Campus News

Never too Late to Learn

by Gabrielle Blitz ’09

July 1, 2009

Front row, from left: Bob Cavenagh and Carol WilliamsSecond row, from left: George Rhyne, Ellen Jenkins, Marvin Israel and Bob LeyonBack row, from left: Maureen Reed and Don Raley

Robert Cavenagh always hated calendar art. As a professor of art, art history and photography, he would never show that kind of art to his students. But, in retirement, he’s learning to appreciate pretty pictures.

When the central organization of the Retired Professionals of Dickinson College (RPDC) approached the associate professor emeritus of art and education about spearheading a photography subgroup a few years ago, he was delighted. (Other special-interest subgroups of RPDC explore music, science, poetry and film.) Cavenagh reached out to other retired Dickinson professors and administrators, as well as members of the Carlisle community, and a photography group was born.

The group debuted its first exhibit—of members’ personal photos—in April in a downtown Carlisle storefront window provided by the Tuckey Group. Though spring marked the group’s fifth semester, it was the first in which, says Cavenagh, “everyone wanted to and was ready to exhibit.”

The exhibit was a continuation of Works in the Windows, a joint project of the Carlisle Arts Learning Center, the Downtown Carlisle Association and students of Jim Hoefler, professor of political science.

Besides Cavenagh, the RPDC photography group includes Bob Leyon (chemistry), George Rhyne (history), Marvin Israel (sociology), Don Raley (financial aid) and community members Ellen and Ron Jenkins, Maureen Reed, Carol Williams and Larry Rankin.

The group meets every two weeks on campus, at people’s homes or in the Waidner-Spahr Library. Cavenagh tries not to make the meetings too formal, but they tend to feel that way sometimes, since leading the group seems like an extension of his former teaching.

“He’s an expert in photography and in the technology of it,” Rhyne says appreciatively of his teacher. “He has a very good idea of what makes a good picture. Bob came up with the idea [for the exhibit], and he arranged everything. I think it’s something very keen to do.”

Of the experience, Rhyne says, “I’m glad that I was able to do this. What I’m trying to do is develop my eye and see patterns and attractive images. You can take beautiful pictures in Paris, but in Carlisle it takes a bit more precision.”

Cavenagh says that the group has developed into one that is focused on digital photography, because it was more convenient for people to use than film, which has to be processed and then made into prints.

While Cavenagh teaches the photographers to manipulate and refine their images with programs such as Photoshop, group members observe each other’s photos and offer constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement.

The group assembled a second exhibit for Works in the Windows that opened in May. Included was a Marvin Israel photo of men cooking in Hawa Mahal palace in Jaipur, India, that won first place in the Print of the Year competition of the Harrisburg Camera Club.

As for future projects, Cavenagh says everyone has a different idea for how the group should evolve. Perhaps, he says, they could “take on a particular topic or a common element that everyone has to deal with, because it would be interesting to see how everyone deals with it in different ways.”

Rhyne hopes that he will have further opportunities to develop his eye and continue the learning process. “Learning is always good; you never know enough,” he says. The group will continue to exhibit its work in the coming years, because more than anything else, it’s been a “hell of a lot of fun,” as Rhyne says.