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Larry Kanfer Photography Gallery »
Address: 2503 S. Neil St. Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 398-2000
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The Larry Kanfer Gallery will be hosting its Spring Open House Thursday, April 8, through Sunday, April 11.

The gallery will have a sale during the show, with everything at 30 percent off. It will showcase many pieces from the famed photographer of the American landscape, Larry Kanfer.

“There will be many new and exciting images,” said Anne Adelsberger, the gallery manager.

The open house will have many pieces from Kanfer’s latest book, Barns of Illinois, as well as numerous new photos of the University of Illinois. Kanfer is working on a new University of Illinois book for spring 2011. His last one, Postcards from the Prairie: Photographic Memories from the University of Illinois, was published in 1996.

The Kanfer Gallery has five rooms, including the atrium and University of Illinois galleries. There is also a “serene outdoor courtyard,” according to Kanfer’s Web site. The Spring Open House will utilize all the galleries.

The gallery has been open in Champaign-Urbana for more than 30 years, and its Web site calls it “one of the hidden treasures” of the area.

Kanfer loves the community and college town atmosphere, according to Adelsberger.

Kanfer, who grew up on the West Coast, studied architecture at the University of Illinois. While he always loved photography, he was urged by friends and family to study a field where a jobs were more stable, according to Adelsberger.

“Larry truly enjoys architecture, but photography was always a passion of his,” she said.

After much sacrifice and hard work, Kanfer continues to pursue photography, but uses his architecture knowledge in his work.

In a quote from the Web site, Kanfer said, “that no doubt my concepts of light and shadow, form and composition were greatly influenced by my studies in architecture.” He is well-known for his collections of American landscapes, which he calls Prairiescapes.

Kanfer will be present at the Spring Open House.

“It is more of an open house to invite people to see new collections,” Adelsberger said. “It is a great opportunity to take advantage of art on sale.”