"ITS ON", '66 & '70 Redux

TYPE 55 and some cross processed

To end the Polaroid week, how about this, assisting days 4x5 Type 55 Pos/neg portrait by Robert Maxwell. Thank you for my new profile pic Bobby.

Type 59

Polaroid Record

Estimate $10,000 - $15,000.

SOLD $245,000

Inside 20x24 Studio

Its all Polaroid all the time it seems. Not only do we have Polaroid: Instant Joy on Friday but the large Polaroid Auction is at Sotheby's all this week and now here is the BBC with an inside look at the 20x24 Studio with Jennifer Trausch. Freakin jealous!!!!

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.

Polaroid: Instant Joy!

I was thrilled to get the call from Photographer and curator Andrew Garn to be a part of his new group show, Polaroid: Instant Joy, which will be opening on July 19th at A.M Richard Fine Art in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Included in the show are illustrious Large Polaroid practitioners, William Wegman, Chuck Close, Bill Day (his Warhol to the left), Jennifer Trausch, Barbara Mensch, Sally Mann to name a few. Andrew is a unique character who most certainly marches to his own tune. His last show "Lost Amazon", his work in the Brazilian Rain Forrest, was a combination of images and video. Moving and thought provoking, Andrew showed up dressed in a full Has-Mat outfit. His shows are a full contact experience. For this upcoming one covered in Polaroid goo is a possibility I am told. Please come on over and see some great large and small format artists using one of the worlds most enjoyable mediums.The opening reception will be Fri June 25th 6-8pm. To Coincide with the show, over the next week I will be showing Polaroids amassed through the years, of all sizes and embarrassing hair stages.

BRAZIL '70

Brazil open today and here they are, 40 years ago, perhaps a couple of years younger when the cards were made, but none the less, the most exciting and beloved international team of all time. O.K except for England '66 and maybe Holland '74 and Ireland '90. Forget it. We loved 'em. The best. And of course Revilino has no tache in the card!!! This is how we loved him

ITALIA '70

Seeing as the World Champs are opening today it would seem only fair to mention that the Azzuri was the other team that played in the 1970 World Cup Final in Mexico. A Tremendous team, who many thought might be able to shut down the high powered Brazilians. Gianna Rivera, Luigi Riva, Faccechitti and of course the great Dino Zoff, who for that whole summer I called Koff cause I got my Ks and Z's mixed up. A slap on the ear from Brendy Murphy, " ya eeejit", changed that quirk quicker that any teacher could. These cards are from James Doyle's original collection. His mother Rita mailed them to him last week. James is not quite sure if this was from "Shoot" magazine or "Sweetie Fags". Either way we didn't get any of the double entendre as kids in cloistered Ireland.
Thanks Rita. Click on the image for a closer look at pre hippie, late sixties Euro hairdo

Polaroid: Instant Joy

I was thrilled to get the call from Photographer and curator Andrew Garn to be a part of his new show, Polaroid: Instant Joy, which will be opening on July 19th at A.M Richard Fine Art in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Included in the show are illustrious Large Polaroid practitioners, William Wegman, Chuck Close, Bill Day (his Warhol to the left), Jennifer Trausch, Barbara Mensch, Sally Mann to name a few. Andrew is a unique character who most certainly marches to his own tune. His last show "Lost Amazon", his work in the Brazilian Rain Forrest, was a combination of images and video. Moving and thought provoking, Andrew showed up dressed in a full Has-Mat outfit. His shows are a full contact experience. For this upcoming one covered in Polaroid goo is a possibility I am told. Please come on over and see some great large and small format artists using one of the worlds most enjoyable mediums.The opening reception will be Fri June 25thth

My First Time.

Everyone remembers their first time. Where you were, what it was like. How your heart raced right up to the minute it started, hoping it was going to be everything everyone had said it would be. You have been waiting for this all your life. All those long, long seven years. The boys jump up and down at the center circle, the ref blows the whistle and your off. Mexico '70. That was my first time. My first World Cup.
With the onslaught of the 2010 World Cup media attention, the images of my first have been feverishly replaying in my mind of late. It was the year the greatest international football team of all time, Brazil, came together and meshed perfectly like the scab on a healthy child's knee. Tostao, Jairzhino, Gerson, Carlos Alberto. The revelation of the tournament, he of the 70's detective tache, Rivelino. Kieran Healy in Cork still wears one proudly today in tribute to the great Corinthian. And of course, #10 Pele. The Black Pearl, he was that precious. It was the tournament of the Adidas Telstar football, that of the black and white diamonds, so you could see it better on TV. Every kid had to have Adidas boots and ball after that. It was the year I watched my idol, Bobby Charlton, look like the old man he was becoming under the sweltering Leon sun, and holding back the tears after England were knocked out by West Germany. "There will be no cryin for England in this house" someone muttered loudly enough for me to hear. I ran out into the street looking for consolation, found Timmy McCarthy who was jumping for joy. "The English were beaten" he screamed. "But we support Manchester United" I said, "and Bobby Charlton is one of ours", "So Whaaat" he sneared. I was absolutely lost. And actually this a very good synopsis of 100 years of Irish-English relations.
It was also that summer, for the first time, my father left me stay late up to watch something on TV. I didn't even know the match was being televised but my father woke me at 11:00pm, our grainy black & white box brought up to our bedroom, rabbit ears searching for the signal. My two brothers, my father and I all sat on the bed watching the worlds greatest sporting event. Tea and cream crackers for everyone. It came to light in a roar of fuzz, a hazy mish mash of movement. There was something there alright, yeah a football, is that the crowd? - that's Clodoaldho!!!! And the names, could they be more exotic? I don't think so. Then, clear as day it appeared on the screen, the two South American giants pushing the ball around as if we were all playing five-a-side up in Cassidy's Avenue. Cool as cucumbers. Could it even be real. Brazil vs Uruguay, Semi-Finals, watching football, in bed, at night, Live!!!!! This is the life isn't it?. Even though it wasn't in color I still remember the harshness of the afternoon light on the players, and the sweat. Real man sweat. Summer in Ireland never saw a sun like that day in Guadalajara. Couldn't we do this every summer? Why was it four years apart, no wonder Bobby only played two tournaments, and why was this my first time to glimpse the artistry of Edison Arantes do Naciemento, Pele. But in the end the Gods made it right, its the intervals between the tourny that make the event so much sweeter and special. The expectations for ones country to do well, or even qualify. Having those years to smolder, waiting for the first whistle to blow, to sound a new generation of Football Gods. Nobody remembers every single summer, or every game of every World Series, but everyone remembers their first like it was yesterday. Their first World Cup. The 19th World Cup kicks off in South Africa today. We will all be at Slane pub NYC tomorrow for England vs USA.

Lets hear it for the Boys

With the 19th Fifa World Cup starting tomorrow on the other side of the globe in South Africa, and all the glamor and glitz that goes with it, lets not forget the lads who show up every weekend for some basic, good old fashioned footy. Who dreamed they would be on the big stage one day, with their hero's, but only made to the field down the road. Doesn't matter, their still playing. And let's not forget photographers like Duchman Hans van der Meer who's project European Fields the landscape of lower league football has become my favorite sports monograph. No screaming fans, no wags, no world renowned stadiums. Just guys, a ball and a pitch. And if your lucky, sometimes a ref. And if your really lucky a pitch that doesn't slope.

All in a days work

Back in the saddle again, the old song went. Among the days jobs, were shooting at the dawn in Maspeth Queens, the railway lines still functioning behind me as a mode of transportation for the innumerable factories and plants dotted along the creek just beyond. Then collecting the 17 students from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta GA, along with Professors Simon Sparks and Guggenheim recipient Alan Loehle , we charted the progress of my "Sleeping Giant | 11101 rezoned" project. The students visit was dubbed "And just what does count as art ...?", I hope they weren't looking for any answers from my direction. It was a great day and made me realize once again that even though it can be a struggle some times, its all about keeping the dream alive.

HSNY Photo Benefit.

The 3rd annual Humane Society New York auction is tonight at Diane Von Furstenberg studio on 14th Street and I am happy to say I will be donating the above piece from Sleeping Giant. Now if you show up you will have quite a few choices. There will be my image and then there will be the "portrait session" with....Patrick Demarchelier, yes indeed. The starting price for the session is $50,000.00. My piece comes sintra mounted, with UV plexi and framed by Clint Downing Of Downing Frames in Bklyn. The portrait session DOES NOT come with hair and makeup. Its a tough one, I know!!! You could do both, nobody would think any less of you and sure its for the cause isn't it? I wonder if there's going to be anyone we know at this thing

Which Came First?

This sort of thing happens once in while I guess. As I was checking out some bookmarked websites, I have been been a little remiss, I came across French photographers Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre. I dig their work, totally my bag. As I was perusing their gorge large format images I happened upon their newish work set in Detroit (the new Cuba or Chernobyl seemingly), and found it awkwardly familiar. Shit did I shoot something like that? Last time I was in Detroit I was there for Superbowl and no, large format shooting was not in the cards. Did a friend of mine shoot something, that's hard also, if your the one bringing it up, "hey did you see so and so's piece in so and so", waiting the barrage of profanity down the phone line. No, nobody I could come up with, till I remembered Conscientious doing a piece on one of my faves, Andrew Moore. Yep that was it.So I scrolled through both sites. Wow, what do you say. Looks like a conveyor belt of Motor City photo op ruins. Who gives out the tickets for this.
Skewed differently in there photographic visions, the french duo hanging tough with their Architectural slant and Andrew venturing out to feel the more human element, still it must be hard to see similar images, if not downright exactly the same ones, as you have poured your heart and soul into a project. Cant say I like one series over the other yet but I don't agree with Joreg's "ruin porn" comment, I prefer Merchand & Meffre's
The state of ruin is essentially a temporary situation that happens at
some point, the volatile result of change of era and the fall of empires.
Both are books already out in the case of Andrew's "Detroit Disassembled"and M&M "Ruin's of Detroit"
Deep down I wonder if one or the other doesn't feel like , "like bollix I should have seen that".

Big Thanks Spencertown

Our opening "Changing Landscapes, Cities in Transition" went off without a hitch on Sat evening. Great feedback, lots of good gab and a whole slew of new friends including my co-exhibitors, Karen Halverson and Charles Baum. A special thanks to co-curators Gwenn Mayers and Nancy Van Deren for showing all our work in such great light and extra special thanks to Spencertown Academy director Mary Anne lee, for bringing us all together and keeping the torch burning for the arts in these tough economic times.


From left M.A. Lee, Ber Murphy, Karen Halverson, Charles Baum.

Sleeping | Giant goes North

I was thrilled to get the call from Mary Anne Lee, director of Spencertown Academy for the Arts, in Spencertown N.Y., to be a part of their initial exhibition of the 2010 season. Changing Landscapes is a collaborative show featuring renowned Landscapes photographers Karen Halverson, Charles Baum and myself. The show will contain work from individual series, Karen's China on the move, Charles's Atlantic City and my own Sleeping Giant. The opening reception is on Saturday March 20th. The Academy itself is in bucolic Columbia County, so if your in the mood of a country jaunt why not come north and see us at the the opening.

New Home for Pepsi

In the 70 years that the Pepsi Cola sign has been in existence only Pepsi employee's have been able to view the sign from the Queens side of NYC, them and smallpox victims on Roosevelt Island. The Sign was planted firmly on the roof of its bottling plant and stood 20 ft from the East river. That is until now. The landmarked sign has a new footpath, as part of Gantry State Park, that one can Promanade through and almost get to touch the historical show piece. People riding over the Queensboro bridge have always been able to view the 60 foot high sign but it wasn't till the evolution of the Queens West waterfront and the moving of the sign, (Pepsi moved their plant to College Point) that we are now able to stand in Queens County and view one of New York City's most adored cultural icons. I first saw the sign from the Beekman Tower, a 360 degree cocktail bar across the street from the UN. I marveled at the "Skyline" only to be told I was looking in the wrong direction, east faced Queens, west faced the real Skyline, Jaysus what did I know. To me it was all New York, and that monstrous red illumination meant I was definitely not in Kansas anymore. Over the years that sign, in all its Americana neon glory has stayed with me, as it has for millions of New Yorkers, as much a reference point for coming home, as for its cultural importance. It now has found its new home planted firmly on the East side of the skyline, for all to view.

This feels like a companion piece to the Ray Mortensen post from earlier in the year. New York Times Columnist David Gonzalez's gives us - Revisiting the South Bronx, 35 Millimeters at a Time - images he created 30 years ago on returning to the South Bronx after graduating college.

Benefit for Nicole: A Postcard Show

Postcard show and sale of original postcard-sized pieces of artwork created by both emerging and established artists to benefit Nicole Gagne, a fellow artist seriously injured in a staircase collapse in LIC.

Artwork will be sold at $40 per piece. Artists who donate will get excellent exposure in a show in NYC, and collectors walk away with a great piece of original art. All funds raised will go to help Nicole with her immediate expenses.
Submission Deadline: July 23, 2009

Event Location: Priska Juschka Fine Art, 547 W. 27th St. New York City. http://www.priskajuschkafineart.com

Event Date: Thursday, July 30th, 2009. 5:30P to 9:30P

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