RETIRED CONCRETE PLANT, REVIEW AVE., QUEENS, N.Y., 7:52 A.M. 5.15.13.

© Ber Murphy 2013

ASTORIA TURBINES, QUEENS, N.Y., 1.22.11, 9:43 A.M.

Image © Ber Murphy 2011

VERNON BLVD POWER PROJECT, LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., 5.19.11 11.13 A.M.

Image © Ber Murphy 2011

The Chocolate Genius and the Talking Head

These are the two images I will be showing this weekend at Polaroid: Instant Joy at A.M. Richard Fine Art in Williamsburg. They are of musicians David Byrne and Marc Anthony Thompson. David one time leader of Talking Heads and Marc founder of the music cooperative Chocolate genius Inc. I created this series at the rehearsals for the Tibet House concert series at Carnegie Hall. Shot on Polaroid only, combining the 8x10 809 and 804, a cross processing of Color and Black & White film. Everyone has their own favorite Polaroid and this is mine. This was not that long ago, 2005, but even then this was one the only ways to get the acquired look of sepia, unlike today's digi effects.
I shot on Polaroid because I knew I wouldn't have much time and wanted the subjects to be as comfortable as possible quickly, also its expensive so it was either one or the other. 8x10 is a real ice breaker especially when people, musicians, actors etc are(were) used to much smaller versions. Today they would think you were insane to show them 2 1/4 Polaroid. So we pinned them up and more and more of the musicians showed up for their shot and I did it two years running. Still love the shots and had an awesome time doing it.

THE CLARK

If anyone is in the Upper Hudson Valley or the Berkshires this summer, you will certainly not want for cultural distractions. Besides the myriad of galleries dotted around the country towns and villages, this area also plays home to some innovative and classic museums. MASS MOCA, where my wife and I travelled up to see Beth Orton on Sat night, ( by the way she stunk, beware Prospect Park) is one the countries premier museums. Their courtyard feels like a Yorkshire creamery at the turn of the 19th century, awesome. BERKSHIRE Museum, The NORMAN ROCKWELL Museum, tons of fun, OLANA, home of Fredrich Church of the Hudson River gang, is open for tours. But its THE CLARK that stands out in my mind from the rest. Situated in Williamstown MA, nestled among the surrounding hills, its an ideal setting for one to step back in time and reflect on the works of some great masters. Small and intimate, easy to navigate, and very little in the way of crowds. Certainly not avant garde, in terms of the work being shown, its a little like watching TMC on a rainy afternoon. Of course we have moved on, but look at how we got here, brilliant, luminous and still working its magic. The buildings themselves are quite modern and beautifully designed. Right now "LIKE BREATH ON GLASS the art of painting softly" is showing. The works of Whistler, Innes, Homer, Steichen etc. Steichen's inclusion is wonderful from a photographic point of view as you can see exactly where he put his palate down and picked up his camera. There is almost nothing lost in the crossover and with so many photographers using modern techniques to achieve the look portrayed by this work, it seems pretty relevant today. Well worth a summer trip to the country.
PS Walk out back in the next two weeks, while he lillies bloom for their recreation of Monets Lilly pond at Giverny.

TO FLICK OR NOT TO FLICK

After the furor over APE's choice of to use Flickr as his tool for his showcase, I came up against some of the same Flickr discrimination myself last week. After meeting a very nice photographer at the Blindspot auction, I emailed him some images based on a conversation we had on regards to alternative process. I sent him a number of images of mine using Flickr. Private, only he could see them, but he emailed me back and from the tenor of his comment was shocked and quite perturbed, that I would take the time to shoot 8x10 but then put them on Fkickr. We joked back and forth about it, but the underlying feeling was that this tool was so beneath me, I should be ashamed to be seen in its company. I was a little dismayed at this but it made me read over the Jackanory's comments about the resentment in some quarters to Rob using this program. What are people thinking? Its reminds me of the hue and cry on Photoshop's arrival."No way, I shoot everything in camera" Wonder if those guys are still saying that today. ITS A TOOL PEOPLE. Use it accordingly. Use your noggins. Nobody has to know you have stuff up on it. There are plenty of times when I need to put something together fast, other than my website for a potential client. You have another tool to show them work, that may tip the scales in your favor, great, thanks. Personally I think clients couldn't care less, they have a lot more shit to think about than Flickr. Use it for what it is and move on. Lets get pass this to more pressing and interesting subjects, like ......Polidori in Versailles. Now where's Soth when you need him?

SHE WALKED THROUGH THE FAIR

If you are in NYC this weekend make sure to pop by both these events. Arts Under The Bridge, is Dumbo Art Center's 11th annual art fair. On the West Side is The NY Art Book Fair, where art books, art catalogues etc are for sale. Book Fair first, then train to Dumbo late afternoon, plenty of high jinks till the wee hours. Of course call into my friends Steve West's "Jay Street" bar on Jay Street. It will be jammers, usually live music and tons of fun.

Nina Berman

Nice layout in the Arts section of the Times on Wednesday for Nina Berman and her new book Purple Hearts. The series revolves around soldiers who have been injured in Iraq. I just went to the opening of her show at Jen Beckman gallery on Spring St. Moving and thought provoking to say the least and she also seems like a really nice person. The show is up till the 30th of August so give a visit if you can. Nice work Nina.

IT WAS A GOOD DAY

Spent a nice afternoon in Billyburg last week visiting galleries including A. M. Richards Fine Art. This great space is on the second floor of a Brooklyn brownstone, with beautiful Afternoon light. The main attraction of the visit was old friend, painter Susan Wanklyn's new work, who along with Jessica Weiss form the the bulk of the exhibit. Both artist's work play off each other wonderfully in this setting. But a nice surprise was to find Jill Freedman, standard bearer for New York photojournalists for the last 30 years or so, be part of the last exhibition. After speaking with owner Ann Marie for awhile I find out Jill has not one but two books on Ireland in publication, one better than the next, A TIME THAT WAS & IRELAND EVER, with forwards by the now world renowned McCourt brothers, non the less. The images are terrific and feel like a continuation of "Dorothea Lange's Ireland", 20 years later. Yet in some respects the country had changed so little in those years it feels like they could have been shot simultaneously. Andrew Hetherington's "Made in Ireland" series feels like the bookend to the trilogy, now that I think of it. Life's funny, if you head off with good intentions on one road its amazing how many different roads open in front of you, wanted to see some great work by a specific person and end up overloaded with incredible work by many different artists. Oh and by the way check out photographer Andrew Garne, who has some beautiful work up at Ann Marie Richards also. Good work people.