Total sensory overload

Paul Ankomah, Wild Honey Collector, Techiman District, Ghana Pieter Hugo 2005

My head is spinning. My feet hurt and my back is killing me. I spent yesterday at Art Chicago,The Artist Project, Bridge Art Fair, and for good measure a stop at the MoCP for the Barbara Probst exhibit. I will be remembering and processing the experience for weeks, months, years. I'll be writing and sharing my experience over time because I am honestly too overwhelmed to be coherent at this point. Suffice it to say that yesterday I think I saw the work of 95% of the artists that I most admire, in the way the photographer determined it should be shown. I am now an evangelist for going to see exhibits whenever and wherever possible. It is quantitatively more enlightening and enjoyable than any reproduction.

The picture that blew me away was the Pieter Hugo at the Yossi Milo space. I didn't pull out a tape measure but I'm guessing it is 4 x 4 feet. I could have pulled up a chair and been mesmorized all day. The only pictures that disappointed were David Maisel's work at the AIPAD exhibit, but I blame that on poor prints since I've been told that they're gorgeous. I have never been a big fan or Loretta Lux, but seeing the actual prints has made me rethink my opinion. They are far more delicate and lovely than I had perceived through reproductions. Burtynski's, Callahan's, Gest's, Hido's, Jordan's, Parr's, Salgado's, Soth's, Stein's, Sugimoto's...the list goes on and on.

Layer that with the opportunity to talk with Alec Soth again and you know I was hitting the jackpot. As was my experience when I first met him, when he gave a lecture here for CoPA, he could not have been more gracious or charming. It doesn't make me appreciate his work more, it makes me appreciate it better.


Another layer was meeting Jon Gittelson (at his Artist Project space) and it almost makes up for not being able to get to Versionfest tonight. Gracious (again), charming (ditto) and the sense of humor that is so evident in his projects. If you haven't seen his Car Project in person you are missing a lot.


What made the whole day complete was that I was able to spend it and process it with my friend and teacher Sonja Thomsen. Her knowledge, enthusiasm, and stamina are a beacon that helps to light my way. Dean Jensen Gallery had 5 of her pieces up and they looked gorgeous. I am so proud of her and so grateful that she is my friend.

Fasten your seatbelts because I'll be posting about this for a while. Tomorrow I may write about What's Up With the ^%#*!!** White Frames?