The Evolution of an Idea

I normally post portrait related idea's and themes on this blog but my new fine art series that I'm in the infant stages of loosely ties in with portraiture. You can read more at my fine art website blog.

Jessica Rabbit oh how I love thee...

Anyone who has been to my studio or home knows that I collect figures. Horror figures, TV characters, movie characters, Bobble Heads.... Well, I haven't added to my collection in a while but last year when I photographed a model she saw the Jessica Rabbit doll displayed in my studio. Fast forward to this February, I emailed Ari to ask how she's been and that if she would like to do another photo shoot, to let me know. She surprised me with her tale of being inspired to make her own Jessica Rabbit costume after seeing the doll at my studio. Would you like to photograph me as Jessica Rabbit she inquired? Absolutely was my quick response. So last Friday she arrived at the studio mid-morning and by noon she was transformed into Jessica Rabbit.

The Portrait Society Gallery in Milwaukee sent out a request to send portraits of "Famous" people to be a small part of a larger exhibit that opens on March 19. These smaller portraits will be in the lounge/annex of the gallery. I have portraits of more famous people I've photographed including Joyce Carol Oates, Jane Hamilton and Mandy Patinkin but I really hoped that I could get the "Famous" Jessica Rabbit into the exhibit. I emailed gallery owner Debra Brehmer with my info and picture of Jessica and to my wonderful surprise she decided to include Jessica in the exhibit. Debra said, "Thank you for sending the image. My first thought was a woman dressed up as a fictitious cartoon character is probably not "Famous" enough for this show. But the image is so fetching that yes, I would like to include it." Thanks Debra!

Book Passages Exhibit opening reception

Here is a ten minute video highlighting some of the readings from the opening reception of Book Passages: A Visual Journey. Thanks again to all those who attended and made this the largest opening reception to date for the Tenth Street Gallery.

Porcelain Skin

Book Passages Series #03: Please leave feedback, any and all is appreciated. Please vote on your favorite of the three images, the poll is found in the top right corner of the blog.

Excerpt from Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being

Toilets in modern water closets rise up from the floor like white water lilies. The architect does all he can to make the body forget how paltry it is, and to make man ignore what happens to his intestinal wastes after the water from the tank flushes them down the drain. Even though the sewer pipelines reach far into our houses with their tentacles, they are carefully hidden from view, and we are happily ignorant of the invisible Venice of shit underlying our bathrooms, bedrooms, dance halls, and parliaments. submitted by Frieda Babbley

If you are new to this blog and are interested in the origins of this Book Passages series please visit my first post "What have you read lately?"

If you are interested in contributing to this visual journey please submit a book passage with title and author in the comment section or email me. Thanks!

COPA Juror Reception and Gallery Talk

COPA is proud to announce the Juror Reception and Gallery Talk with George Slade, Friday, October 10, 6-8pm at the Walker’s Point Center for the Arts. The event is free and open to the public. George Slade, former Artistic Director of the Minnesota Center for Photography, juried this year’s exhibition; selecting 60 photographs from 42 artists. Slade also served as Program Director for the Minnesota Center for Photography/McKnight Foundation Artists Fellowships for Photographers, and is an adjunct assistant curator in the Department of Photography at The Minneapolis Institute of the Arts. Slade’s expert eye in selecting work has been honed over the years. He has been a panelist and portfolio reviewer for the Ohio Arts Council, Minnesota State Arts Board, Minnesota State Fair, Fotofest’s Meeting Place, and Society for Photographic Education, Critical Mass and Photolucida. Slade is also a prolific writer, having contributed reviews and essays to the Encyclopedia of Twentieth Century Photography, Exposure, Photo-eye Booklist, Minnesota History, and other publications. Slade lives in St. Paul with his two daughters.

The reception for Slade will begin at 6pm on Friday, October 10, with his Gallery Talk following at 7pm. Walker’s Point Center for the Arts is located at 911 W. National Ave., Milwaukee, WI. 53204, phone 414-672-2787.

If you haven't seen the exhibit yet Friday is a great night to view the exhibit and listen to Slade's talk, discussing selected images and the process of selection that led him to the 60 chosen images.

From Fame To Tame

There is a great article in the current issue of Newsweek magazine that talks about an artists ability to be bold and radical with their art until the world begins to notice their work. Then, the artist tends to move into something more mainstream. I've struggled with this as I slowly try to move into a more serious role in the fine art arena. Read the article, it is fascinating.

As an artist, my work and work of other artists I respect, especially musicians, ebbs and flows in content, context, an emotion depending on many factors of your current and past life experiences. I am not real familiar with this artist so I can't make a judgment on her body of work. The author of this article, Peter Plagens, seems to think that Opie has moved from Fame to Tame or Radical to Mainstream as her career has progressed. I guess, in the end, only the artist and their closest friends and family may know that answer but is does raise a question that as artists, we must be concerned about.

The images above are by artist Catherine Opie.

INFLUENCE/MENTOR you've never met?

This was an interesting topic that was the center of our conversation at our last dinner gathering. Unfortunately for me I wasn't able to attend. I can imagine from the dynamic group of individuals, a very insightful evening of discussion took place last Sunday. I will have to get the Reader's Digest version the next time we get together.

The topic for the evening was, to come prepared to discuss, who was an major influence or mentor in your life that you have never met. For me as an visual artist, that influence would have to be the band Alice Cooper. Music in general has influenced my visual imagery more than any other type of art or artist but none more that Alice Cooper. From early song's such as "Caught in a Dream", "Billion Dollar Babies", "I Love the Dead", and Muscle of Love to mid career songs such as "From the Inside", "Nurse Rozetta", and "Millie and Billie"; the band always challenged the status quo both lyrically and musically. The fancy die-cut flaps on numerous album cover jackets pushed the envelope on design and photography.

Today, my fine art photography reflects a lot of those musical and lyrical influences of the late 60's and the 1970's. Music continues to be both a great motivator and stimulus for creativity for my fine art images. If you would like to see some of my earlier work then check out the Doll Narrative Series gallery at my website.

This briefly describes one of my main influences as an artist. I'd love to hear who has been an influence/mentor in your life?

West Allis Arts A'Fair

Saturday, September 13 from 10am to 3pm; the West Allis City Hall building and grounds will host a variety of artists from the West Allis community and beyond. Work will be for sale by artists.

The 5th annual West Allis Art A'Fair will represent 21 artists showing photography, painting, jewelry, woodworking, and other fine arts. Poetry and music will also fill the grounds with artistic sounds and expression. Food and drink are available for sale.

This event is free and open to the public.

I will be showing all new work. Gone are the landscapes and back are some of the “different” type of photography I’ve done in the past. If you are looking for something to do on Saturday the 13th, stop by.

CoPA 2nd Annual Juried Show Selection

I was fortunate to have one of my images selected for the Coalition of Photographic Arts 2nd Annual Juried Exhibition. This years event Juror was George Slade.

George Slade, Artistic Director of the Minnesota Center for Photography, juried this year’s exhibition; selecting 60 photographs from 42 artists. Slade said, “These 42 artists have brought unique visions to bear on a wonderfully intriguing assortment of subject matter. Many of the photographs pose questions about representation, and many provide insights that are accessible to those willing to look closely. There are excellent single images in the show and provocative groupings that highlight photography’s inherent multiplicity and the complexity of visual story-telling. In successful cases, I was intrigued by how an application expanded my awareness of the world and enhanced my appreciation of the medium’s grasp. I look forward to experiencing the exhibition in the galleries. ”

The Exhibition opens on Friday, September 12 with an opening reception from 5-9pm at the Walker's Point Center for the Arts (WPCA).

Nearly 700 images from 150 artists were entered in this years Juried Show competition. All the information about the photographers was removed prior to Slade's jury process selection. The selection was based completely on Slade's artistic judgment. The 42 artists accepted for this years show come from Illinois (18), Minnesota (12), and Wisconsin (12).

The Exhibition runs from Friday, September 12 through Saturday October 18. There will be a Juror Reception and Gallery Talk with George Slade on Friday, October 10 from 6-8pm. The show closes with a closing reception on Friday, October 17 from 5-9pm. This is also Gallery Night in Milwaukee so there will be plenty to see around town.