October 10, 1917, Rocky Mount NC
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ9El7k4mNo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qweSlfP6BtI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfMnWKYNA9o
For a trove of information: http://www.monkbook.com/the-book/
Some Ideas for Writing an Artist’s Statement
These tips are useful for artist’s statements, grant applications, and college applications:
“Write down as much as you can. Write everything down. It doesn’t need to make sense. That thing you don’t know how to say? Just write it down. The more material you have to work with, with the easier it will be to edit. Go through your first draft and rewrite using everything below, then rewrite again.
Never begin with “My work”. Avoid any use of “my work” in the statement.
Sometimes (often), what you wrote at the start should go at the end, and the end should be the beginning.
Don’t try to sound smart. The world is full of people whose job is to be smart. An artist isn’t held to the same ideals.
Should you repeat a word more than twice, it’s likely something you’re not adequately describing.
Always use precise words rather than general words. Construct is better than make; elegant, symmetrical, graceful, or overwhelming will take you further than beautiful.”
Gleaned from http://consumptive.org/2012/10/02/how-to-edit-your-artist-statement/
See also http://jmcolberg.com/weblog/extended/archives/on_statements/
Viveos
Two short news features have made WTTW’s coverage of Vivian Maier into a little trilogy.
You’ve probably seen the first story, from last summer: http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2012/07/31/vivian-maier
The new material appeared last week, over two nights. The other important owners of Ms. Maier’s negatives finally get to flesh out the story and early results of detective research place her in locations and dates.
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2012/08/01/meteoric-rise-vivian-maier
http://chicagotonight.wttw.com/2012/08/02/searching-vivian-maier
It’s An Art Exhibit Summer
As of this writing, it’s too hot to stay outdoors for an extended period–even for photographing–not unlike sub-zero blizzard weather. Fortunately, our major museums and galleries are air-conditioned, and there is an array of exhibits waiting for you and your mates to visit.
This is as good a place to begin as any: http://www.mcachicago.org/exhibitions/now/2012/291 and the “Contemptible” is free to Illinois residents on Tuesdays. There are six or eight engaging exhibits; here is a page, containing 95 more theses, from the Molly Zuckerman-Hartung exhibit handout (this text is reproduced on one wall of the gallery):
Martha Schneider’s Gallery is featuring an important group show which includes Patty Carroll and Thomas Kellner: http://schneidergallerychicago.com/home.html
The Catherine Edelman Gallery has a major group show called Installed. http://edelmangallery.com/exhibitions/2012/installed/installed.htm
The ‘tute has Roy Lichtenstein, Dawoud Bey, and Film and Photo in New York: http://www.artic.edu/exhibition/film-and-photo-new-york
MCOP has Peripheral Views: States of America, which includes a contribution from Harry Shearer(!).
DePaul’s http://museums.depaul.edu/exhibitions/ show is called Drawn from Photography.
Don’t forget that Metra has a weekend rate, and you can always contact me for help.
Submit Your Portraits to SHOTS
Good ol’ SHOTS Magazine falls somewhere between the pop photo publications and, say, Aperture: it’s not full of not gear geeks or techies, nor does it aspire to the worlds of universities or galleries. It’s full of earnest enthusiasm and well-made pictures. If you’re enthusiastic enough to hit their August 1 deadline (or if your name is Ernest), send your pictures for the theme issue.
Everybody makes portraits, right?
Viva Vivian
Here are some images from vintage prints by Vivian Maier that you have not seen before. Some are as small as 3×3 inches; any of them would fit in your hand. They’re not from the collection that prompted the blockbuster Cultural Center show and the book.
Go look at the collection, but ya gotta hurry. The Corbett vs. Dempsey Gallery is above Dusty Groove America; perhaps you already know where that is. Read all about it at http://www.corbettvsdempsey.com/ and contact me here if you need directions/encouragement. At the gallery, you might see Ben, who was so nice to everyone at the Tony Wight Gallery on the day of the AP “Power Walk In The Noonday Sun” field trip.
Here’s a little deep background on some of the work: http://gapersblock.com/ac/2011/01/06/getting-the-right-angle-on-vivian-maier/
This Summer In London
The Games of the XXX* Olympiad will not be in Chicago. They take place beginning Friday, July 27, 2012, and end Sunday, August 12, 2012.
You may not bring any of the following into the events: air horns or vuvuzelas; large hats or Frisbees; nor clothing with political statements, nor flags of countries not participating nor golf umbrellas. Nor may you carry “excessive” amounts of food.
Still up for fun? Wireless access points, such as 3G hubs, are also banned during the Games. Security won’t prevent you from carrying your smart phone to an event, but you won’t be permitted to use it as a connection point for other devices; that means no wireless transmission of images.
Oh, and one more thing: “large” cameras and lenses over 300 mm are not permitted; tripods and monopods are also banned. Enjoy the Games!
*Roman numerals for 30; it’s an all-ages affair.
dBay
To paraphrase Thelonious, Let’s try this. 
A Photo Devoto (with a hoodie to prove it) has some equipment available. We’re a fan of the medium format, so here’s a little publicity that could result in a new owner who’ll put the stuff to good use.
http://camerapedia.wikia.com/wiki/120_film
Upfront disclaimer: the shutter needs work. Remedy: we know a guy.
In our estimation, medium format cameras are the best deals in the online… um… places.
If you’ve only shot 35mm film so far, you’ll be thrilled with 120. We’ll put you in contact with the seller; ask all the questions you can think of.
Do We Want This? Do We Need This? Is This A Good Thing? I’m Just Asking.
http://us.leica-camera.com/photography/m_system/m_monochrom/
Some numbers: 18; 10,000; 7,950; 2. Megapixels, ISO capability, price, aaaannd gimme.
The Lost Panoramas
“There, on steel shelves—alongside time sheets, purchase orders, contracts, and operations records—sat 130 heavy boxes, stenciled by year, of glass-plate negatives. Over the next three years, the negatives were inventoried and scanned. They were placed in cardboard bankers boxes and transferred to the Illinois State Archives inSpringfield, where they remain today.
“What makes the photos historically valuable is that they come with detailed descriptions. Each photograph has a date and a negative number, which refers to a set of leather-bound field books that meticulously pinpoint where every photo was taken. About twenty thousand of the nearly twenty-two thousand negatives are tied to an exact location. The field books, written by hand, usually in pencil, also give insight into the photographers’ lives and their work, since they doubled as expense accounts. Here you will find what kinds of cigars they smoked, the price of gas, the names of small-town hotels.”
Get this book. I read it in an hour, but that was after looking at all the pictures for a day.
Creative Camerawork 