John Deason

John Deason, a former Muscatine High School teacher who received his Master of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in photography from the University of Iowa and later taught at Augustana College, has been fascinated by photography for many decades. At the age of seven, following a move to Sioux City, Iowa, Deason became friends with a neighbor boy whose father was a talented photographer named Grant Jensen.

Deason states that Jensen changed his whole life as he became his mentor at an early age. “He gave me a 35-millimeter camera, and I began taking photos. I wanted to take serious photos for people to view and discuss. I was very lucky to have this adult friend who would take the time and effort to teach me how to develop film and then print photographs. Years later, he gave me a wooden view camera with bellows, a sharp lens and slide-in film holders.”

The public is invited to meet the artist during the free reception from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 20th.