Biola University associate professor of photography Kurt Simonson鈥檚 鈥�鈥� exhibit is on display in in Portland, Ore., for the holiday season. This marks the second time Simonson鈥檚 exhibition has been displayed as an exclusive body of work after it was shown at Biola in The Earl & Virginia Green Art Gallery in Fall 2013.

Simonson, a Biola alumnus, had been shooting 鈥淣orthwoods Journals鈥� intermittently for more than twelve years in Minnesota, where he grew up. The collection began as a nostalgic series of images depicting his memories of home, however over time it evolved into the piecing together of his family narrative, detailing the complexities of family secrets, identity and shame.

"It鈥檚 an honor to have a solo show,鈥� said Simonson. 鈥淣ewspace is a non-profit photo center and gallery with a national audience, which is exciting. This is the highest profile show I鈥檝e had yet.鈥�

The solo exhibition will be on display from Dec. 5 through Feb. 2, 2015 and is the first national exposure for Simonson鈥檚 show as a solo body of work, although he has also had select photos from the collection displayed in photo centers, galleries and museums both nationally and internationally.

Simonson secured the show after he submitted images from 鈥淣orthwoods Journals鈥� in a national jury show that appeared in Newspace Center for Photography last summer. He was accepted into the group show, and then the juror selected his work from all of the displayed photographers for a solo show.

鈥淭he key image in the narrative was the envelope photo,鈥� said Simonson. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an opened envelope that you see the back of and is called 鈥�,鈥� because that鈥檚 what was written on the front of the envelope 鈥� That piece of paper haunts me and represents what it means to me to grow up in the Midwest and to not grow up with communication or freedom 鈥� to have a sense that some things are shameful, some things are hidden, and that you don鈥檛 say everything that should be said.鈥�

Another key image from 鈥淣orthwoods Journals鈥� called 鈥�鈥� was shown in in London in 2013 and has been the most viral photo of the series, said Simonson.

As a photography professor, Simonson strives for a thought-provoking and engaging class atmosphere 鈥� an environment his students appreciate and enjoy.

鈥淜urt gives a lot of room for exploration and experimentation,鈥� said Nathaniel Colbert, senior art major. 鈥淗is criticism is always constructive and has helped me grow in my work and be challenged within it.鈥�

The show in Portland will increase Simonson鈥檚 national exposure and he hopes it will also attract the interest of more gallery and photo center curators across the country.

One of Simonson鈥檚 current projects, 鈥�鈥� has also received a substantial amount of online buzz recently, appearing in . An image from that series was also shown at the , alongside some historical Renaissance art pieces, which was an unbelievable honor, said Simonson.

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Written by Stephen Day, iBiola Reporter. For more information contact Jenna Bartlo, media relations specialist, at 562.777.4016 or jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.