Sign the petition

Go here to sign the petition before Friday. This isn't "just" about New York. It is about precedents.

Cool!

I found this handy widget today so went ahead and made one with the images from yesterdays post. It seems the perfect solution for those occassions when multiple images are called for. Let me know what you think.

And now for the photographic stylings....

of Brian Ulrich. Friday's opening of CoPA's first Juried Exhibit as well as Brian's presentation on Saturday were very well attended (with over 400 people between the two events) and it feels like we have taken a small step in raising the level of conversation in terms of Contemporary Photography in Milwaukee. 24 of the 30 participating artists were able to attend which made the opportunities for community and networking even better. The work was strong and crossed genres, providing a good sampling of each individual photographer's work as well as a good representation of the three state area (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois) open for submission. Meeting and working with Brian only enhanced my admiration for his professionalism and his work.

I've put up the few pictures I took here.

Secret code

If anyone knows the secret code for getting line spacing to stick (see post below) in Blogger I would be no end of grateful if you could pass it along. My frustration mounts with each unproductive hit of the return key.

Alaska & the Boonies

from the You Can't see Denali from here series Ben Huff

I posted in late May about the Boonville,USA project that is to start August 1st. Ben Huff, a terrific photographer and blogger from Fairbanks, Alaska (ground zero for Boonville?) has an interview with Timothy Briner.

"No two places are the same. No two regions are the same. Yet, when people discuss small-town America they often have a very specific idea of what they think it is. Expressions like "The Boonies" or "Boondocks" reflect that judgment. By using a common and evocative name like Boonville and showcasing the six different regions and towns, I am attempting to explore the connection small towns have to each other and to the rest of America."

I'm looking forward to following this project as it unfolds and admire Mr. Briner's courage in allowing us along for the ride.

Sign here

I'm sure you have seen this since my betters (Zoe Strauss, Joerg Colberg) have posted it, but just in case I am posting the link, Picture NY, also. It's time to put a stop to this nonsense.

The devil's playground

Lila with Nintendo DS Evan Baden

I plan to avoid having an idle mind much less idle hands this weekend as CoPA launches it's 1st juried exhibition tomorrow night. Brian Ulrich served as our juror and this list of artists being presented is an outstanding representation of photographers who also happen to call the midwest home.

Kate Anderson, Donna Ascher, Matt Austin, Evan Baden , Tara Bogart , Suzette Bross , Chase Browder , Andrew Bruah , Scot Demeranville, Mark J. Doddato , David Robert Elliott , Mark Escribano , Teri Fullerton , Chad Hallblade , Brian Jacobson , Bethany Kalk , Christy Karpinski . Brian Lesteberg , Lily Mayfield , Donna Mleziva , Chris Norris , Ken Oppriecht , Donald Rasmussen , Mike Rebholz , Jason Reblando , Erika Ritzel , Nadine Antoniette Reinke , Mike Schwartz , James Seder , Tommy Sweeney

I Love You David Robert Elliot

Couple this with an exhibition of Mike Brodie's work (whom I have been informed will be in attendance, as well as artist Monica Canilao) at Paper Boat Boutique and I have a busy and concievably expensive weekend ahead.

Mike Brodie

Not to mention our first invitation to the grown-ups table with a space at the Artist's Marketplace sponsored by the Milwaukee Art museum on Saturday.

P.S. If anyone can tell me where the font dialogue goes when one has made too many edits in Blogger I would be endlessly grateful.

Henry Wessel

Santa Barbara, 1977 Henry Wessel

Thanks to The Online Photographer for this link to a video interview with Henry Wessel.

Service

Service is my middle name. So, how 'bout them Brewers?

It's been a rough week

For a Sunday post after several busy weeks and a very busy weekend the best I could come up with is Simpsonize. I'm sorry.

I love my friends 3

Surface Sonja Thomsen

Yesterday I received my copy of Surface, my friend Sonja Thomsen's book/boxed set. It is beautiful work, beautifully presented. To view the images themselves look here. My powers of description fail me. Vibrant subtlety? Dynamic stillness? Tentative certitude? These nonsensical attempts make me realize that these are images to experience more than "just" see.

I am absolutely delighted for her, and for myself.

Making arrangements

Akron Stacks Nina Katchadourian

I thoroughly enjoy the idea of a collection having a literal as well as representational narrative. Nina Katchadourian's Sorted Books project allows us to experience libraries as a new resource.

"The Akron Art Museum in Akron, OH commissioned a book sorting project in 2001, based on the holdings of the museum's own research library. Their book collection had extensive materials and catalogs from various contemporary art exhibtions, as well as many large-format, hardback monographs. There was a special section on the business and fundraising side of museum administration. The books from the library did not circulate to the general public, and the library itself was so separate from the main exhibition areas that most visitors had no idea there was a library there at all. When the sorting project was complete, thirteen book clusters were brought to the gift shop located behind the front desk and integrated into the displays."

I chose the above image as a shout out to Brian Ulrich the intrepid Juror for our CoPA 1st Annual Juried Exhibition opening a week from Friday, July 27. He received his BFA from the University of Akron and interned at the Akron Art Museum .

Addendum

What's New Indexed

Just weighing in (late to the Ball as usual) by way of the fantastically creative blog, Indexed. It seemed to fit the conversations here, here, here and here. No cutting corners or you'll miss thoughtful discussions and issues.

Old and New

I love Amy Stein's work. When this image was posted by Big Happy Funhouse it made me immediately think of Stranded. I love that my visual vocabulary is expanding and that I am able to bring together various images for a more whole understanding. That I can perceive the difference between a single vernacular image and a body of work.

Living with a Portrait

Jane Fonda Jason Lazarus

I thoroughly enjoy the work of Jason Lazarus. His ongoing Living with a Portrait series is an interesting adjunct to all of the portrait work being made and shown that I have been posting about over the past few weeks.

"Initiated in mid 2006, "Living with a Portrait" explores the oscillating function of the contemporary portrait. In an era that could be called "post-hero", the ritual of living with a portrait has evolved into an amalgam of convention, irony, ambiguity and honest sentiment."

Jason Lazarus

Pile

Conscientious brought Gideon Barnett to my attention with this post last week. The Flora series Joerg points out is a marvelous collection addressing the irony that is often found in public decorative items.

I was so intrigued that I worked my way through the site, enjoying each series until I found under his (Mr. Barnett's) Contacts and Links page the opportunity for Fine Art Apparel and the Pile T-shirt pictured above. I think he must be experienced in marketing since he clearly understands the pricing psychology of the market place. Always price under (even if it's a penny) round figures. If the T-shirt is too pricey for you the thong seems a bargain, but then it's a much smaller piece.

I had been meaning to post about Cafe Press and this was the perfect occassion.

Talking

Stranded 5 Amy Stein

Amy Stein has a post about interviews. "It may seem weird for a visual medium, but the exercise of talking about your images in an interview challenges you to glimpse new layers of meaning and develop new relationships with photos you are all too familiar with." She was interviewed by Unseen Magazine (Australia) which includes a Flash presentation (is it just me or is the drag and drop page turning a little awkward although fun?) of her marvelous Stranded series.

I agree that talking about one's work has the potential to inform the speaker as much as the listener.

Portraits

Portrait of My Mother 9 Joachim Froese

Mrs. Deane posted last week about Joachim Froese's touching series Portrait of My Mother. I thought back to it as I have read the many references to John Szarkowski's death. Reading Mr. Froese's words about the making of these pictures of her books, with his mother's help, to serve as a representation (portrait) of her is poignant for those of us who have experienced the process of serving the dying. My copy of John Szarkowski's book The Photographer's Eye, a book that has educated and enlightened so many, will serve as a portrait of his work for me.

Product endorsement

If you happened to notice on this post from last week I put up metal strips for hanging work prints (22 inches long, $1 each from Ikea, but that's a different endorsement). The ugly black and white checker magnets were the best I found at the time and weren't able to hold anything larger than 8 1/2 x 11. I found some chrome spring clip magnets at an office supply place but they leave marks and are about 1 1/2 inch square.

I was looking on the internet at something else (my usual source for amazing finds) and came across the peg mighties. They arrived today and we have a winner folks! Each one of the chromed (i.e. non marking) magnets is about the size of a large grain of rice (5/32 inch) but two easily hold a large (26 x 24) lightjet print nearly invisibly. One holds an 8 x 10.

If you need magnets these are truly amazing. I have the cubes and the all mighty coming. I'm relieved I got the pegs and cubes because I fear I wouldn't be able to pluck off the small rounds.

I love it when something works the way they say it will. It seems to be getting more and more rare.

Starting Fires

Sunburn Chris McCaw

Leslie Brown has a post featuring the work of Chris McCaw.

"This new project initially began completely by accident. In 2003 an all night exposure of the stars made during a camping trip was lost due to the effects of whiskey. Unable to wake up to close the shutter before sunrise, all the information of the night’s exposure was destroyed. The intense light of the rising sun was so focused and intense that it physically changed the film, creating a new way for me to think about photography."

Another advantage of film?

Worth 1000 words

Or 1,347 to be exact. The number of porcupine quills taken out of this dog. I received these in an email from a woman I have used for pet sitting, no doubt the photos are making the rounds on the internet. When I saw them I realized no amount of description would have the visceral impact that the pictures have.

I read, I view, I discuss, I learn, but these 2 snapshots very nicely sum up why I photograph.

P.S. As I re-read this I fully realize that this is what photojournalists and documentary photographers have based their life's work on. It also brings to mind the new military rules regarding photographing wounded American soldiers, the pictures having the immediate impact on a public that may or may not read the words.

Portfolio Reviews

Back on May 29th Alec Soth posted the opportunity for a Portfolio Review as a part of the Magnum 60th anniversary events. It filled/sold out in, oh, about 5 minutes. He then posted the opportunity for the blogosphere to participate by revewing the work of the 23 participating photographers in order to win a prize. I can only speculate on what said prize would be.

He has now posted the winner (with no linkage) and the runner up, Rachel Hawthorne, who created an entire website devoted to the reviews.

This is serious over-achieving.

Buying in bulk

It is reported that Charles Saatchi purchased the entire graduation exhibition work of student James Howard. It is also reported that this is not necessarily the gift horse it appears to be. It seems to me Mr. Saatchi got a bargain buying in bulk.

Cleanliness

Yesterday was spent with an allen wrench (click on image to larger version). All those out there who have ever spent a day assembling anything from Ikea can I have an Amen?

This is the cleanest and most organized this space will probably ever be as long as I inhabit it. 5 shelf rolling carts are coming, book cases are coming. I am now able to move my computer but want to wait until I have a phone line for DSL. I can't get a phone line until I have a name. Fear of commitment is washing over me.

Relationships

"Perhaps the most controversial aspect of the Gallery/Artist relationship is, not surprisingly, the most controversial aspect of any relationship in any business: money."

A most interesting post on edward_ winkelman addressing the 50 / 50 split between artist and gallerist. Be sure to read all the way through the comments for the full dose of controversy/opinions.

Ironic geeks

Those who know me, know I am a bit of a geek and I am saturated with irony. I subscribe to John Nack's (Senior Product Manager at Adobe) blog and he had this post.

"Side note: I type this from the Denver airport, where I find myself holed up
(thanks, lightning). After showing a CNN ad saying "Get the Facts. Not
Fear," CNN Headline News just featured a segment titled--I kid you
not--"Watch
for underwater terrorists." I shall, uh, get right on
that.
(Apparently Atlanta is where irony goes to die.) "

This is on the same day as this post by Edward Winkelman. Ironic.