COLUSA, CA (MPG) — The Colusa County Arts Council will host an artist talk and information session for its new community photography program, In the County, on Thursday, Jan. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Arts Council gallery, 151 Fifth St.
The evening will open with an artist talk by Eliza Gregory from 6 to 6:30 p.m. Gregory, an assistant professor in the photography program at California State University, Sacramento, will discuss her ongoing [Placeholder] project, social practice art, and her collaboration with the Arts Council.
From 6:30 to 8 p.m., the event will transition into an open information session. Attendees may meet project directors and instructors, learn more about the program structure, review photography resources available through the Arts Council, and sign up in person.
In the County is a community documentary photography project running from February through May 2026, with activities planned at locations throughout Colusa County. The program invites participants of all ages and experience levels to explore rural life in the Sacramento Valley through photography.
“We’re calling it a community photography project because it’s really about helping people connect to landscapes and think about how we live and work around land in Colusa County,” said Project Director Daniel LoPilato. “Photography is the tool, but the focus is on exploration and engagement.”
LoPilato said the program is designed to be accessible, regardless of technical background or equipment. Participants may use digital cameras, film cameras, or cell phones. The Arts Council also has film cameras available for use.
“This is not a film only program or a professional level class,” LoPilato said. “If someone wants to use their phone, that’s completely fine. The goal is to get people looking closely and documenting what catches their attention.”
The program includes a series of guided group photo walks led by emerging teaching artists working under Gregory’s mentorship. Editing workshops will introduce participants to basic image editing using Adobe Lightroom. Those interested in film photography will also have opportunities to develop black and white 35mm film in the Arts Council darkroom.
“At the end, it all comes together,” LoPilato said. “Participants will help create a community photo zine, and their work will also be part of a gallery exhibition. Everyone who takes part will have a piece of the final project.”
The project will conclude with a community produced photo zine and a gallery exhibition scheduled to debut in summer 2026. Copies of the zine will be available for purchase, and photographs created during the program will be displayed at the Arts Council gallery.
An additional drop in information session will be held Saturday, Jan. 10, from noon to 2 p.m. at the gallery. Both January sessions offer an opportunity to ask questions, see examples of the type of work participants will produce, and register for the program.
More information, including registration details and a full program schedule, is available at colusa-arts.org/programs/in-the-county.