I recently met photographer Julie Dodge and she told me that she has a photography studio in North Art Studios, which are located within Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church. If you live in Peoria or any of the surrounding communities, I’m sure you’ve driven by St. Paul’s Church because it’s on North Street facing War Memorial Drive near Knoxville Avenue and that’s a busy spot there.
I’ve probably driven by St. Paul’s Church 12,717 times since I’ve moved back to Peoria and I had no idea that there were art studios in there. In fact, I’ve never even been in the building.
Well all that changes today as we go and visit the photography studio of Julie Dodge Photography!
I never realized what a mammoth building St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is till I tried to take a photo of it!
I had to take the church separate and there’s the building that houses the offices and the North Art Studios.
The entrance is right down here.
Here’s a hallway filled with various art studios, there’ more down in the basement as well.
They recently had a First Friday event in here and there will be another one in May. Mark your calendars for that!
Julie Dodge Photography, this looks like our destination!
And check out Julie’s logo, it’s the work of MBIP friend Chelsie Tamms from Lettering Works who’s created logos and art for my Marty Monologues shows and for my Midwest Slice of Life YouTube Channel. Very cool!
I knocked on the door and was told to come on in! So that’s exactly what we’ll do!
And here she is, photographer, Julie Dodge!
it was great to see and chat with her about photography, the studios here at St. Paul’s and many other topics!
Her photography studio is really impressive and packed with her photography. She invited me to take some photos and that’s just what we’re going to do!
The studio has a warm and comfortable artsy vibe in here.
Julie moved into this studio in January of 2020 and you can read more about that below in her Artist’s Statement.
As you can see her photography is amazing!
The way she shoots the photos, they truly end up as pieces of photographic art. Some look like oil paintings and that bottom one looks like a black and white line drawing.
What an original and beautiful photographic style!
Julie has her own line of postcards featuring her photos and she said these are very popular at shows and pop-up events.
I asked Julie to tell us her photographic journey that led her to this studio and she agreed. Take it away, Julie!
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Julie Dodge, The Artist’s Statement
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At the age of 8 my mom bought me my first camera, a point and shoot Kodak film camera. I mostly photographed vacations and family occasions. This led to a life-long interest in photography for me.
However that interest became a passion when everything changed for me in 2009 when I endured a knee surgery gone wrong and I could no longer lead the active life I once knew.
I could still get out and take photos, so I purchased a new digital camera with interchangeable lenses, joined the Peoria Camera Club, and moved forward in life with a renewed passion for photography.
During recovery I developed a greater understanding for people with disabilities.
If I could get out and go to those places I loved, off the beaten path, I could capture the beauty that surrounds us and bring it back to share with others.
Photography became my therapy, both physically and mentally, for dealing with a permanent injury.
During this time my work was recognized by local gallery owners who offered me opportunities for solo shows.
The first series I created around 2012 was titled “Central Illinois Landscapes”. The second was a black and white series called “Country Roads”. In 2018 I created a new series, “Illinois Riverscapes” where nature and urbanization coexist.
My last series, “Illinois Raptors” is a series of raptor portraits (hawks, owls, eagles) that live in our state.
I’m currently working on several more new series, including: songbirds, barns, and nature.
I moved into North Art Studios at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in January 2020, just before the pandemic shut down all arts related activities. I’ve been away from my photography for a couple years, but now I’m back to creating local photographic artworks again.
April 2023 First Friday was the first public Art event since 2020, hosted by the 15 artists that make up North Art Studios. Several artists are on the upper level where my studio is located. Most are on the lower level.
Anyone is welcome to attend First Friday events where artists are in their studios.
Otherwise, studio tours are available by appointment only.
Thanks for letting us in your studio, Julie and for sharing your inspirational tale of how a bad break in life can sometimes lead to a new and creative chapter of life.
If you’d like to book an appointment to look at Julie’s incredible photos and postcards at her studio, you can contact her via facebook or send her an email.
Thanks again, Julie, it was a lot of fun and great to see and hang out with you!
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3601 North North Street
Peoria
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Related Post: Making Art At The Art Garage.