~Heidi
This (below) was one of my favorite photos of Erwin's: Valencia, Spain 1952
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Exhibit: Elliott Erwitt at the Weinstein Gallery in South Minneapolis
I went to see the Elliott Erwitt exhibit at the Weinstein Gallery in South Minneapolis. It's free and it was incredible! There were three
photographs of Marilyn Monroe, one of Che Guevara, several other well
known names, as well as generally beautiful black and white work. In
addition to Elliott Erwitt's work, there was an Annie Leibowitz and two
of Alec Soth's photographs, which some of you will remember from the
Walker Exhibit. It was a wonderful photographic experience that I would
recommend. But hurry, it ends January 9th!
~Heidi
This (below) was one of my favorite photos of Erwin's: Valencia, Spain 1952
~Heidi
This (below) was one of my favorite photos of Erwin's: Valencia, Spain 1952
Elliott Erwitt - Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe, New York City, USA, 1956
Gelatin silver print
20 x 24 inches
20 x 24 inches
Thursday, December 16, 2010
December Photogroup - Minneapolis Photo Center
Minneapolis Photo Center. This was the meeting location of our December photo group. The building
was an old warehouse like structure in Northeast Minneapolis. We had a
tour of the Center from a very informative volunteer. There are dark
rooms, film equipment for enlargements, small and large printing, iMac
computers with full Adobe software packages, equipment rental, a
photography book library with vintage collections, studio space, and
impressive exhibits to explore.
The Mpls Photo Center offer memberships to purchase for use of all of their equipment and perks. They have a monthly photo group called the F-stops led by local photographer Tom Arndt that costs about $5 per group session for food, space use, etc. There are also classes and workshops offered through the Center.
The experience left us with a wealth of information and we even got to see a photographer setting up for a photo shoot. It was a very informative, inspiring, fun visit. We would like to go back again sometime in the New Year.
~Heidi
The Mpls Photo Center offer memberships to purchase for use of all of their equipment and perks. They have a monthly photo group called the F-stops led by local photographer Tom Arndt that costs about $5 per group session for food, space use, etc. There are also classes and workshops offered through the Center.
The experience left us with a wealth of information and we even got to see a photographer setting up for a photo shoot. It was a very informative, inspiring, fun visit. We would like to go back again sometime in the New Year.
~Heidi
Thursday, November 18, 2010
November Photogroup - From Here to There: Alec Soth's America
Video on the curating of the Walker's Exhibit "From Here to There: Alec Soth's America" Reposted. - Heidi
Alec Soth: Birth of an Exhibit
Alec Soth prepares for the first survey of his work at the Walker Art Center. From Here to There: Alec Soth’s America
features photos and recollections from those who want to escape
society but realize there is no such thing as true isolation: People
still need some connection. Nowhere is that more evident than in Soth’s
photos.
This segment aired as part of mn original show #214.
Artist Bio:
Alec Soth is a photographer born and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Using an 8×10 camera, Soth’s portraits range from black and white scenes in Minneapolis bars to homemade cabins and communes along the Mississippi river.
His photographs have been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including the 2004 Whitney and São Paulo Biennials. In 2008, a large survey exhibition of Soth’s work was exhibited at Jeu de Paume in Paris and Fotomuseum Winterthur in Switzerland. In 2010, the Walker Art Center will be exhibiting and touring a large survey exhibition of Soth’s work in the United States. Alec Soth’s first monograph, Sleeping by the Mississippi, was published by Steidl in 2004 to critical acclaim. Since then Soth has published NIAGARA (2006), Fashion Magazine (2007) Dog Days, Bogotá (2007) and The Last Days of W (2008). In 2008, Soth started his own publishing company, Little Brown Mushroom. Soth is represented by Gagosian Gallery in New York, Weinstein Gallery in Minneapolis, and is a member of Magnum Photos.
This segment aired as part of mn original show #214.
Click above to see more photographs from Alec Soth
Artist Bio:
Alec Soth is a photographer born and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Using an 8×10 camera, Soth’s portraits range from black and white scenes in Minneapolis bars to homemade cabins and communes along the Mississippi river.
His photographs have been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including the 2004 Whitney and São Paulo Biennials. In 2008, a large survey exhibition of Soth’s work was exhibited at Jeu de Paume in Paris and Fotomuseum Winterthur in Switzerland. In 2010, the Walker Art Center will be exhibiting and touring a large survey exhibition of Soth’s work in the United States. Alec Soth’s first monograph, Sleeping by the Mississippi, was published by Steidl in 2004 to critical acclaim. Since then Soth has published NIAGARA (2006), Fashion Magazine (2007) Dog Days, Bogotá (2007) and The Last Days of W (2008). In 2008, Soth started his own publishing company, Little Brown Mushroom. Soth is represented by Gagosian Gallery in New York, Weinstein Gallery in Minneapolis, and is a member of Magnum Photos.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Exhibit: From Here to There: Alec Soth's America
Went to see this tonight. Listened to Paul Shambroom talk about the work and a little about Alec, the photographer, and his camera. I think I'll go back to take more time to look at the photography. And, try to do some more research on the photographer.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Book: Understanding Shutter Speed by Bryan Peterson
This is a link to an online partial version of this book. I have a hard
copy of this and two other of this author's books. I really like
Bryan Peterson's writing style and photography, and I think he does a
great job of balancing the two in his books. Hope you enjoy!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Earth911.com
I have always tried to be conscious of and respectful towards the environment--I don't always practice as well as I would like, but I'm trying to continuously improve and work towards living an overall greener lifestyle.
After looking for several months for a bookshelf that would fit the price, space, and style I wanted for my bedroom, I caved and bought a bookshelf at Target. It works just perfectly and looks really nice, though while I write this (Ouch!) I do feel (Ow!) pangs of guilt. Okay, so while this purchase may not have been the most eco-friendly, I at least wanted to make a sincere effort to properly dispose of the awful Styrofoam packaging (the very thought of this junk makes me cringe! yuck!) that it came in.
In hunting for a recycling center that accepts (ugh!) Styrofoam, I came across the website Earth911.com that seems to have been the perfect solution to finding any kind of recyling. In addition to finding a place that will accept the new unwanted collection of messy, static-filled, awful Styrofoam currently occupying the 'great hall' of my living room, I was also able to find a place that accepts old unwanted VHS video cassettes!
I typed the first few letters of each word into the site's search engine which auto-filled, (much like the new Google smart search) with "Styrofoam" and "Video Tapes", and in the next field to the right, my zip code. With each search, just a few clicks of the keyboard and one last for 'enter', and up popped several recycling centers in the Twin Cities and greater metro area. Being a Sunday, I was left with emailing the centers, so no final answers on whether I've found the perfect solutions for my recycling needs, but if not, there's a whole list of other options I now know how to easily access.
With a well-organized layout, clean and appealing appearance, and incredible ease-of-use, you can be sure I will be visiting the Earth911.com website for any future recycling needs that arise. They've even got informative articles, event listings, and a whole bunch of other green living goodies. Way to go Earth911.com!
After looking for several months for a bookshelf that would fit the price, space, and style I wanted for my bedroom, I caved and bought a bookshelf at Target. It works just perfectly and looks really nice, though while I write this (Ouch!) I do feel (Ow!) pangs of guilt. Okay, so while this purchase may not have been the most eco-friendly, I at least wanted to make a sincere effort to properly dispose of the awful Styrofoam packaging (the very thought of this junk makes me cringe! yuck!) that it came in.
In hunting for a recycling center that accepts (ugh!) Styrofoam, I came across the website Earth911.com that seems to have been the perfect solution to finding any kind of recyling. In addition to finding a place that will accept the new unwanted collection of messy, static-filled, awful Styrofoam currently occupying the 'great hall' of my living room, I was also able to find a place that accepts old unwanted VHS video cassettes!
I typed the first few letters of each word into the site's search engine which auto-filled, (much like the new Google smart search) with "Styrofoam" and "Video Tapes", and in the next field to the right, my zip code. With each search, just a few clicks of the keyboard and one last for 'enter', and up popped several recycling centers in the Twin Cities and greater metro area. Being a Sunday, I was left with emailing the centers, so no final answers on whether I've found the perfect solutions for my recycling needs, but if not, there's a whole list of other options I now know how to easily access.
With a well-organized layout, clean and appealing appearance, and incredible ease-of-use, you can be sure I will be visiting the Earth911.com website for any future recycling needs that arise. They've even got informative articles, event listings, and a whole bunch of other green living goodies. Way to go Earth911.com!
Saturday, October 2, 2010
doppelgänger
doppelgänger |ˈdäpəlˌga ng ər|
noun
an apparition or double of a living person.
ORIGIN mid 19th cent.: from German, literally ‘double-goer.’
Star Tribune, September 26, 2010 - 2:45 PM
Minneapolis
Minneapolis
By Ronald M. Bosrock
"Mad Men," the phenomenally successful TV program, is centered around a fictional advertising agency on Madison Avenue in 1960s New York City. Besides the rich characters the show centers around, it also depicts the rapidly changing social mores of post-World War II America as the country moved toward becoming the ultimate consumer economy promising to fulfill the "American Dream."
While "Mad Men" has been recognized for its entertainment value, one of the more interesting aspects of the series has been the developing story of the role of advertising, public relations and the other working companions of the world of marketing.
The roots of today's public relations industry sprang from the early research of Sigmund Freud and his fellow psychoanalysts in Vienna during the 1920s.
Freud believed that mankind had a dark side and struggled to suppress the hidden tendency toward violence. His early research was an attempt to determine what could be done to make man react in such a way as to control the acts of the masses so that the actions of the inner self did not lead to a violent, unstable society.
The value of this research was not made available for practical application until Freud's nephew, Edward Bernays, who lived in the United States, concluded that this information could be used to control certain aspects of the mind not only to prevent violence but also to influence other aspects of how humans might act. His application of these principles to the world of business earned him the designation of "the father of public relations.
Starting in the 1920s, Bernays was hired by many large businesses who asked him to find out how to sell the public not just what they thought they needed but also what they subconsciously could be made to want.
To help businesses determine what the consumer really wanted, Bernays developed a more benign version of psychoanalysis that became known as the "focus group." One of his first major assignments in the 1920s was to develop a program that would get women to smoke cigarettes in public and thereby create a whole new market for the product.
Bernays created the focus group and tied the smoking of cigarettes to women's individual freedom, as reflected by the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of freedom. Cigarettes were referred to as "torches of freedom." Needless to say, it was a highly successful campaign.
While the business of public relations enjoyed a meteoric rate of growth in those early days, it reached another high point when politicians and government institutions discovered that they, too, could learn to manipulate and "brainwash" the masses to vote for their candidates and support their political agendas.
While Bernays was using the principles of his Uncle Sigmund to understand the relationship with consumers for the purpose of controlling their buying habits, another brilliant and more sinister manipulator of the masses was also at work -- only he preferred to call what he was doing propaganda.
Joseph Goebbels, Adolph Hitler's minister of propaganda, developed a master plan for the Nazis to control the thoughts and actions of the German people as Hitler built his Third Reich. When asked where his ideas came from, Goebbels gave full credit to Bernays.
Wary of such an endorsement by Goebbels, Bernays looked for a new phrase to describe what he had created and invented the term "public relations."
Marketing, public relations and advertising can be a force for good, by helping to inform the public on what products to buy and on consumer safety issues and value assessment issues, as well as explaining complex matters of government policy so that the citizens can make the best-informed decision.
For example, last week the Itasca Project announced that it would be launching a program to sell the image of the Twin Cities nationally in order to attract businesses and jobs to the area. This is a legitimate effort for the good of all the citizens of Minnesota.
But it is also true that today with more outlets for information -- whether in print, electronic or social media -- that individuals are bombarded with more information, both true and false, than ever before.
It is incumbent on all citizens to be aware of what they are being sold, both by the commercial marketplace as well as by the political system. The old Latin warning caveat emptor applies now more than ever, both in the marketplace of products as well as the marketplace of ideas.
 |
| Sigmund Freud |
While "Mad Men" has been recognized for its entertainment value, one of the more interesting aspects of the series has been the developing story of the role of advertising, public relations and the other working companions of the world of marketing.
The roots of today's public relations industry sprang from the early research of Sigmund Freud and his fellow psychoanalysts in Vienna during the 1920s.
Freud believed that mankind had a dark side and struggled to suppress the hidden tendency toward violence. His early research was an attempt to determine what could be done to make man react in such a way as to control the acts of the masses so that the actions of the inner self did not lead to a violent, unstable society.
The value of this research was not made available for practical application until Freud's nephew, Edward Bernays, who lived in the United States, concluded that this information could be used to control certain aspects of the mind not only to prevent violence but also to influence other aspects of how humans might act. His application of these principles to the world of business earned him the designation of "the father of public relations.
Starting in the 1920s, Bernays was hired by many large businesses who asked him to find out how to sell the public not just what they thought they needed but also what they subconsciously could be made to want.
To help businesses determine what the consumer really wanted, Bernays developed a more benign version of psychoanalysis that became known as the "focus group." One of his first major assignments in the 1920s was to develop a program that would get women to smoke cigarettes in public and thereby create a whole new market for the product.
Bernays created the focus group and tied the smoking of cigarettes to women's individual freedom, as reflected by the Statue of Liberty as a symbol of freedom. Cigarettes were referred to as "torches of freedom." Needless to say, it was a highly successful campaign.
While the business of public relations enjoyed a meteoric rate of growth in those early days, it reached another high point when politicians and government institutions discovered that they, too, could learn to manipulate and "brainwash" the masses to vote for their candidates and support their political agendas.
While Bernays was using the principles of his Uncle Sigmund to understand the relationship with consumers for the purpose of controlling their buying habits, another brilliant and more sinister manipulator of the masses was also at work -- only he preferred to call what he was doing propaganda.
Joseph Goebbels, Adolph Hitler's minister of propaganda, developed a master plan for the Nazis to control the thoughts and actions of the German people as Hitler built his Third Reich. When asked where his ideas came from, Goebbels gave full credit to Bernays.
Wary of such an endorsement by Goebbels, Bernays looked for a new phrase to describe what he had created and invented the term "public relations."
Marketing, public relations and advertising can be a force for good, by helping to inform the public on what products to buy and on consumer safety issues and value assessment issues, as well as explaining complex matters of government policy so that the citizens can make the best-informed decision.
For example, last week the Itasca Project announced that it would be launching a program to sell the image of the Twin Cities nationally in order to attract businesses and jobs to the area. This is a legitimate effort for the good of all the citizens of Minnesota.
But it is also true that today with more outlets for information -- whether in print, electronic or social media -- that individuals are bombarded with more information, both true and false, than ever before.
It is incumbent on all citizens to be aware of what they are being sold, both by the commercial marketplace as well as by the political system. The old Latin warning caveat emptor applies now more than ever, both in the marketplace of products as well as the marketplace of ideas.
Democracy can only function effectively if the people are well informed. The responsibility for being well informed belongs to each of us. It is also our responsibility to be sure we are not being manipulated or brainwashed by the likes of a Bernays or a Goebbels.
_________________________________________________
Ronald M. Bosrock of St. Paul is founder and director of the Global Institute, a research center, and is a guest lecturer at the Diplomatic Academy of Vienna. His Global Executive column appears monthly. He can be reached at ron@ bosrock.com
Friday, October 1, 2010
a new friend
i met a new friend tonight. fun. easy conversation. attractive. an artist with a great laugh. he gave me his website to check out. Nathen Cantwell. i think he's experienced something deeply painful. incredible, such pain into beauty. such powerful emotions evoked.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
The Walker's "From Here to There: Alec Soth's America
From Here to There: Alec Soth's America
September 12, 2010 - January 2, 2011
Target Gallery at The Walker Art Center
The Walker presents the first U.S. survey of the work of Alec Soth, one of the most compelling voices in contemporary photography, whose offbeat images of everyday America form powerful narrative vignettes. Featuring more than 100 photographs made between 1994 and the present, the exhibition includes examples from Soth’s well-known series Sleeping by the Mississippi and Niagara, a selection of rarely seen early black-and-white work, and a broad range of portraits. Also on view is the Minneapolis-based artist’s newest series, Broken Manual, exploring places of escape in and individuals who seek to flee civilization for a life “off the grid.”
Working in a photographic tradition of road photography established by such figures as Walker Evans, Robert Frank, William Eggleston, and Stephen Shore, Soth captures stunning large-scale color images often using a cumbersome 8x10 field camera, with an eye toward finding overlooked beauty in the banal. His curiosity, penchant for research, and openness to serendipity in seeking out subjects have all become hallmarks of his working process. The wanderlust embodied in Soth’s work is an impulse to uncover his own versions of the narratives that comprise the American experience. His images offer insight into broader sociologies while forming an unexpected portrait of the country.
An illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition.
Curator: Siri Engberg
From Here to There: Alec Soth’s America is organized by the Walker Art Center.
September 12, 2010 - January 2, 2011
Target Gallery at The Walker Art Center
The Walker presents the first U.S. survey of the work of Alec Soth, one of the most compelling voices in contemporary photography, whose offbeat images of everyday America form powerful narrative vignettes. Featuring more than 100 photographs made between 1994 and the present, the exhibition includes examples from Soth’s well-known series Sleeping by the Mississippi and Niagara, a selection of rarely seen early black-and-white work, and a broad range of portraits. Also on view is the Minneapolis-based artist’s newest series, Broken Manual, exploring places of escape in and individuals who seek to flee civilization for a life “off the grid.”
Working in a photographic tradition of road photography established by such figures as Walker Evans, Robert Frank, William Eggleston, and Stephen Shore, Soth captures stunning large-scale color images often using a cumbersome 8x10 field camera, with an eye toward finding overlooked beauty in the banal. His curiosity, penchant for research, and openness to serendipity in seeking out subjects have all become hallmarks of his working process. The wanderlust embodied in Soth’s work is an impulse to uncover his own versions of the narratives that comprise the American experience. His images offer insight into broader sociologies while forming an unexpected portrait of the country.
An illustrated catalogue accompanies the exhibition.
Curator: Siri Engberg
From Here to There: Alec Soth’s America is organized by the Walker Art Center.
Exhibit: THE UNIVERSITY AVENUE PROJECT
PUBLIC ART SAINT PAUL PRESENTS
WING YOUNG HUIE'S
THE UNIVERSITY AVENUE PROJECT
THE LANGUAGE OF URBANISM: A SIX-MILE PHOTOGRAPHIC INQUIRY
FROM MAY THROUGH OCTOBER, 2010 WING YOUNG HUIE’S PHOTOGRAPHS WILL TRANSFORM SAINT PAUL’S UNIVERSITY AVENUE INTO A SIX-MILE PUBLIC GALLERY, REVEALING THE EVERYDAY REALITES OF THE DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS CONNECTED BY THIS URBAN THOROUGHFARE.
HUNDREDS OF IMAGES WILL BE DISPLAYED IN WINDOWS AND ON BUILDINGS FROM THE KSTP TOWER TO THE STATE CAPITOL.
EACH NIGHT AT A LANDMARK PROJECT(ION) SITE WING’S IMAGES WILL BE SHOWN ON 40 FOOT SCREENS, ACCOMPANIED BY A SOUNDTRACK FROM LOCAL MUSICIANS. MONTHLY CABARETS WILL FEATURE LIVE COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES AND NEW MEDIA PRESENTATIONS.
A TWO-PART BOOK FROM THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESS DOCUMENTS THIS EXTRAORDINARY PROJECT.
WING YOUNG HUIE'S
THE UNIVERSITY AVENUE PROJECT
THE LANGUAGE OF URBANISM: A SIX-MILE PHOTOGRAPHIC INQUIRY
FROM MAY THROUGH OCTOBER, 2010 WING YOUNG HUIE’S PHOTOGRAPHS WILL TRANSFORM SAINT PAUL’S UNIVERSITY AVENUE INTO A SIX-MILE PUBLIC GALLERY, REVEALING THE EVERYDAY REALITES OF THE DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS CONNECTED BY THIS URBAN THOROUGHFARE.
HUNDREDS OF IMAGES WILL BE DISPLAYED IN WINDOWS AND ON BUILDINGS FROM THE KSTP TOWER TO THE STATE CAPITOL.
EACH NIGHT AT A LANDMARK PROJECT(ION) SITE WING’S IMAGES WILL BE SHOWN ON 40 FOOT SCREENS, ACCOMPANIED BY A SOUNDTRACK FROM LOCAL MUSICIANS. MONTHLY CABARETS WILL FEATURE LIVE COMMUNITY PERFORMANCES AND NEW MEDIA PRESENTATIONS.
A TWO-PART BOOK FROM THE MINNESOTA HISTORICAL SOCIETY PRESS DOCUMENTS THIS EXTRAORDINARY PROJECT.
Legacies of War
Legacies of War
Daily from
Thu., September 30 until Sun., October 24
Legacies of War
Sheila Regan
From 1964 to 1973,
the United States waged a secret war in Laos, dropping 260 million
cluster bombs—the most dropped on any country in history. The bombings
destroyed many villages and displaced hundreds of thousands of Lao
civilians during the nine-year period. Lao refugees had no way to
communicate with the world about their experiences, except through
hand-drawn sketches etched in pencil, pens, crayons, and markers. These
drawings, which ultimately led to world awareness about the CIA's
covert war in Laos, are now part of an exhibit called "Legacies of War
National Traveling Exhibition," at Intermedia Arts. The historical
drawings are accompanied by photos, maps, and other relevant documents
about the decade-long bombing campaign, as well as archival and
contemporary images, art, and video. Included in the exhibit are
original audio interviews and documentary films depicting the lives of
those affected by the bombings, and their impact on the Laotian
diaspora. Local artist Malichansouk Kouanchao guest curates with the
inclusion of a piece titled Our Shared Journey, created by
contributions from local community members recruited by the Lao
Assistance Center of Minnesota. The opening reception is 7 p.m.
Thursday, September 30.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943
My friend Erin G shared this plog from the Denver Post with me. It is a beautiful and interesting collection of photographs from an important historical time in the world and in the U.S. These are the ones I chose out of the collection to share.
Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943
These images, by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. The photographs are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in a 2006 exhibit Bound for Glory: America in Color.
Captured: America in Color from 1939-1943
These images, by photographers of the Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information, are some of the only color photographs taken of the effects of the Depression on America’s rural and small town populations. The photographs are the property of the Library of Congress and were included in a 2006 exhibit Bound for Glory: America in Color.
 |
| Chopping cotton on rented land near White Plains. White Plains, Greene County, Georgia, June 1941. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress |
 |
| Distributing surplus commodities. St. Johns, Arizona, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress |
 |
| Homesteader and his children eating barbeque at the New Mexico Fair. Pie Town, New Mexico, October 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Russell Lee. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress |
 |
| African American's tenant's home beside the Mississippi River levee. Near Lake Providence, Louisiana, June 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress |
 |
| Boys fishing in a bayou. Schriever, Louisiana, June 1940. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Marion Post Wolcott. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress |
 |
| Switchman throwing a switch at Chicago and Northwest Railway Company's Proviso yard. Chicago, Illinois, April 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress |
 |
| Women workers employed as wipers in the roundhouse having lunch in their rest room, Chicago and Northwest Railway Company. Clinton, Iowa, April 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress |
 |
| Woman is working on a "Vengeance" dive bomber Tennessee, February 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Alfred T. Palmer. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress |
 |
| Worker at carbon black plant. Sunray, Texas, 1942. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Worker at carbon black plant John Vachon. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress |
Sunday, September 26, 2010
A visit from the fire brigade
A quiet Friday evening quickly turned loud when a chemical stench and thick gray smoke came pouring out of the oven. Having made no-bake cookies earlier in the week, my roommate had forgotten that the place she'd left the cookies to settle and cool was still being occupied by the tasty treats when she turned on the oven to pre-heat it for a pizza.
The old rickety windows were too hard to get open in time to prevent the apartment building smoke alarm from blaring at full volume. Soon, the building was being evacuated and fire trucks were at our doorstep with sirens blaring. Terribly embarrassing, but most of the neighbors were nice about it. On the plus side, the fire fighters were pretty handsome.
When our handsome heroes gave the okay to return to the building, my roommate and I found a unique form of modern oven art awaiting our arrival.
The thin plastic cutting board had almost entirely melted beneath the oatmeal peanut butter chocolate no-bake cookies and thin wax paper that held them.
While the stench of burned plastic filled our apartment for the remainder of the evening, with the help of the fan and fresh fall air circulating through the windows we finally got opened, it mostly dissipated by morning. Luckily, there was no permanent damage and we were able to remove every bit of the melted plastic from the oven. Whew! I wonder if I'll be getting a returned phone call from the property manager tomorrow. Guess we'll see...
The old rickety windows were too hard to get open in time to prevent the apartment building smoke alarm from blaring at full volume. Soon, the building was being evacuated and fire trucks were at our doorstep with sirens blaring. Terribly embarrassing, but most of the neighbors were nice about it. On the plus side, the fire fighters were pretty handsome.
When our handsome heroes gave the okay to return to the building, my roommate and I found a unique form of modern oven art awaiting our arrival.
The thin plastic cutting board had almost entirely melted beneath the oatmeal peanut butter chocolate no-bake cookies and thin wax paper that held them.
While the stench of burned plastic filled our apartment for the remainder of the evening, with the help of the fan and fresh fall air circulating through the windows we finally got opened, it mostly dissipated by morning. Luckily, there was no permanent damage and we were able to remove every bit of the melted plastic from the oven. Whew! I wonder if I'll be getting a returned phone call from the property manager tomorrow. Guess we'll see...
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Recurring daydream
 | |
| Recurring daydream - Liftopia |
A recurring daydream during the precious fleeting warm summer days...of snow and ice, slopes and trees, for skiing and sliding with breathtaking scenes. Minnesota-born, I sneer at the cold, dark prospect of winter...replaced by a sweet hopeful smile.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Exhibit: Homelessness is My Address, Not My Name
Letter to volunteers from Cathy ten Broeke, Coordinator to End Homelessness, Minneapolis/Hennepin County.
August 24, 2010
Greetings Project Homeless Connect Volunteers!
I hope this finds you all well and that you are gearing up for our next big
event on Monday, December 13!
Today, I am writing to invite you to a very special art exhibit. As you may
remember, at the last several Project Homeless Connect events, we have had a
section dedicated to gathering oral histories. A professional photographer
has also been on hand to take portraits of the families and individuals that
stop by. These portraits and the accompanying oral histories are now a part
of a new exhibit called Homeless is My Address, Not My Name. Please visit
www.homelessismyaddress.org<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103622424939&s=1470&e=001k1fJBuOogv5BAZJenRtohSFSQnEg-8ymsO--nrQM1AY0sq-Q4C4Mpq94-9PxB4_hYIU011wC3SqfWRn96N_pNv7JnYVvQ9rcqLe7H8bsXT8j2KCpnvAjoPgbzVxODrDv>to
view the invitation to join us on opening night at the Chambers Hotel
/Burnet Gallery in downtown Minneapolis on Wednesday, September 15 from
7:00-9:00 p.m. If you can't make it to the opening, please visit the
gallery from September 10-19 to see the exhibit.
A unique feature of the exhibit is that under several large portraits there
is a phone number. The viewer can call the number on their cell phone and
hear that person's story spoken in his or her own words and voice. It is
intimate and powerful. And, as many of you know, the portraits are
stunningly beautiful. I believe this exhibit will change the way people
think about homelessness. Thank you for your role in making this possible.
See you on September 15!
Cathy
Cathy ten Broeke
Coordinator to End Homelessness
Minneapolis/Hennepin County
August 24, 2010
Greetings Project Homeless Connect Volunteers!
I hope this finds you all well and that you are gearing up for our next big
event on Monday, December 13!
Today, I am writing to invite you to a very special art exhibit. As you may
remember, at the last several Project Homeless Connect events, we have had a
section dedicated to gathering oral histories. A professional photographer
has also been on hand to take portraits of the families and individuals that
stop by. These portraits and the accompanying oral histories are now a part
of a new exhibit called Homeless is My Address, Not My Name. Please visit
www.homelessismyaddress.org<http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103622424939&s=1470&e=001k1fJBuOogv5BAZJenRtohSFSQnEg-8ymsO--nrQM1AY0sq-Q4C4Mpq94-9PxB4_hYIU011wC3SqfWRn96N_pNv7JnYVvQ9rcqLe7H8bsXT8j2KCpnvAjoPgbzVxODrDv>to
view the invitation to join us on opening night at the Chambers Hotel
/Burnet Gallery in downtown Minneapolis on Wednesday, September 15 from
7:00-9:00 p.m. If you can't make it to the opening, please visit the
gallery from September 10-19 to see the exhibit.
A unique feature of the exhibit is that under several large portraits there
is a phone number. The viewer can call the number on their cell phone and
hear that person's story spoken in his or her own words and voice. It is
intimate and powerful. And, as many of you know, the portraits are
stunningly beautiful. I believe this exhibit will change the way people
think about homelessness. Thank you for your role in making this possible.
See you on September 15!
Cathy
Cathy ten Broeke
Coordinator to End Homelessness
Minneapolis/Hennepin County
Friday, September 10, 2010
Accidental Mysteries as created by John Foster
'About' Accidental Mysteries: "John and Teenuh Foster
share a passionate interest in collecting works of art by self-taught
artists, as well as anonymous objects that to them, share attributes of
great design and mystery. They consider vernacular photography to be a
long overlooked genre of folk art, capturing elements of history,
sociology, psychology and often “accidental” moments on film. John is a
founder and past-president of ENVISION Folk Art of Missouri, where he
also served as editor of the Journal that he produced for ten years.
John serves on the Board of Trustees for SPACES
(Saving and Preserving Arts and Cultural Environments) which is based
in Aptos, California. Additionally, John is a member of the Advisory
Board of The Folk Art Society of America"
Garage Sale Masterpieces as found by John Foster
Newsweek: John Foster is a meticulous and savvy collector—"and I do not buy in bulk," he says. Over the years that he's been collecting personal photographs from garage sales, antique shops, and eBay—including the last 10 to 12 years of hard-core buying—he's assembled roughly 1,500 photographs that, to him, represent true found-art. Rare is the weekend he doesn't hit up a flea market or dusty old antiques store, locate a box of old photos, and rifle through them one by one, searching for the single, perfect shot. "It's not of any particular period of time, it's not any particular type of photograph, it's not any particular style," he says. "It's all about the image—how does it transcend the ordinary?" The price of transcendence? As little as $10, or as much as $400—"if you're buying from people who know what they are."
For decades, Foster and his wife have also collected various forms of folk art for their St. Louis home, a passion that has informed his photo quest. "When you look at the idea of enjoying art that's made by people without formal art education, you can easily make the jump to snapshots," he says. "Everyone takes photographs."
Photo: A young boy with smeared with either mud or pancake makeup grins giddily for the camera. "When I look for images, I look for something that makes you almost uncomfortable in your own skin—something that makes you observe more intently," Foster says. "That's when I know I have something that's more than just a snapshot."
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Photographer: Zeny Cieslikowski - Color Film
Uptown Art Fair - August 2010 - Zeny Cieslikowski
lives and works in northern California and creates brilliant
photography in color. He's traveled extensively and is self-taught!
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
High Narrative
I experienced the last class of Photography in a Digital Age at MCAD (Minneapolis College of Art and Design) on Monday evening. What an incredible class we had. The discussions, the ideas we explored were riveting.
I left Monday evening feeling elated, yet at peace. It couldn't have gone any better.
Viewed beautiful work. Shared opinions, feedback, encouragement, critique. Talked about life in relation to photography, and vice versa. What is it about photography that we're aiming for? Is it important? Why is it important? To you? To me? To us? To the world?
What about our culture, and the ever-growing worldwide community? Have we begun to experience life for photography--to show someone else our own view of the world because we want to connect with others, or to show off? Why do we need to share our moments and our views? Do we create photography in order to explore life more deeply through a visual experience and the thoughts it evokes? Do we really need to capture everything we do in life with the camera? Why? Why not? Where is the line to be drawn between living life and documenting it? Can you do both at the same time? By the time you capture a moment on film or sensor, it's gone. But then comes the next one.
So interesting, so engaging, so satisfying. So incomplete. The perfect end to a wonderful class.
I left Monday evening feeling elated, yet at peace. It couldn't have gone any better.
Viewed beautiful work. Shared opinions, feedback, encouragement, critique. Talked about life in relation to photography, and vice versa. What is it about photography that we're aiming for? Is it important? Why is it important? To you? To me? To us? To the world?
What about our culture, and the ever-growing worldwide community? Have we begun to experience life for photography--to show someone else our own view of the world because we want to connect with others, or to show off? Why do we need to share our moments and our views? Do we create photography in order to explore life more deeply through a visual experience and the thoughts it evokes? Do we really need to capture everything we do in life with the camera? Why? Why not? Where is the line to be drawn between living life and documenting it? Can you do both at the same time? By the time you capture a moment on film or sensor, it's gone. But then comes the next one.
So interesting, so engaging, so satisfying. So incomplete. The perfect end to a wonderful class.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Photographer Chris Coffey - Black & White Film
Aspens, Dusk - Grand Canyon
Cause and Effect
Uptown Art Fair - August 2010 - Chris Coffey lives in Ohio and does very impressive black and white work. Check out the trees! He said these are his 'subject' and have been since he was a kid--even before he had a camera, he'd draw them with crayons.
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