Today is World Photography Day, a vibrant celebration of the art, craft, science, and history of photography. This date marks the moment in 1839 when the French government officially released the patent for the Daguerreotype method, revolutionizing the world of photography by making image capture faster and more accessible. Named after French artist Louis Daguerre, World Photography Day has been celebrated for nearly two centuries.
In celebration of World Photography Day, Paradise Valley Community College (PVCC) proudly shines a spotlight on one of our own – Photography Faculty George ‘Kip’ Sudduth. Since 2013, Sudduth has been inspiring students and the community with his passion and expertise, extending his influence throughout the Maricopa County Community College District for even longer.
Sudduth’s love for visual arts began in childhood. As a young boy, Sudduth enjoyed drawing. In seventh grade, his fascination took root when he joined the science club and was introduced to working in a dark room.
“When you’re in the dark room and use the equipment to make your small images appear larger,” explained Sudduth. “It was like magic. The magic of developing is what really hooked me.”
That was back in the 1960s. In 1970, Sudduth enrolled at Louisiana Tech University earning his Bachelor of Fine Art/Painting, then spent the next decade traveling the world, learning his craft and exploring various art forms including drawing, sketching, painting, and mixed media in addition to photography. He apprenticed in Rome, Italy with Master painter Manlio Guberti, and studied painting with Steven Greene at the Tyler School of Art (Temple University), also in Rome. In 1982, he earned his Master of Fine Art in Studio Art also from Louisiana Tech University as a graduate teaching assistant.
It wasn’t until the mid-1980s that Sudduth began teaching art offering his expertise in an array of classes including illustration, graphic design, painting, photography, and of course, art history. Having worked throughout MCCCD at sister schools including Estrella Mountain, Glendale, and Scottdale community colleges, Sudduth joined PVCC in 2010 and includes the history of art and photography in all of his classics as a basic principle.
“I don’t believe you can teach photography without its history,” Sudduth said. “I teach photography as an art; images being composed. Teaching students art, design, and composition as well as the history of Art enables students to ‘do’ the art of photography.”
Sudduth has exhibited all over the world including Italy and Mexico; his photography is collected by several colleges and universities. He was a finalist for a Scottsdale, AZ Canal Convergence, appointed ‘Master Artist’ to a local Apprentice program, and won a grant through the City of Phoenix Arts program in 2022.
Currently, Sudduth’s latest work is on display at PVCC’s main campus in the KSC building, 18401 N. 32nd St. in Phoenix, AZ. The exhibition is free and open to the public.
“Personal observation with photographic visual phenomena defines the relationships of my photography,” he said. “I have utilized several multimedia techniques in this photography show as the potential viewing of pure light shot without optics in relation to design in the final works,” Sudduth explained.
Reflecting on his experiences, Sudduth shared, “While working in Italy under a master painter, he taught me that the ‘invention of form’ is the key to artmaking… The purity of white light in referential and non-referential objectivity offers a glimpse into my visualization process. If you give the images a chance to SEE you, then there is a certain realization for both you and the art displayed.”
For more information about PVCC’s Fine Arts program and to learn more about Sudduth’s inspiring work and classes, visit our website. And celebrate World Photography Day by using the hashtag – #worldphotographyday – and share a photo that encapsulates your world.