It’s up, and it’s stunning.
Come see it in the Clair E. Smith Gallery and adjacent hallway cases sometime over the next 10 days or so; a good time would be the evening of the 30th, Thursday, due the likely appearance of the You-Know-Whos.
Plus refreshments. Your comments on the show are more than welcome here.
(The above photographs were made by Stef Tollefsen and Andi Argianas, respectively.)
FTE: A full-time teacher in the Hah Thkoo has five classes. When I was hired I was .6 for the first three semesters, .8 for another year, and full-time thereafter. If the board were to authorize three new FTE (Full Time Equivalents) anytime for the following school year, in theory five new teachers could be hired at 3/5 (.6) each, maybe spread over departments. That’s FTE.
But we’ve had TWO BFTE in the last week. First was the perfect weather day for shooting in The Park Of Wicker and Katiebrown Bucktown, then the ever-so-pleasant stroll in the mist to galleries. It was a gas. Literally. Ask ’em about being trapped underground.
http://www.davejordanophotography.com/
http://jedfielding.com/photos/look-at-me-photos.html
You can make a book, and you should make a book, and there is a structure within which you will make a book: it’s Solo Photo Book Month, a variation of a similar activity for writers, wherein willing participants “make” a book of photographs (at least a PDF version) of at least 35 pictures, during a 31-day period between May 1 and June 30.
Take a look at the previous efforts and the perameters for your project, and I think you’ll want to register for your own project. Let us know about your registration/commitment.
A big night, indeed. Folks from far-flung districts found the school; new friends were made; everyone was interested in everything; lemonade and coffee were served; Alex Costis played bass, swimmingly; certificates were presented and (short) speeches were delivered; folks saw the other two concurrent photography exhibits as well, and nobody went home unhappy. (Oh, and I forgot to plug the blog.)
Most pix by Mrs. D.
Everyone is welcome to come to the Interstate Creative Camerawork Invitational’s big reception on the evening of the 5th, Thursday, at 7:00. There will be music, recognitions, (probably) a beverage AND the vaunted HGFOS.* You will also see the assortment of work by the accepted members of next year’s AP class, and featured artist Jim Root in the Clair Smith Gallery. What’s not to like? If you’re on the Fo-Do field trip earlier in the day (cloudy, high 60 F.) in the fresh air, be sure not to sit down, however briefly when you get home, and you’ll be able to make it.
*Hot Guys From Other Schools
Last Friday I took a short, unsuccessful nap and resigned myself to un-Myers-Briggs-ish socializing (different from classroom banter), and we headed out to the Barrington Area Library for the Artist’s Reception. It was an unqualified success: well over a hundred folks showed up for the event. A number of people whose opinions I value were very complimentary regarding the work, and plenty of ’em said “I have to come back to look at the work.” I know what they mean. The social nature of a reception can make interaction with specific pieces difficult.
Once again, I must thank Mrs. D.; Ms. Stachura and Ms. Swarbrick for their perseverence and hard work; as well, Eileen Gallagher and Detlev Pansch at the library for their generous support of the gallery program.
The show is up until roughly the end of March. Please go, with some time to spare.
(Pictures courtesy of Mrs. Ziegler, Ms. Stachura and Mrs. D. Enough of my mug for a while.)
The final preparations in getting the entire show together completely took over the dining room, living room and any remaining surface space in the darkroom. My approach avoidance regarding spotting prints fell away, having been replaced by a loud, incessant ticking sound coming from inside my head. You know how you’re thinking “I’ll just take care of those two dust spots,” and 14 spots later you’re done? Wasn’t traumatic though.
PR: postcards had been designed by the Live-in Design Team during the last week, and we all had a pleasant chat at the printer’s on Sunday; the proof was viewed and approved Monday; the shipment was ready Tuesday, but was far from acceptable due to wacky inking from an out-of-control machine. Words were exchanged; veiled threats were politely insinuated; the job was redone. We’re all buddies again.
Sunday, I spent half the day looking for four pictures that were mislaid in the mayhem (sound familiar?). As usual, in an unguarded moment, whilst getting out something else for another purpose, they miraculously presented themselves. Framing the second half of the load took from roughly 7:00 Wednesday to 1:30 Thursday morning. That was OK: the jazz show comes on the radio at midnight. Win/win again!
Thursday at 4:00 Kelly and Lisa, the ones supervising the gallery program for the library, met me there to hang the show. Gracious, laughing, “retentive” (their term): they were all those things. Any doubts or second-guessing went out the proverbial window as they wielded their laser leveling device on each piece. It all looks swell. Go see it. If you can, go Friday the 13th at 7:00 for the reception; again, if you’re in my class, bring yer own cookie.
I’m fortunate to have an exhibit coming up, at the Barrington Area Library. The theme has become “facades;” it’s expansive enough to include a variety of subject matter, and it refers to light falling on surfaces and recording itself on light-sensitive emulsion. It took three full days to review negatives and to pull 60 (no, more) pages from the archive in order to make fresh prints. Originally, I thought most pictures would end up larger than ever, but realistically, sizes around 8×12 inches are most logical to me, so I’ll stick with that.
A phenomenon we all recognize occurred when I was trolling for specific negatives. You know the feeling that if you were to go back through your own archive you would come across overlooked gems? Oddly, it really happened this time. True, part of it was that there were pictures enough for three other, different shows, but for many shooting situations I now prefer alternate shots.
Paper selection has always been an important issue. The papers of choice are Ilford Multigrade (duh), Ilford Galerie (yes, I still have some) and fresh Oriental Seagull. Unfortunately, the darkroom has been behaving naturally to its subterranean position in that it’s very cold down there. Every day during the last week, it’s been 55-57 degrees. I need to re-heat the developer and the fixer roughly every hour. I still used GAF/Ansco 130 in the Ansel Adams variation, but as a back-up I also made Agfa 108 (also in someone’s modified version). I found myself doing things I commonly avoid: exposing paper with the lens wide open (not because my enlarger is out of alignment-au contraire, it’s nothing but perfect in that regard), and using exposure times longer than 30 seconds (don’t ask right now).
Photograph by A. Orden
http://www.barringtonarealibrary.org/evanced/lib0/eventcalendar.asp
Here are four excellent exhibits for you to visit in Chicago before the next semester begins. There are two one-person shows and two two-person shows, in every kind of venue one might imagine.
At the Museum of Contemporary Photography, on the ground floor of Columbia College’s main building, you can see “Michael Wolf: The Transparent City.” Perhaps you recall I pooh-poohed* it when the poster first arrived, dismissing what appeared to be visual trickery; I was wrong. It’s mature and fascinating.
http://www.mocp.org/exhibitions/2008/11/michael_wolf_th.php
About a mile and a half up Michigan Avenue, in the old Water Tower, Columbia has also mounted around two dozen sparkling prints by Scott Fortino, an acquaintance of mine from Ray Metzker’s Senior Seminar class. Is Scott the only Chicago police officer with major gallery representation? Could be.
http://www.colum.edu/Academics/Photography/City_Gallery.php
Several blocks west, and down on Superior, are Schneider Gallery and Catherine Edelman. At Schneider, see what’s glibly described (by me) as photographs embedded in glass by Pablo Soria; and more serious work by Jorge Martin. At Edelman, one of the exhibits is “It’s Complicated: The American Teenager” by Robin Bowman.
http://schneidergallerychicago.com/home.html
Lastly, about another mile and a half west of there at 1433 West Chicago Avenue, a place I have not visited called Architrouve with a presentation called “Fine Art Rescue Revisited.” The Reader says it’s “Photos by Robert Mapplethorpe and Jock Sturges; the exhibit also addresses art preservation.” Judging by the names of the photographers, there is more than a little flesh in the photographs; that’s OK, don’t worry. I also don’t know what the preservation portion is—yet. Better call before going, to see what their hours are (or watch this space): 312.563.0977. Stop in at Rockstar Hot Dogs, too, a block away at the corner of Ashland. You get a free tattoo with every order, and you can see photographs by Philin Phlash (!).
All of these happen to be free, and it makes for a big day in the big downtown, including luncheon. Plus, you can do it all without an automobile. I can help you with logistics. Galleries aren’t open on Mondays, so the days after finals are best. Do it. Bonus karma for all.
* a real word
The Northwest Area Arts Council mounts an annual exhibit called “Women’s Works” in the old courthouse on the town square in Woodstock. The entry fee is a typical 35.00 (OK, it’s on the high side).
OTOH… there is an ancillary, concurrent show with the unfortunate name “Little Women’s Works.” If you are of the appropriate gender and not over 17, you may enter the show for the low, low fee of five dollars.
This is definitely worth your consideration. Talk to me; I’ll facilitate delivery on February 28 and pickup too. Check it out:
Creative Camerawork 