Julian Wolkenstein: Symmeytrical Portrait

Sometimes what's right in front of you is what's most interesting.  I have to admit, I looked at these for a quite a while, comparing the sides of each face, tatoo, necklace, hair and raised eyebrow.  The fact that their faces are symmetrical creates some kind of time continuum, and makes me appreciate the unique quirks that each of our faces have.. scars, moles, smile lines, wrinkles.. whatever sets you apart. Check out Julian's other works: http://www.julianwolkenstein.com/index.php?/project/symmeytrical-portraits/

Best Potraits from TIME 2010

This photograph caught my attention the most.. the most literal example of Aziz and Cucher's 'Dystopia' series. This photograph was taken by Jodi Bieber  and is featured in the Best Portraits from TIME 2010. Look through these portraits and pay attention to all of the different lighting techniques, I am relishing in the beautiful shadows and rich colors that develop within the frames.

Simplify,

don't make things more complicated than they have to be.

I wish I could go to the MOMA... there's a Jeff Wall exhibit that would be amazing to see! 

I was going to say to always read the essays and interviews, but are there times when maybe you shouldn't?  Does putting too many words to an image or process overcomplicate it? 

Instinctively, I vote no.. simply because I feel like I can make the words and the photographs two separate entities.. but I want to hear your thoughts.

fun facts/business

I was doing some blog maintenance and I looked at Photo Phantastic's stats and I thought it would be cool to share :)

Pageviews today: 14
Pageviews yesterday: 23
Pageviews last month: 631
Pageviews all time history: 2,185

Now for the business part..

Blogger is updating some of their features, and the old post editor is going to be phased out. I thought I would introduce the new features so you are aware of these changes.

There are two tabs when you go to type up a post, 'edit html' and 'compose'. You want to click on compose to see most of what you are used to. 'Edit html' will let you see the codes that are generated when you add links, photos and the like.

If you are confused e-mail me, otherwise here's the link to read a little on what to expect while posting.
http://www.google.com/support/blogger/bin/answer.py?answer=156829

A rainy Saturday morning..

I have really enjoyed reading everyone's posts lately and have felt like I am short-changing you. Right now I don't have much to share, but I will be commenting. I feel stuck, uninspired and tired. I have been reading and writing more than shooting. Everything I've shot feels elementary and not challenging enough. What do you do when you feel this kind of mental block?

ARTGASM

On one of my favorite websites,toxel.com, I found a Casebere-esque photographer, and while I thought of Casebere right away, Alvaro Sanchez-Montanes really makes these photos his own. I am in awe of the shadows and textures that are in these photographs. The way that the sand takes shape and creates either positive or negative space intrigues me. I haven't felt this way since I talked to all of you about how Irving Penn's food photography wowed me. hahaha.

Here's a peek.. (definitely look at his website though.. and click the image to get into the site) I couldn't get them from his site because he has a slideshow, but I got these off toxel.com.






Haha Mary.. AVS to me is like Crewdson for you :) I am amazed.

Banksy.. some say he's an 'art terrorist' thoughts?

I was suprised SO many people don't know who Banksy is.. I thought he was pretty mainstream in art culture. However I just saw his documentary this past weekend called Exit Through the Giftshop, which I really enjoyed. Has anyone else seen it?

If you have answer this question... do you think that MBW was created by Banksy, Fairey, and all of those who agreed for him to film them? Someone asked me the same question. I am probably botching it, but do you feel like Banksy encouraged him to create art instead of film as a joke on those who would buy it? I guess I don't want to give it away if people haven't seen it, but e-mail me because I would love to converse with you! (monica.vonrueden@gmail.com)

Anywho... besides the documentary I am really fascinated about his art and the way that I feel he sets himself apart from other graffiti artists. How can you set your work apart from others that are doing similar projects? I have thought about that ever since I walked out of the movie theatre.

Suzanne Mejean

Remember when we used to post? Haha.. just kiddin, but really I would love to see new discoveries and thoughts and new work :)

Suzanne Mejean is a person that I have come across recently where I have a serious and contemplative emotional connection with. She filmed a documentary entitled "Still Here", which depicts families of soldiers who's fathers and husbands are deployed. I really feel like she captures some of the emotions which you wouldn't see, or even know. I do think of the soldiers that are deployed often, and we always pray for them at the dinner table, but we need to include thier families as well, because there have to be A LOT of families that cope with this every day.

Here's a part of her film statement:

The life-sized portraits become flattened bodies turning fathers from images into objects of affection. The image-memory is held in place but when everyday life comes to a standstill how does one picture the tensions and fears that surface when talking about death, loss or desperate times?

You can also read her essay on the photographic work she did if you are interested, otherwise take some time to browse her website and look at the film stills and photographs.




For some reason the first one makes me all teary eyed. To think that some children don't get that connection with their fathers or mothers for a few years is hard to think about. Just thinking of that little boy who might be 2? He might not have a huge picture of who is father is if he has been gone. The middle picture when the subject is the cutout really strikes me because it represents him, and he is the subject of the picture. I couldn't look at that image and think cardboard.. even though that is what it is. I really repsect those who decide to serve in the military when it comes to families. Not to say I single them out, I am thankful for everyone who makes this life decision. It would be such a different feeling if I couldn't see my dad for a year and only get phone calls, letters and e-mails. Thankfully with today's technology communicating has gotten easier. I am really glad that she explored this though, because I know I am not the only one who is curious.

LOOK!

The MOMA has some super fiiiiine Online Exhibitions and Projects right now, (including Cindy Sherman's complete collection of her untitled film stills!!!) check it out!

Marilyn Minter

My cousin brought Marilyn Minter to my attention, and right away I was interested in her Green Pink Caviar collection. They have a commercial quality to them that interested me, but they were different...they are gritty, dirty but also rich with color.





All three of these represent different areas she focused on, and I believe that this project was one that came from another process which goes to show how important it is to explore anything and everything that you become aware of. I would love to see these peices in person. Here's a little peek into Minter's process..

In Green Pink Caviar Marilyn Minter continues her interest in blurring the boundaries between fine and commercial art. Co-opting advertising genres and related spaces, she takes on a new platform to direct her first video. The eight minute high definition video, Green Pink Caviar (2009) is a lush and sensual voyeuristic hallucination. Filmed with macro lenses, the video was inspired by a photo shoot where Minter directed her models to lick brightly colored candies while she shot photos from underneath a glass plate. The models' tongues mixed the colorful sugar with saliva, slurping and pushing color across the glass surface to simulate painting. Driven by her fascination with the body, Green Pink Caviar sets the stage for chance to happen.

Please look at her site, Minter can really keep me engaged with her use of color, but I can't decide if it's just different elements of the photos that get me. I don't feel as if I haven't seen anything like this before, but after reading her process I feel more intrigued by what she was trying to capture. I know we have talked about this all the time that our art should stand on it's own without explanation, but sometimes it really does make a difference in the way that I look at work. Like Dan's car hood that he spray painted and entered in the student juried show, knowing the story behind it made it that much more powerful.

new/more

Xavier Nuez

I discovered Xavier Nuez when I was at Art on the Lake by the MAM a few summers ago which was cool because I actually got to talk to him, but I thought that Ben would appreciate his use of light and color in his "Alley" series.

Recently he has posted another series called "Glam Bugs" Which I really enjoy. What else do you do with flies other than this(which is not Nuez's work):



But seriously... I think there's a real beauty to something so small. No one can really find that in dead bugs which most people are disgusted by.




I really think that it's cool that Nuez can make these everyday annoyances a piece of art. It definitely makes me think that I have to be more aware of my surroundings. That way I won't miss these kinds of opportunities.

Good ol' Goethe

If I accept you as you are, I will make you worse. However, if I treat you as though you are what you are capable of becoming, I help you become that. - Goethe, German author

All of us need to remind each other of this and push towards our goal! Let's kick some a&$!!

http://www.featureshoot.com/

http://www.featureshoot.com/

check out Oliver Schwarzwald

All of you should really check out the link Shane posted I have found so many stimulating artists (like Oliver and Evi)!!!

Rafal Milach

I'd like to thank Gina about bringing Rafal Milach to my attention, as well as applaud her for what she is doing because taxidermy is something that creeps me out! I kind of forgot about it because often times, the things that scare you, you avoid. I don't even think I would have the guts to photograph "stuffed animals" (maybe the cushy neon ones). Being that close to a dead animal send shivers up my spine, anything dead really. I only watched the small slideshow of his work because otherwise it would be too in my face. I really wanted to say kudos to Gina with how constant her motivation has been in seeking out spaces that she's uncomfortable with, it seems as though you have tackled a lot which is a really cool feeling, I hope it has been rewarding for you :)

Evi Lemberger

Thanks to Shane's last post about "The Photography Post" I fell in love with Evi Lemberger. As I looked at her photographs they reminded me of Laura Letinsky (I know I talk about her a lot) but this one in particular..



The meat that's hanging makes me squirm, but I am amazed by all of the color that this space is composed of. In previous posts we had talked about the difference between art and documenting spaces. Lemberger does photograph many spaces and I don't know if they are as interesting to others, but I am so excited by these images with the colors, movement, composition and emotive qualities that I get by looking at each image closely.




The way that these images captivate me strengthens my opinion in what I believe art is. I don't think I could argue with anyone what is and is not art... even Richard Prince.

Andreas Kohler

Who doesn't like lounging in their underwear? I found such comfort in most of these at first glance, and I am not sure if I need to read into it much more, I enjoy the fact that I can appreciate them as someone's private moments before putting on the clothes they decide to wear for the day. I feel like a lot of people are curious as to what people do in their personal lives, and a series such as this pleases that nosy side to all of us.



On Andreas Kohler's has another photo that emulates the same feeling. Everyone who owns a mac has had at one point a "photobooth fetish". The way that people take photos of themselves and others with webcams is an interesting way of critiquing the way in which they would like to be seen, in my opinion. These portraits can really be an interesting way of getting to know someone.

One EyeLand

One Eyeland

Site to check out in addition to the conscientious blog.

Newer and a few randoms

Here is my twisted interest haha... people who don't pick up their dog's "business" drive me a little crazy, mostly because I have stepped in it before (gross right?) I am not sure how close I should get? Is the closer of the two too close?