Meet Me in St Louis

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208 High Street, Boonville, Missouri, 2007 © Timothy Briner

We started the day in Kansas City and after a brief encounter with a weirdo at a Radio Shack in Kansas we hit up Brian Ulrich's show at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art in Overland Park, Kansas. What an impressive space and what an impressive showing for Brian. He had twenty-one beautifully massive prints covering several rooms of the museum.

After the show we started out on the long journey east on I-70 towards St Louis. I-70 between Kansas City and St Louis (249 miles) is straight and long and has a billboard every ten feet. You can tell a lot about a state by reading all the signs that line the highway. It would seem the good people of Missouri love John McCain, hate baby-killers, and have a voracious appetite for porn. There were more adult superstores than there were Dairy Queens. Along the way we stopped in Boonville, MO for lunch (hello, Tim!).

Today was a great day for stranded motorists. I shot five encounters which definitely made up for the first two days. Just outside of St Louis I was lucky to photograph Orlando who was broken down on the west bound shoulder of I-70. Orlando had the most impressive gold grill I've ever seen and was a real sweetheart.

Once the sun started to set we headed over to the Arch. I have been to St Louis before but never really paid attention the city's most famous landmark. It really is a beautiful piece of art. When we were in Minneapolis we saw the Eero Saarinen exhibit as the Walker Arts Center and seeing the Saarinen-designed arch in person was the perfect compliment to our journey.

Tomorrow we are off to Chicago (298 miles) where we are hoping to see the Gitelson clan...

I've Been Hijacked

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I just received two copies of the wonderful new photo book, Hijacked Volume One: Australia and America. The book was edited by Mark McPherson & Max Pam and is an excellent survey of emerging photographers in Australia and America. They were kind enough to include eight of my photos over twelve pages in the book. Also included are friends Jon Gitelson, Lisa Kereszi, Bill Sullivan, Shen Wei, Grant Willing and Alana Celii.

Mark McPherson has been quite the hustler and has managed to set up book launches and exhibitions in New York, Berlin and Australia. The video below is from ABC Australia about the exhibit at The Australian Centre for Photography in Sydney.



Pick up a copy today.

MoCP Recap

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Amy, Jon and Brian, three sheets to the wind

I have been a nomad of late and haven't had time to reflect on some recent adventures. Freshest in my mind is last Thursday's opening of Beyond the Backyard at the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago. Karsten Lund did an amazing job of curating a strong group exhibition that was true to the theme and full of individually interesting photographs. Not an easy task. I especially enjoyed seeing the large Crewdson, Bill Owen's work and the beautiful images of Nic Nicosia.

The opening was packed with Chitown photo luminaries including Brian Ulrich, Jon Gitelson, Gerg Stimac, Colleen Plumb, Kelli Connell, Catherine Edelman, Deanna Dikeman, Mike Sinclair, Karsten Lund, Karen Irvine, Natasha Egan and Stumptown's own Shawn Records.

We ended the evening in fine Chicago tradition with many beers, tater tots, fried mac-and-cheese (surprisingly delicious!) and great conversation. I always seem to have the best time when I'm visiting Chicago.

I get to spend the next few days home in NYC, but will be heading to San Francisco this Thursday for the opening of my show at Koch Gallery.

Get Your Arse to Brooklyn, Yo!

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© Andrew Miksys

This Thursday the Nelson Hancock Gallery will be hosting the opening of two shows by two very talented artists, Jon Gitelson and Andrew Miksys.

Jon's work is smart, funny and personal. It is part Larry David and part Martin Parr, but really it is pure Gitelson. I am super excited he decided to come to town for the opening.

Andrew's photography is rich, classically stylized and flat out gorgeous. He was kind enough to share his work with my class at Parsons yesterday and we were all stunned by his beautiful photos.

Jon and Andrew's work couldn't be more different which should make for a great show.

Here are the details:

Jon Gitelson | Artist's Books and Andrew Miksys | BAXT
Nelson Hancock Gallery
May 1 - July 6
111 Front St. #204
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Opening Reception: Thursday, May 1, 6 - 8pm

If two shows in one location is not enough to satisfy your art appetite, New Orleans' own William Greiner has a show opening that very same night on that very same block in the very same building. Be sure to stop by Klompching Gallery for the opening of Fallen Paradise.

See you in Brooklyn!

You're Not Going to Wear That, Are You?

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© Jon Gitelson

The terminally clever Jon Gitelson just sent me a note about his latest work of genius, Items of Clothing Secretly Hidden By My Girlfriend (So That I Wouldn't Wear Them Anymore). As someone who has hidden and even secretly discarded some of my husband's wretchedly tattered pieces of clothing and fashion missteps (army green Nehru jacket with epaulets?) I had to laugh and sympathize with Jon's wife, Robin. It's time for those Wigwams to go.

To All My Friends

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Five Sour Cherries © Neil Plotkin

I am very fortunate to be surrounded by a tight group of very talented friends and family members. They are a constant source of inspiration and each seems to firing on all their creative cylinders right now. Over the past week I have had the privilege of sharing in some of their professional and personal successes.

Saturday we took in an open studio event for my very dear friend Neil Plotkin. Neil is an amazing painter and his newest work includes beautiful landscapes from a month spent in the Loire Valley and a new series called Empty Studio.

Before Neil's open-studio we attended the wedding of my printer, Carl Saytor. The ceremony was conducted with fire by the Reverend Billy and featured a joyous assembly of friends and family. The whole affair was something like the cast of Rocky Horror meeting the cast of Cirque du Soleil at Burning Man. They even had a man in a banana suit stalk the aisle! Definitely the most entertaining wedding ceremony I've ever attended.

This past Friday my cousin, Andy Guthrie, rocked Galapagos to make it the semi-finals of the 2007 Williamsburg Live Songwriter Competition. Andy performed one of his amazing new songs, It Goes On, which you can listen to here.

Last Wednesday the always lovely Jon Gitelson stayed with us while he was visiting New York showing work to some A-list galleries and museums. While he was here, Jon shared plans for his massive new public arts project in Chicago. Very cool.

It's so motivating to see their efforts being validated by others and, more importantly, by their own happiness.

One Man's Garbage Can Project

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© Jonathan Gitelson

The fabulously creative and altogether wonderful human being that is Jonathan Gitelson just launched his latest masterwork, The Garbage Can Project. You have probably seen Jon's previous work like the brilliant The Car Project or his clever posters. The Garbage Can Project was born from his need to explore the mysterious motivations behind the continued theft of garbage cans outside his home. Says the Git:

The project began because of the frequent theft of the garbage carts in front of my apartment building. In December 2005 I began to keep a daily photo diary of the carts and of any unusual material left on or around them. In October 2006, I began filming the garbage carts twenty-four hours a day.

Each morning I view the footage from the previous day, creating digital video clips of any instances of people interacting with the carts. It has turned out to be surprisingly compelling seeing what can happen in a day in the life of a garbage cart.

The site has all of the data that I have collected since December of 2005 and it will be updated every day with new videos and photographs.

I still have no idea why people keep stealing our garbage carts, or what possible uses they have for them. I hope to uncover this mystery as The Garbage Can Project continues.

Keep checking back to his site for updates. And, if you are the one currently stealing Jonathan's garbage cans, keep it up you beautifully trashy muse.

My Kind of Town... Part 2

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A Motive For Change © Carlos and Jason Sanchez 2004

Right off the bat I have to confess that art fairs make me uneasy. It's like a field trip to the sausage factory. I am happier not knowing about this uncomely, but necessary side of the art world engine. Given my art fair apprehension, our trip to Art Chicago was a mixed bag. I appreciate seeing individual pieces by photographers I respect, and it's satisfying to see your work in the mix, but the naked commerce and shotgun context leaves you wanting to head for the exit the moment you walk through the entrance.

I managed to pull it together and tour a few of the aisles at Art Chicago. I was amazed at the number of Burtynsky's, Polidori's, and Hofer's hanging on the temporary walls. Large scale prints of empty places would seem to be the currency of contemporary photography. The highlight for me was seeing work by my favorite photographer siblings, Carlos and Jason Sanchez, at the Cutts Gallery booth. I have been a fan ever since I saw their work in the Ecotopia exhibit at the ICP

After several hours at the art mall of America, the Versionfest exhibition curated by Brian Ulrich and Jon Gitelson was the perfect palate cleanser. Any time you can fill a warehouse with cool people to view some great photography while drinking PBR, you know you are in with the right crowd.

My Kind of Town...

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Just back from three fabulous days in the Windy City. More on the trip later, but quick highlights include the 43rd Annual Versionfest Photographic Invitation, Art Chicago, staying with Matt and Betsy, cheap beers with Alec Soth, hanging with Julian Montague, and Sunday brunch with the crew. The Chicago photography scene is tight, focused, and just plain fun. Again, more detail later, but what a wonderful time. Thanks to Brian Ulrich and Jon Gitelson for making it possible.

Come On Feel the Illinoise!

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I have finally cracked the inner sanctum of the Loyal Order of Chicagraphers. Grand Poobahs, Brian Ulrich and Jon Gitelson, have curated the 43rd Annual Versionfest Photographic Invitational and graciously invited this New Yorker to commune with the Chi-town faithful. I have spent the better part of a month practicing for the initiation ceremony, but I'm still not sure if I need to provide my own goat for the ritual sacrifice...

The line-up for the Versionfest exhibition is a Murderers' Row of photographers. In addition to my Domesticated work, the show will feature works by Bill Sullivan, Jason Lazarus, Zoe Strauss, Shawnee Barton, Todd Deutsch, Michael Northrup, Julian Montague, Mary Farmilant, and Jack Edinger. Definitely not to be missed.

43rd Annual Versionfest Photographic Invitational
Zhou B Center, 2nd Floor
1029 W. 35th Street
April 26 - May 6
Artist Reception: Saturday, April 28, 7 - 9:30 PM

If you'd like to see the Domesticated prints in a more commercial setting, stop by the Paul Kopeiken Gallery booth during Art Chicago.

Art Chicago
The Merchandise Mart
April 27-30

I will be in Chicago this weekend for both events. If you're in town and would like to meet up, drop me a note.

I *Heart* Zoe Strauss

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© Zoe Strauss

I admit it. I have a complete photo crush on Zoe Strauss. I have never met her, so it's hard to nail down why I have become so enamored of late. The source of my shine may be the immense talent that put her in the Whitney Biennial. It may be because she is single-handedly stripping away the crusty mantle of art world pretension that has built up between artists, their subjects, and the public. It may because she has pulled back the curtain and demystified the creative process making her photography completely accessible and her progression refreshingly democratic.

I think these are crush-worthy qualities, but what really has me smitten is that she seems to do it all with an infectious combination of bad ass spunk and a pure, unflinching glee. Zoe's energy is an addictive force, not unlike chocolate covered crack. You can get a sense of it in the trailer for the new documentary about her and her work, If You Break The Skin.

I consider myself pretty fortunate to be in a group show with Zoe this month in Chicago. The show is part of Version Fest and is being curated by the dynamic duo of Chicagraphy, Brian Ulrich and Jon Gitelson. I will post more about the show later.

Zoe, if you go to the opening I promise to keep the fawning to a minimum.

PHotoEspaña 2007

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Just received notice that I was selected as a finalist for the Desubrimientos Award at PHotoEspaña 2007. The review will be held at the Museo Municipal de Arte Contemporáneo in Madrid, June 1 - 3. This is outstanding news for many reasons not the least of which is I was looking for any excuse go back to Madrid and drink copious amounts of Rioja in the shadow of García Lorca.

Also making the cut is good friend and fellow JMU alumn, Susana Raab, and Chicagrapher, Nathan Baker.

© Nathan Baker 2006

(Kids, do you want to get noticed in the dog-eat-dog world of photography? Put Jon Gitelson in your photos!)