Showing posts with label Photographers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Photographers. Show all posts
1.03.2010
6.16.2009
Review Santa Fe: Jesse Burke
Jesse Burke's portraits are mostly of men. Men who normally would seem to be guarded, but Burke is able to make these men appear vulnerable. Vulnerability is often associated with the feminine gender, but wrongly so. Men are forced to give up the public display of this emotion as a child. Usually, the small boy left to his own without cultural influences will have to work through his sensitive phase allowing his parents, if they are so inclined, to coddle and console him. As males reach toward adulthood they often outgrow, or hid, this side. In Burke's earlier series Intertidal, he approaches the average beer-drinking, sport-loving man at a moment of defenselessness. Each is unguarded. Continuing on this them in his newest series, Low, Burke photographs men who are impoverished, homeless or overlooked or unaccepted in some way by society. Each man is exposed in glowing light. The body language that Burke captures in this subjects, including gaze and posture, says much about the photographer and the photographed.
Intertidal is also available as a book of from Decode Books.
5.13.2009
My Picks for PhotoLucida at PDN Online
Conor Risch emailed a few questions to Ann Pallesen, Brian Clamp and myself about photographers at PhotoLucida. I elected to discuss the work of Alejandro Cartagena and Angela Bacon-Kidwell. Here is the final feature at PDN online.
2.21.2009
Alec Soth is Mean-Spirited?
I attended a lecture a few nights ago at University of New Mexico where Alec Soth was the featured speaker. During the course of the lecture, Alec discussed his work and also brought up a variety of interesting topics directly and indirectly connected with his work. At one point, he said that one fellow Magnum photographer, who I will not mention here, viewed his work as mean-spirited. He left this description with very little detail in the beginning, but when he reached a particular image, he said this is the one that sparked the comment.
The image in question, Michele and James 2004, from the Niagara series is one of a middle aged white couple sitting nude on a burgundy sofa with burgundy carpet below their naked toes. She is guarded with one leg and arm reaching across her body resting on her lover and covering all of her intimated parts. The man lovingly places his arm on her lower back as she rests upon his chest and gazes down to the floor. She is bleached blonde, tan, and full-bodied. Her partner is large, redheaded and pale with a few visible sores on his lower torso. His penis rests between his large legs. He softly stares into the camera with a very receptive and unsuspicious tilt of his head. He emits a sense of pride in his partner and himself visible with his posture.
This delicated and intimate moment usually shared only between couples is now presented to the world. Alec states that portraiture is more of a photo of the space between the one how resides behind the camera and the subject in front. Photographers are agressive beings by nature: we shoot and we take. Can we take at will without any thought of the ramifications? Where does the responsibility of the photographer end and the responsibility of the sitter begin? Is the photographer ultimatley responsible for what contemporary society, and ultimately posterity, will think of the work? How can you control how your audience will perceive your photographic intent and should you even bother?
In a post lecture conversation totally unrelated to the topic mentioned above, Alec mentioned that there was a Little House on the Prairie that he had recently seen with a dwarf named Lou (who also happened to be a circus performer). Although it might have been perceived by some at the time of airing in October of 1982 to be acceptable, it is not so kosher in 2009. The producers of this episode were responding to the contemporary society. The photographer who commented on Alec's image is of another generation and is responding to the work according to his own set of values. Just speculating (and maybe defending), as I do not know if this particular photo sparked the comment or just exaserbated the perception of his work as a whole, but maybe the labeling of "mean-spirited" by the unmentioned photographer shows a certain acceptable predjudice in society today. Not all will look at this photo in this light and who knows how the future generations will judge his intent.
The image in question, Michele and James 2004, from the Niagara series is one of a middle aged white couple sitting nude on a burgundy sofa with burgundy carpet below their naked toes. She is guarded with one leg and arm reaching across her body resting on her lover and covering all of her intimated parts. The man lovingly places his arm on her lower back as she rests upon his chest and gazes down to the floor. She is bleached blonde, tan, and full-bodied. Her partner is large, redheaded and pale with a few visible sores on his lower torso. His penis rests between his large legs. He softly stares into the camera with a very receptive and unsuspicious tilt of his head. He emits a sense of pride in his partner and himself visible with his posture.
This delicated and intimate moment usually shared only between couples is now presented to the world. Alec states that portraiture is more of a photo of the space between the one how resides behind the camera and the subject in front. Photographers are agressive beings by nature: we shoot and we take. Can we take at will without any thought of the ramifications? Where does the responsibility of the photographer end and the responsibility of the sitter begin? Is the photographer ultimatley responsible for what contemporary society, and ultimately posterity, will think of the work? How can you control how your audience will perceive your photographic intent and should you even bother?
In a post lecture conversation totally unrelated to the topic mentioned above, Alec mentioned that there was a Little House on the Prairie that he had recently seen with a dwarf named Lou (who also happened to be a circus performer). Although it might have been perceived by some at the time of airing in October of 1982 to be acceptable, it is not so kosher in 2009. The producers of this episode were responding to the contemporary society. The photographer who commented on Alec's image is of another generation and is responding to the work according to his own set of values. Just speculating (and maybe defending), as I do not know if this particular photo sparked the comment or just exaserbated the perception of his work as a whole, but maybe the labeling of "mean-spirited" by the unmentioned photographer shows a certain acceptable predjudice in society today. Not all will look at this photo in this light and who knows how the future generations will judge his intent.
2.06.2009
Tonight in Santa Fe and Five Other Photo Exhibits Still Showing
Two great openings will take place tonight in Santa Fe:
Zane Bennett Gallery at 435 Guadalupe Street will be exhibiting Open Photography Project with works by Jonathan Blaustein, Diana Blok, Grégoire Cheneau, Wei Meng Foo, Todd Hido, George Hirose, Patti Levey, Judy Miller, Deborah Oropallo, Tony Soulie, and Donald Woodman. The opening reception is from 5 to 7 pm with and artist's talk and book signing by Todd Hido at 6pm.
At the Marion Center for Photographic Arts at the College of Santa Fe, The Valley: Six Albuquerque Photographers with Leigh Anne Langwell, Patrick Nagatani, David Ondrik, Cecilia Portal, Adrienne Salinger and Jeff Willis and curated by David Leigh. The exhibition runs through April 24th. For more info, call 505.472.6341 Photo credits starting from top and counter clockwise: Cecilia Portal, Carne Hueso #20; Adrienne Salinger, Porn Kid and Jeff Willis, Wires.
Three other photo exhibits still showing in Santa Fe:
Monroe Gallery presents and exhibition on The City of New York
Verve Gallery of Photography showcases the lensless photography of Martha Casanave and solar plate etchings of Laurie Archer
Portrait and Place: Contemporary Latin Photography at Eight Modern
231 Delgado Street
Endangered Cultures: Galisteo Basin Photography Project at photo-eye, 376 Garcia Street
Through the Lens: Creating Santa Fe at The Palace of the Governors and Through the Lens: Contemporary Santa Fe, Santa Fe Community College
Zane Bennett Gallery at 435 Guadalupe Street will be exhibiting Open Photography Project with works by Jonathan Blaustein, Diana Blok, Grégoire Cheneau, Wei Meng Foo, Todd Hido, George Hirose, Patti Levey, Judy Miller, Deborah Oropallo, Tony Soulie, and Donald Woodman. The opening reception is from 5 to 7 pm with and artist's talk and book signing by Todd Hido at 6pm.
At the Marion Center for Photographic Arts at the College of Santa Fe, The Valley: Six Albuquerque Photographers with Leigh Anne Langwell, Patrick Nagatani, David Ondrik, Cecilia Portal, Adrienne Salinger and Jeff Willis and curated by David Leigh. The exhibition runs through April 24th. For more info, call 505.472.6341 Photo credits starting from top and counter clockwise: Cecilia Portal, Carne Hueso #20; Adrienne Salinger, Porn Kid and Jeff Willis, Wires.
Three other photo exhibits still showing in Santa Fe:
Monroe Gallery presents and exhibition on The City of New York
Verve Gallery of Photography showcases the lensless photography of Martha Casanave and solar plate etchings of Laurie Archer
Portrait and Place: Contemporary Latin Photography at Eight Modern
231 Delgado Street
Endangered Cultures: Galisteo Basin Photography Project at photo-eye, 376 Garcia Street
Through the Lens: Creating Santa Fe at The Palace of the Governors and Through the Lens: Contemporary Santa Fe, Santa Fe Community College
12.28.2008
The Staff Show at photo-eye
Cliff Shapiro
Heather Prichard
Adam FigliolaOn December 18th, photo-eye Bookstore hosted the first ever photo-eye Staff Show. I have been at photo-eye for over 10 years and I have seen many talented artists pass through including Chris Bennett of Newspace, Darius Himes of Radius Books and many others. This show is a long time coming. The exhibition runs through January 31, 2009 at photo-eye Bookstore, 370 Garcia Street, Santa Fe. If you are in Santa Fe, stop by and see the work. You can also email melanie (at) photoeye (dot) com for inquiries.
10.13.2008
Nueva Luz new issue
© Ian Ramirez
The new issue of Nueva Luz is curated by Darius Himes on the topic of race. I am most excited about the inclusion Santa Fe photographer, Ian Ramirez. More info about the issue can be found on Darius's blog. Ian also had a show at Verve Fine Arts in Santa Fe earlier this year and many of his photos can be seen there.
This issue of Neuva Luz also features Hank Willis Thomas (the cover artist), Nontsikelelo Veleko, and Sanaz Mazinani -- as well as a lengthy essay by Darius Himes entitled, “Here Am I.”
10.06.2008
4478 Zines by Erik van der Weijde
These are real photo zines.
4478zines.com by Erik van der Weijde
all images copyright Erik van der Weijde
4478zines.com by Erik van der Weijde
all images copyright Erik van der Weijde
10.03.2008
Through the Lens: Creating Santa Fe
Photo Archives at the Palace of the Governors/New Mexico History Museum, Museum of New Mexico, Department of Cultural Affairs opens its first major photography exhibition in 25 years. Through the Lens: Creating Santa Fe will open to the public on Friday, November 21, 2008 with a reception, hosted by the Women’s Board, from 5 – 7 PM. Co-curated by Mary Anne Redding, Curator of Photography at the Palace of the Governors and independent curator, educator, and photographer, Krista Elrick, Through the Lens: Creating Santa Fe is part of the city wide celebration of the 400th anniversary of Santa Fe as well as the centennial of the Museum of New Mexico.
© Melanie McWhorterThe Museum of New Mexico Press is publishing a book of the same name to be released at the end of January 2009 with essays by Frances Levine, Lucy Lippard, Andrew Lovato, Siegfried Halus, David Noble, Rina Swentzell, and Mary Anne Redding.
A satellite exhibition, Through the Lens: A Contemporary View of Santa Fe will be hosted at the Visual Arts Gallery, Santa Fe Community College opening on Thursday, January 29, 2009 with 40 images by contemporary photographers living and working in Santa Fe will be on view through March 9, 2009.
The list of photographers included is quite long, (over 150 years of photography included):
Ansel Adams
Sam Adams
Lewis Baltz
Thomas Barrow
Ray Belcher
George C. Bennett
Gay Block
Kent Bowser
David Bram
Nicholas Brown
Polly Brown
William Henry Brown
Jesus Sito Candelario
John Candelario
Paul Caponigro
Aryan Chappell
Walter Chappell
Dana B. Chase
Robert Luis Chavez
Blair Clark
William Clift
J. L. Clinton
Van Deren Coke
John C. Collier
Linda Connor
Aaron B. Craycraft
Thomas J. Curran
Edward Curtis
Julie Dean
Tyler Dingee
Brian Edwards
James L. Enyeart
Steve Fitch
Lee Friedlander
Miguel Gandert
Laura Gilpin
Kirk Gittings
Ernst Haas
Betty Hahn
Philip Embury Harroun
James Hart
Henry T. Heister,
John K. Hillers
William Henry Jackson
Zig Jackson
Bill Jay
Kate Joyce
Christian G. Kaadt
Doug Keats
Edward A. Kemp
Ernest Knee
Rolf Koppel
Howard Korder
Lisa Law
Paul Logsdon
Herbert A. Lotz
Lynn Lown
Cissie Ludlow
Charles Lummis
Greg MacGregor
Douglas Magnus
Roxanne Malone
Norman Mauskopf
Lawrence McFarland
Melanie McWhorter
Duane Monczewski
Margaret Moore
Wright Morris
Joan Myers
Teresa Neptune
Beaumont Newhall
Nicholas Nixon
David Grant Noble
Anne Noggle
Mark Nohl
Jesse Nusbaum
Tony O’Brien
Timothy O’Sullivan
T. Harmon Parkhurst
Jack Parsons
Alan Pearlman
Bernard Plossu
Horace Swartley Poley
Eliot Porter
Patrick Porter
Ian Ramirez
Edward Ranney
Eric Renner
J. R. Riddle
Ford Robbins
Alan Ross
Meridel Rubenstein
Andre Ruesch
Janet Russek
David Scheinbaum
Robert Shlaer
Nancy Spencer
Paul Strand
Nancy Sutor
Carlan Tapp
U. S. Army Signal Corps
Craig Varjabedian
John Vavruska
Carlos Vierra
Adam Clark Vroman
Todd Webb
Melanie West
Edward Weston
Richard Wilder
Ben Wittick
James Wood
Donald Woodman
Wendy Young
9.23.2008
Art for Obama
I guess I am displaying my political affiliation with this one, but ArtforObama.net is hosting a benefit auction to support, well guess who? Here is a list of many the artists who have donated work and it is quite an impressive list (a complete list, along with bios, is available on artforobama.net). Online bidding starts on October 1 so mark you calendars.
Nubar Alexanian
Uta Barth
Nina Berman
Walead Beshty
Ellen Brooks
Elinor Carucci
Eileen Cowin
Doug Dubois
Jason Evans
Wendy Ewald
Larry Fink
Harrell Fletcher
Tierney Gearon
Jim Goldberg
Frank Golke
Emmet Gowin
Katy Grannan
Sharon Harper
Todd Hido
Jeff Jacobson
Eirik Johnson
Ron Jude
Lisa Kereszi
Michael Light
David Maisel
Susan Meiselas
Richard Misrach
Cathy Opie
Shana & Robert ParkeHarrison
Laura McPhee
Carter Mull
Laurel Nakadate
Mike Slack
Alec Soth
Larry Sultan
Peter Sutherland
Hank Willis Thomas
Catherine Wagner
Jim Welling
Mark Wyse
9.03.2008
13 Santa Fe Photographers
The curator and owner of the Santa Fe arts monthly, THE magazine, asked me to assist him in selecting 13 images from 13 photographers in Santa Fe including myself. The condition being that they worked in the photo industry and did not have gallery representation. Here is the page layout courtesy of THE. It includes the work of Jason Poole, Melanie McWhorter, Jonathan Hollingsworth, Steven Walenta, Ben Lerman, Barbara Diener, Ryan Heffernan, Anne Kelly, Inga Hendrickson, Nathan Addison, Daniel Espeset, Amber Terranova, and Eric Cousineau.
8.14.2008
7.31.2008
New Journal Archivo
Photographer Paul Kookier and publisher Willem van Zoetendaal are co-curating a new bi-monthly journal called Archivo. Now in its third issue, the journal is dedicated to the personal archives of photographers with each issue showcasing two artists. It is designed to be read like a newspaper which annoyed me at first. When this last issue arrived, I found that the size and paper complimented the themes of the common, everyday and ordinary in Kooiker and Qui Yang's work . It is also works well with both photographers in the previous issue especially the documentary project by Daya Cahen on Putin's summer youth camps . It is designed for casual viewing not to be considered a precious object. The work of Daya Cahen and Paul Kooiker are show in the videos below and the covers of Kooiker's books, Hunting and Fishing, Showground, and Seminar are shown above.
7.23.2008
Collective Consciousness?
©Nina Korhonen, from Anna, Amerikan Mummu
© Melanie McWhorter, 2007I am just starting to study this term Collective Consciousness as it applies to photography and how photographers choose subjects and the framing of the final photograph. So I am not sure if term can be applied to the two above pictures-- maybe Collective Intelligence applies here, but I am not sure of that one either. Anyway, you see the photos and get what I mean while I come back to you on definitions. I took the lower one a few weeks ago before seeing the photo by Nina Korhonen and was amazed to discover the likenesses. Granted the lighting, gesture and scene are subtly different, but it is at the least a little freaky.
Jonathan Hollingsworth's new work
People I Knew in LA, as I will informally call it, is a new series of polaroids by Jonathan Hollingsworth soon to be published in a book (title of which I can not recall). I hope to publish an interview with him soon about the process or publishing this book and the What We Think Now project. Now, if he would have jonathanhollingsworth.com, we could see all of his wonderful work in one place. 7.16.2008
Prints for all
© Makato Oiwane
In January 2006, Adam Holtzman started Reproductions Gallery an online gallery dedicated to the idea of making fine art photography available in a way that is both benificial to both consumers and artists. Each print is available for $30 and printed on Fuji Crystal Archive photographic paper. Here is a selection from each of the artists on the site.
7.10.2008
7.08.2008
7.07.2008
Fraction Magazine publishes my new book recommendations
©Andy Mattern
Fraction Magazine just launched its second issue featuring work by Andy Mattern, Clay Harmon, Polly Chandler, Julia Sapir, and Tomas Richardson. This second issue also features a review of the festivities associated with the New York Photo Festival by Mary Goodwin and some of the best photo books of 2008 by yours truly.
6.30.2008
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