"Through odd little details hovering on the edges of our visual consciousness, slightly discombobulating angles that are not quite as head-on as they at first seem to be, intrusive off-kilter objects that interrupt the natural flow of our eye, Slesnick shares with us his vision of the world:  Use your eyes to discover the truth."  Daytona Beach (FL) News-Journal

 

 

The results of Slesnick’s efforts in this photograph can be seen on the Mexico page. See the image titled Edith, the Barber’s Sister.
 

                                                                                                           Photo by Steve Vaughn

.... personal and professional

Education:

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M.F.A.  in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design (1993)

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B.S.  in pharmacy from the University of Florida (1965)

Major Awards:


Thank you Denver, St. Louis, Kansas City, Winter Park, Raleigh, Ann Arbor, Fort Worth, and all the other shows we did from 1974 to 2006, for your wonderful support and for your enthusiasm for my work. Your patronage through the years has been truly appreciated, and the many friends we made along the way, both colleague and collector, made it an even more remarkable experience for us.

Although my wife Ella and I have retired from the art show circuit, we remain active in that field of endeavor by volunteering our time at various art fairs around the country, and by continuing to support our colleagues' efforts to make a living at what they do best: Bringing great art to the masses and to the streets of America's finest art shows and festivals.

Here are some of the awards we garnered through the years...

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International Grand Award Winner, M.I.L.K. (Moments of Intimacy, Laughter, and Kinship) competition (2000; website, http://www.milkphotos.com)

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Individual Artist Fellowship, State of Florida, 1999

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Cherry Creek Art Festival (Denver, CO): Merit Award, 2006; 2nd place overall, 2004

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St. Louis Art Festival: 1st place, 2006, 2005, 2003; 2nd place, 2004

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Kansas City Plaza: Jury Award, 2005; Photography juror, 2004; Juror’s Award, 2003

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Winter Park (FL) Sidewalk Art Festival: Best of Show, 1994; Morse Museum Award, 1999; 1st place, 1998, 1996; 2nd place, 2006, 2005, 2003; 3rd place, 2000; Award of Distinction, 2006; Merit Award, 2004, 1997, 1995, 1993, 1984

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Magic City Arts Festival (Birmingham, AL): Best of Show, 2005, 2004; Spider Martin Award, 2003; Merit Award, 2002

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Gasparilla Arts Festival (Tampa, FL): Best of Show, 2001; Award of Distinction,1994; Friends of Library Award, 2002; Merit Award, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997,1996, 1995

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Smoky Hill River Arts Festival (Salina, KS): Best of Show, 2005, 2003; Merit Award, 2004

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Artsplosure (Raleigh, NC): Best of Show, 2004; 2nd place, 2003; Honorable Mention, 2005; Award of Distinction, 2006

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Ocala (FL) Fine Arts Festival: Best of Show, 2000; Award of Distinction, 2003, 2001, 1997, 1996; Merit Award, 2002, 1999, 1998

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International Print Exhibition of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain: Gold Medal (Best of Show), 1996; Silver Medal (2nd place), 1995, 1997

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Winter Park Autumn Art Festival: Best of Show, 1995, 1983; Award of Distinction,1994; Merit Award, 1998, 1996

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Coconut Grove Arts Festival (Miami, FL): 1st place, 2006, 1999, 1998, 1996; 2nd place, 1997

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Beaux Arts (Miami, FL): 1st place, 1999, 2001; Award of Excellence, 2000

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Lakefront (Milwaukee, WI); Invitation to Return Award, 2005

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Original Ann Arbor Art Fair: Award of Excellence, 1998

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Maitland (FL) Art Festival: 1st place, 2004, 2002, 2001, 1998, 1997; 2nd place,2003, 2000

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Festival of the Masters (at Disney World, Orlando, FL): 1st place, 2001, 1996, 1994, 1993, 1991, 1990, 1976, 1975; 2nd place, 1999, 1998, 1997; 3rd place, 2002; Merit Award, 2000, 1995, 1992

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Gainesville (FL) Spring Arts Festival: Award of Excellence, 2006, 2005, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998; Award of Merit, 2003

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ArtFest (Fort Myers, FL): 2nd place, 2-D, 2005

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Great Gulfcoast Art Festival (Pensacola, FL): Award of Merit, 2005; Award of Excellence, 2003

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Virginia-Highland Art Festival (Atlanta, GA): Best in Photography, 2006; 2nd place overall, 2005; Honorable Mention, 2004

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Mainsail Art Festival (St. Petersburg, FL): Award of Distinction, 2004, 2001; Award of Excellence, 2000; Award of Merit, 2003

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Mount Dora (FL) Art Festival: Best in Category, 2005; Award of Excellence, 2003, 2004; Award of Distinction, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1997, 1996, 1995, 1994; Merit Award, 1998

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ArtScape (Atlanta, GA): Award of Excellence, 2000, 1999

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Deland (FL) Festival of Art: Judge’s Choice (2-D), 2002, 2001; Award of Excellence, 1998, 1995, 1994; Award of Distinction, 1999; Award of Recognition, 2005, 2000; Award of Merit, 1996

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Naples (FL) National Art Festival: Award of Distinction, 2003

One-Person Shows:

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Crealde School of Art, Winter Park/Orlando, FL (2008)

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DeLand Museum of Art, Deland, FL (2002)

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Thomas Center Gallery, Gainesville, FL (2001)

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Appleton Museum, Ocala, FL (1997)

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Tupelo, MS, Museum of Art (1995)

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Savannah College of Art and Design, Savannah, GA (1993)

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Ormond Memorial Art Museum, Ormond Beach, FL (1993)

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Brevard Museum, Melbourne, FL (1988)

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Maitland Art Center, Maitland, FL (1985)

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Light Images Gallery, Winter Park, FL (1984)

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Valencia Community College, Orlando, FL (1982)

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Boris Gallery, Boston, MA (1981)

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Gallery 121, Winter Park, FL (1981)

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Church Street Station Gallery (Council of Arts and Sciences), Orlando, FL (1978)

Group Shows:

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M.I.L.K. International Exhibition, Vanderbilt Hall, New York, NY (July, 2001; also, London, England; Sydney, Australia; and other venues since 2001)

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Orlando City Hall Biennial Exhibition (w/award, 1994)

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International Print Exhibition of The London Salon of Photography, London, England (1992, 1993, 1994, 1996 w/medal)

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“Photo Review” National Photography Competition (several)

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“Deepening Concerns and New Impulses” (Amerika Haus, Cologne, Germany December, 1992] and Camberwell College of Arts, London, England [January, 1993)

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Savannah College of Art and Design (1992)

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Daytona Beach Community College traveling exhibition (“The Florida Document”) (1998-89)

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Cornell Fine Arts Center at Rollins College, Winter Park, FL (“Eight Florida Photographers”) (1988)

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Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando, FL (several)

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Maitland Art Center, Maitland, FL (several)

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Crealdé School of Art Gallery, Winter Park, FL (several)

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Light Images Gallery, Winter Park, FL (several)

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Annual Juried Southeastern Photography Exhibition at Crealdé School of Art, Winter Park (Orlando), FL (1st place 1994, 1997)

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International Print Exhibition of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, and its accompanying traveling exhibition (each year since 1991)

Other:

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Major contributor, “Family: A Celebration of Humanity” (Wm. Morrow, publisher, 2001)

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“Friends” (20-piece body of work in 3-person show), Crealdé School of Art Gallery, Winter Park, FL (1993)

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Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, Bath, England (21 pieces, 1993)

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“The Springfield Project: A Town Sees Itself” (project and accompanying exhibition, Savannah College of Art and Design, 1992-93)

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“Trispectives” (16-piece body of work in 3-person show) Seminole Community College, Sanford/Orlando, FL (1989)”

Collections:

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Philadelphia Museum of Art

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City of Orlando, Florida

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Central Florida Community College

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Numerous private and corporate collections in the U.S. and U.K.

Personal Accomplishments:

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Featured in "RPS (Royal Photographic Society) Journal" (published in England), February, 2005

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Featured in "PhotoWorld" magazine (published in China), November, 2004

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Fellow, Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain since 1993

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Publication of article in “People in Camera” Magazine (published in England) July, 1993

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Established photography program in rural Effingham County, Georgia, High School (spring, 1993)

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Featured in “People in Camera” Magazine (published in England) January, 1993

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Featured in “Amateur Photographer” magazine (published in England) March, 1991, and May, 2001

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Founding member of the Photography Co-Op Group of Central Florida, Inc., and of the Co-Op’s Light Images Gallery in Winter Park (1980).  Also served as its Managing Director, Public Relations and Press Director

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Founded the Students’ Best program and annual competition at Light Images Gallery

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Created the first color darkroom in an art center in Central Florida (at Crealdé School of Art, 1976)

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Major contributor in Family, a celebration of humanity; Publisher Harper Collins/Wm. Morrow, ISBN 0-6-620969-2

Affiliations:

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Member, Society for Photographic Education, since 1992

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Adjunct professor in photography, University of Central Florida (1998)

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Member, Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain, since 1991

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Member, National Association of Independent Artists, since 1997

 

 
 

All images are © Les Slesnick. Any unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.

 

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