The Stefan Ruiz Connection

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La Paz, Bolivia © Stefan Ruiz

Jen Bekman's latest 20x200 photographic offering is two brilliant prints by Stefan Ruiz. You would be have to be a fool not to jump on these beautiful and extremely reasonably priced photographs. And, since you are reading my blog, I know you are not a fool.

Seeing Stefan Ruiz's name on 20x200 prompted an it's-a-small-world-after-all moment for me. He is among a handful of artists who have been asked to lead an intensive three day workshop in Mexico City put on by Tóxico Cultura. Tóxico has staged workshops by giants like Stefan Sagmeister, Martin Parr, Christoffer Boe and, this June, Amy Stein. Crazy, eh? I have a lot of questions for Stefan.

But The Good News Is...

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Leopard Lady © Juliana Beasley

Haliburton subsidiary KBR has been up to serious no good and George Bush is practicing some dangerous regulatory black magic during his final days.

But the good news is...

Friend and photographic genius, Juliana Beasley, is offering three limited edition prints for sale from her amazing Last Stop: Rockaway Park series. Truly, when all is said and done, Juliana will be one of the greats from this era, so you should eat up this opportunity with a big wooden spoon. Juliana will have everything set up and ready to go on Monday, but I would start collecting your nickles right now. Contact her directly if you want to get a jump on the action.

Tomorrow night is the annual Print Center benefit auction in Philadelphia. I have a piece in the auction and will be attending the event with a nervous hand on my credit card. The people at the Print Center couldn't be nicer and their dedication to the printed image is unmatched in this country. If you are in Philly and love art, this is definitely how you should be spending your Saturday night.

Jason Polan vs. Jane Mount

Finally, you only have two days left to participate in Thrilla in Manila at Jen Bekman Gallery. If you have ever wanted to go toe-to-toe with Jason Polan and Jane Mount, here is you chance. You can also follow the round-by-round action on the Thrilla blog.

Ornithology Group Show at Jen Bekman Gallery

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Summer is officially here and on the streets of New York you can feel the collective anxiety over the coming stickiness. As Jonathan Richman sang, "if you've been in New York city in July you know when I say sticky I'm right." If you are looking to transport yourself from the muggy muss of the city to something a little more pastoral, I suggest you head over to the Jen Bekman Gallery for the Wednesday opening of the group show, Ornithology.

A diptych from my Domesticated series will be on display as well as bird-themed work by Echo Eggebrecht, Todd Forsgren, Laura Levine, Carrie Marill, Christina Muraczewski, Victoria Neel, Lamar Peterson, Jason Polan, Amy Ross, Alec Soth, Keith Taylor, Bert Teunissen and Luke Stephenson.

Here are the details:

Ornithology | Photographs, Paintings + Mixed Media
Jen Bekman Gallery
June 25 - August 2, 2008
6 Spring Street
New York, NY
Opening Reception: Wednesday June 25, 6-8pm

See you at the opening.

Collecting Photography Panel at the Affordable Art Fair

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This Thursday I will be participating in a panel discussion on collecting photography at the Affordable Art Fair. The moderator will be Michael Foley and joining me on the panel are Miss Jen Bekman and Michelle Dunn Marsh from Aperture.

Here are the details:

In Focus: Collecting Photography
Thursday, June 12, 7pm
The Affordable Art Fair
The Altman Building / The Metropolitan Pavilion
135 W 18th Street

Hope to see you there.

I Love Gifts in the Mail: Colin Blakely and Rachael Dunville

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© Colin Blakely

Last week was a gift-in-the-mail bonanza. Colin Blakely sent me a signed print from his Somewhere in Middle America series. I first saw the image, The Seeming Impenetrability of the Space Between, at the Griffin Museum and promptly gushed about it on my blog. If you are in the Boston area you can still see the photo in person at the 13th Annual Griffin Juried Show. Also, be sure to check out Colin's blog. Probably the most interesting and honest take out there on the struggle to be a successful photographer.

Also in the mailbox was a signed copy of Rachael Dunville's Springtown catalogue. You can pick up your own copy at photo-eye. The Springtown show is still on display at Peer Gallery and just got a lovely write-up in the New Yorker. Not too shabby.

Big thanks to Colin and Rachael for the fabulous gifts!

© Carrie Marill

In addition to these wonderful gifts, I have also received my first two pieces from 20x200. Arriving were gorgeous prints by Amy Ross and Carrie Marill, respectively. Both prints are still available. For only $20! What are you people waiting for? Beyond the solid curating, Jen Bekman has done a wonderful job with all the identity work around 20x200. When your prints arrive it really is an impressive production.

Viernes Gigante!

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This Friday will henceforth be referred to as Viernes Gigante! Big Friday! A big opening in SoHo and a big closing in Chelsea and me without my roller skates to zip between the two.

First up, the opening for a great show with some top notch photographers curated by two fabulous people.

© Shen Wei

A New American Portrait
Curated by jen bekman + Jörg Colberg
Opening: Friday, June 22, 6 p.m.-8 p.m.
jen bekman gallery
Featuring photographs by Christine Collins, Jen Davis, Benjamin Donaldson, Amy Elkins, Peter Haakon Thompson, Todd Hido, Alec Soth, Brian Ulrich, and Shen Wei

© Zoe Strauss

From there it's across town to Chelsea and Silverstein to celebrate the closing of If You Reading This with Philadelphia's third greatest export ever, Zoe Strauss. (Number one is the US Constitution and number two is Dr. J, naturally.)

Zoe Strauss: If You Reading This Closing Party
Silverstein Photography
Friday, June 22, 8:30 p.m.

Should be a great evening with great friends.

Cheap Thrills with Lisa Kereszi

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DJ Booth, South Beach © Lisa Kereszi 2002

My best advice to those just starting out in the photography world is to reach out to photographers who are where you want to be and bug them for advice. A couple of years ago I did this with Lisa Kereszi and she was more than generous with her time and input. She challenged my work and pushed me to advance my vision and focus my career path. Lisa's wisdom and experience has a had a profound impact on my development as a photographer.

I mention this because last tonight I attended the opening of Lisa's new solo show, Cheap Thrills, at Yancey Richardson. The joint was packed and the prints looked amazing. Lisa has a gift for finding and elevating amazing little secrets hiding out under our nose. She is also the nicest and most sincere person you will meet and I consider myself fortunate to call her a good friend.

I should also mention Lisa Kereszi's fabulous husband, Ben Donaldson, who is a very talented photographer in his own right. A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to assist for Ben at the ICP. His current show, Summerland, at jen bekman gallery is not to be missed. Talk about your power couple.

The show at Yancey Richardson proved doubleplusgood because another friend, Sarah Schorr, was showing work in the project gallery and that brought out the SVA crew en mass. It was wonderful to see everyone and see Sarah's work.

5 Things Meme Tag...I'm It

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Brian "Pegboy" Ulrich has called me out with a '5 things meme' blog chain letter challenge. Well, world, this is the unknown me:

Queen of Leisure: I was the youngest ever resident of the assisted living paradise that is Leisure World. They enforce a strict over-55 age policy, but I managed to skirt the law for a few months to take care of my father. While there I made extra cash working ham salad duty at Honey Baked Hams.

Hot Dog: I am card carrying member of the International Federation of Competitive Eating (IFOCE) and had dreams of being the first woman to battle the mighty Kobayashi for the Coney Island hot dog crown. My gurgitator dreams were dashed with the sudden rise of the Black Widow, Sonya Thomas, and my own fears about the potential rise in my cholesterol level.

Camp Nerd: For three straight summers during the 80s I attended Champlain College Computer Camp. You can't get much more nerdy than a summer of canoeing, smores, and FORTRAN.

Just Say Whoa, Man: Selected as my high school's representative for a "Just Say No" conference at the White House with Nancy Reagan. Attended the event and met with Nancy and Ronnie while nursing a vicious hangover.

That's My Cookie: My husband is a Girl Scout! Seriously.

I'll tag: Shen Wei, Jen Bekman, Shane Lavalette, Lisa Hunter, and Amy Elkins