What do the snowy landscapes of Antarctica and the desert culture of Namibia have in common?
Both are featured in “Extreme”, the Knight Law Center’s latest gallery exhibit, which showcases the photography of Seattle-based artist Robert Fink. Forty-two large photographs, including close-ups of Namibian children and mothers, glaciers, sand dunes, penguins and a cheetah, line the walls of the art gallery.
The exhibit was put together by Fink and law professor Dominick Vetri, who organized the exhibit specifically for space.
But the second floor of the law center did not always have an art gallery. Vetri advocated the idea.
“The blank walls looked like a wonderful

exhibit space,” said Vetri, who has been curating art exhibits for the past four years.
“Extreme” marks the gallery’s seventh exhibit.
Vetri discovered Fink’s work from the boyfriend of Fink’s niece.
Fink, who usually has standard-sized photographs in his shows, said he appreciated the opportunity to display larger images.
“They should be big,” he said. “The places I took them were big. I was so amazed at how sharp they looked. It really takes a certain space to show large photos.”
Vetri admires the abstract quality of Fink’s photographs.
“I like the contrast of hot and cold,” Vetri said. “It reminded me of the Robert Frost poem ‘Fire and Ice.’”
The contradiction of the Antarctic and Namibian landscapes represents the exhibit’s greatest appeal.
“These places are so similar yet totally opposite,” Fink said. “Generally, I like portraits better than landscapes; I am not a landscape photographer.”
Fink formerly practiced psychiatry but had a photographer’s vision for as long as he can remember.
“I always took photos,” said Fink, who helped build the first photo lab at Stanford University as a student.
Though Fink masters the art of photography, he finds it hard to explain photographs.
“I don’t intellectualize them. It’s not a thinking thing; it’s a feeling thing for me,” he said. “With portraits, I certainly use my long experience in psychology to capture emotions.”
Fink hopes people see beauty in the exhibit and around themselves. He even offered some advice for those viewing the exhibit: Experience the photographs and let yourself react to what and who they are.
“Extreme” is showcased at the Knight Law Center’s second-floor gallery until Jan. 6. The gallery is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day.
For more information, contact Dominick Vetri at 346-3868 or visit Robert Fink’s Web site, www.sweatyboy.com.
[email protected]