Fertile Image Working Surface

The Work of Paola Ventura

 
This afternoon I was introduced to the work of Paola Ventura a miniaturist and photographer whose  photographs are both subtle, beautiful  and haunting in nature. Here is a link to his work. Please enjoy. paolaventura.com

 

 

Ken Jacobs

When I was in college Ken Jacobs  was one of my professors. At the same time Nicholas Ray was teaching in the film department as well which of course was an unlikely match in such a small department as the one at SUNY Binghamton. In the end I got attracted to glitz that surround Nick and strayed away from the courses taught by Ken which I regret to this day.

But nonetheless I still remember sitting in Ken's classes, which were held in a large lecture hall, watching movies of all different types from the avant-garde films of Jack Smith and Stan Brakhage to hollywood films like Nick Ray's Lusty Men. It was those classes with Ken that created my interest in film and though I strayed off into a rather bumpy career in television I have never forgotten what his insights led me to believe about filmmaking and the world we live in. Last night I watched an interview with Ken Jacobs on Youtube talking about his films and filmmaking and I was reinvigorated. I hope you enjoy it too.     

Center for Fine Art Photography

UPDATE

I recently found out that the CENTER FORWARD 2011 show that includes one of my conceptual composites, now up at the Center for Fine Art Photography will be traveling to the Denver Colorado Airport in early July and will be there through August.

I recently got an email telling me that I have been included in a show at the Center for Fine Art Photography entitled CENTER FORWARD; a survey of new and current trends in photography. The show opens on May 6th in the centers main gallery in Fort Collins Colorado, so I have to send them a framed print of the picture and consider myself fortunate to be selected from over 2600 images from around the world, ... but it's hard to get really excited with everything that's going on in the world. I also have to include a statement about the photograph and what I have to say about why I made it and what it means to me is even more troubling. So what do I get from showing the work? Is showing the work, no more and no less ... I do wish I was happy about it all right now but I'm not. Maybe I will feel better later.

This is the piece the juror chose:

Untitled 2010

The following is a notice about a show I am very excited to be a part of. The curator for the show is video artist and curator Jefferson Pinder. The show opens in in late June at the Greater Reston Arts Center. More about the show as the opening date approaches.    BITE is an All Media Juried Exhibition Reception: Saturday, June 25th   Selected Artists Kristina Bilonick and Carolina Mayorga, Ed Bisese, Wendy Cook , Justyne D. Fischer, Lee Gainer, Grin Goh, Charlie C. Hahn, Linda Hesh, Jackie Levine, Scott T. Mallory, Ashley McClenon, Rob Parrish, Kari K. Scott, Charles Sessoms, Alan J. Simensky, Gwynneth VanLaven and Wilmer Wilson IV

 

an interesting problem

"Reporter" - Psychic Numbing from Facing History and Ourselves on Vimeo.

 

Yasir

Posing near Union Station.

WITNESS

This morning I was looking for something to stimulate me, get me going and I got the juice to write this blog entry from looking at some photography. Surfing around the web I ended up on the website of James Nachtwey and was reminded of the power of journalistic documentary photography and also what a theatrical bubble we live in here in the US. A bubble evidenced by how enthralled we are by hundreds of articles about the lives of Lindsay Lohan and Charlie Sheen. And please don't think that I am dismissing the tragedy of drug addiction because I know it all too well but the way that celebrity drug addiction is used as theater here in the states is ridiculous. We do not "witness" pain and suffering. We make fun of it. But if you look closely at James Nachtwey's photographs you will witness real suffering, some of which exists here in the bubble too. 

If we can just take your eyes off of American Idol for a moment and pay attention to world around us. Maybe we can begin to see who we are and the world we live in a bit more clearly and be moved to real change .....

Check out WITNESS. It got me moving this morning.

http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/ 

Self Portrait: Exaggerated Yet True

I've had variations of this image in my head since the mid nineties. While I was living in Atlanta I made some drawings that had parts of what I was trying to express but this effort gets closer than I have ever gotten before and I'm sure like many artist I will come back to this subject matter over and over again ... each time hopefully getting closer.

BANDAGED HEAD SELF PORTRAIT 2011

Untitled 2010

I finished this piece last year but had no idea what to do with it because I just couldn't figure out what to call it. Over the past several months I've given it several names, none of which I care to mention here because none of them really fit ... too much was always missing. So it remains untitled even though I think it is time to show it and own it.

UNTITLED 2010

Binding Threads - Corner Store Gallery

I am one of the artists participating in the Binding Threads Show at the Corner Store Gallery on Capitol Hill. The show is running through February 21st. Try to get by and check out the great work by 7 African American artist. Below are a few pictures from the reception party that took place on Saturday the 29th of January. 

http://cornerstorearts.org/

 

Mr. Dyson himself checking out one of my pieces.

Ann G. Allen co-curator for the show talking with Dyson

Wayon during the artist talk.

Two women in conversation underneath my work.

The show had a great turnout of art lovers and collectors.