, except as you turn a corner or turn your head, you catch sight of a zebra, elephant or antelope. You find yourself, in that very brief moment just before it sees you and dashes away, wondering…did I just see a zebra? Nalley has combined photos with such wonderful skill that they feel right. Suspension of disbelief achieved. Plus, they are simply fun to see and will jump-start your imagination. If Nalley’s premise of the bridge were true, maybe we’d be seeing more than that large brown bear that keeps moving around our island.

Nalley has spent over 35 years using his photography skills to cover many aspects of marketing as a photographer and studio head. He has worked on projects for major brands including travel, lifestyle, culinary arts, finance, sportswear, entertainment and technology.

Nalley double majored in design and photography in the early 1980s. At that time, he made a personal decision to pursue work in the advertising industry where he could develop an idea rather than photograph products. He decided to reserve photography for personal joy and expression. He refers to his approach as a street photographer looking for that unusual image, angle or feeling. The result is a wealth of thematic collections that satisfied the artist within.

The exhibit opens from 5-7 p.m. The BPA Gallery opens one hour earlier than the rest of the downtown openings. The BPA Gallery is open 1-4 p.m. Wednesday-Friday and during performances. Bainbridge Performing Arts (BPA) Gallery, 200 Madison Ave. N.

October performances include: The EDGE Improv (Oct. 5) and The Rocky Horror Show (Oct. 11-27)

 ABOUT BILL BARAN-MICKLE: Recently, Bill has enjoyed exhibiting in several international art biennial exhibitions. Of the three in which he has participated, he won Third Place for Sculpture from the European Confederation of Art Critics in the Chianciamo Biennale, at the Chianciano Art Museum in Italy in 2011, and First Place in Applied Arts in the London Biennale of 2013. In 2013 alone, he will have participated in eight exhibitions: from London to a two-person exhibition near home. In addition, Bill was asked to be a representative for CCAC’s exhibition celebrating 100 years of the Metals Department, and a mix of group shows in New York City, Miami, Seattle and Las Vegas. Bill is the designer of the 10 foot Equitorial Bowstring Sundial located at the Richie Observatory in Battle Point Park on Bainbridge Island, WA and completed in 2015.