Randy Brown is a Denver, Colorado based documentary photographer, writer, and arts educator.
who has worked and exhibited in the Denver and national arts community for more than thirty-five years.
Through his work as a photographer and writer, Randy has consistently created documentary based photographic projects that are focused on the specifics of drought and water exportation from the San Luis Valley in Colorado and New Mexico, and the Rio Grande River basin. His attention is on the existential threats to a multi-cultural community with long held agricultural traditions including the Traditional Pueblo Culture, and the 19th century Mexican Land Grants.
Academically, Randy serves as a Professor of Photography at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design where he has taught in the Photography BFA for 19 years. Initially serving as adjunct faculty 2005-2013, then in 2013, Head of Commercial Photography, in 2014 appointed as Chair of Photography, and currently, since 2019, Professor of Photography at the Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design (RMCAD) in Denver, Colorado, Randy teaches photography to students focused on a degree in Photography. His teaching philosophy includes a process of engagement, the facilitation of student’s commitment and work ethic, the interpretation and completion of projects, establishing an understanding of the works of important photographers who use photography as their medium, and research into the writings and philosophies of important educators. On a practical level, this is manifested through a series of lecture/group discussion classes, the teaching of core principles of art making, and importantly, one-on-one conversations with students that provides an opportunity to fully understand the students’ needs and clearly map out a path in which they will achieve their goals.
Current and previous documentary projects:
“The Rio Grande: The River in Us: A Watershed Moment” is an extension of his Sal Luis Valley project which tells the stories of those who live along the rivers path and their struggle to maintain a lifestyle that has been present for more than 1100 years.
“In The Middle of Everywhere” The San Luis Valley and the existential threat of the exportation of scarce water resources. This work is in collaboration with the Alamosa Citizen based in Alamosa, Colorado
“Human Trafficking: and Conscious Consumerism”. Working with the University of Denver Human Trafficking Center and others to communicate the horror of the issue.
“The River in Us” Veterans Documentary Project: Working with veterans of Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria as they address issues with PTSD and addiction.
“Portraits: Borneo and Sumatra”. In partnership with the University of Denver’s Dept. of Anthropology, a project in Sumatra, Nias Island, and Central Borneo addresses the use of traditional building practices that are earthquake resistant in Sumatra and Nias Island. In Central Borneo, the Ikat Weavers of the Dayak Putussibau, which is a historic, traditional 33 door Longhouse. The focus of the families in that longhouse are focused on maintaining traditional Ikat weaving processes, maintaining a community based agricultural practice in the context of the threats of modernity.