Erik Auerbach

Artist Statement:

My interest lies in the natural grace that appears in the countless periods of transitions that confront us daily; some are subtle and fleeting, while others beg to be noticed.  I seek to illuminate the outline and route of our everyday, inviting viewers to take an intimate look at the quiet layers in our day-to-day landscape.  Like following a path, the images here are meant to be viewed together and alone.  This work is about the clash between nature and the urban experience and the things left behind.  These photographs have been made over ten years in several locations as far reaching as Mexico, Berlin, Seoul, and Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  My journey continues.

Erik Auerbach is the Director of Education at SF Camerawork. He manages First Exposures, a photography mentoring program for underserved Bay Area youth. He is responsible for curriculum development, mentor coordination, community liaison, and special projects. He also teaches the weekly classes in Photography for the First Exposures students. In 2008 he took 5 youth photographers from First Exposures to Ghana for a three-week photographic and cultural exchange.  In 2006, Mr. Auerbach conceived of, edited, produced, and arranged for the press and distribution of the book First Exposures (SF Camerawork, 2006) that documents the long-running mentoring program’s history and highlighted work by current students.  He served as a mentor with First Exposures prior to becoming the Education Coordinator in February 2005. Mr. Auerbach has extensive experience working in the field of photography, and working with youth at a variety of schools and nonprofit organizations. He has also taught photography at the college level at the Academy of Art University, UC Extension, and the San Francisco Art Institute. His photographic work has been exhibited and published internationally. Since his involvement with First Exposures he has arranged and curated exhibits for the program at The Contemporary Jewish Museum, Mills College Art Museum, the San Francisco Public Library, Zeum and SF Camerawork. He received his B.F.A. from San Francisco State University in 1985 and continued his education in language and art history at City College of San Francisco.