The Art of the Steal

This is art related and not necessarily photo related, but it looks to be a great documentary about a fascinating issue / story. Screening for free at LACMA, a panel discussion will follow with LACMA star curator, Stephanie Barron, Christopher Knight from the LAT and the filmmakers. Not one to miss.



Tuesday, March 9 at 7:30 pm
Bing Theater at LACMA 5905 Wilshire Boulevard Los Angeles CA 90036
Free Admission


UPDATE: It looks like this one is going to "sell" out so I'd jump on this quickly. Reserve your tickets by calling the museum box-office 323 857 6010. Limit of 4 tickets per person. Any reserved tickets not picked up 15 minutes prior to show time will be released.

Copy?

Peter Bialobrzeski had this to say on Joerg's post on plagiarism today:

"In the end, whether the term is plagiarism...(I learned [that] the hard way; legally, at least here in Germany, it is next to impossible to use the term, you ll get sued and loose (sic), because a photograph is always a separate event (abgeschlossenes Ereignis)."

I once read an interview with Ryan McGinley where he was asked why he photographs, I think, and his response, quoted loosely and on memory alone went something like, "I photograph because no one else is taking the photos I'm taking."

I really liked that for it's simplicity. It seemed like the perfect artist statement to me (that one could get away with once established) because it hit upon the quaint nature of why I, and I think a great many others photograph - to explore, to create, to be surprised, to improve.

It seemed like a natural sibling of Winogrand's "I photograph to see what things look like photographed."

Double Feature - Hedi Slimane, Part 2 of 2

This is the second of a two part feature. The first part can be found here.

All images copyright Hedi Slimane.

Double Feature - Hedi Slimane, Part 1 of 2

Well, I didn't ask his permission for this feature, as I tend to do, because really, how does one get in contact with Hedi Slimane? However, as an official (at least part time) resident of Beverly Hills, he is one of my favorite local photographers and there's no way I'm not doing a feature. Besides, who doesn't like publicity?

Hedi is one one of my favorite B&W photographers, though he shoots in color also. We sometimes ask what contemporary B&W photography looks like and I say it looks a lot like this.

Beware - you can get caught looking at his photos for hours (I often do) - he's got the fashion diary and a Tumblr-esque regular diary in which he tends to branch out and away from models a bit, which I actually prefer. He is represented by Almine Rech Gallery

I mean, the quality and quantity of this man's output is just incredible - what a talented individual.

This is the first of a two part feature, with the second to follow on Monday.

As always, click on each for a better, larger view. All images copyright Hedi Slimane.

Welcome Stranger - Friday at R&R downtown

Cody Cloud, previously featured here solo and as one half of fashion team, JUCO, will be in a show with Andrew Ti, Leigh Davis, and Nathan Fitch tomorrow at R & R gallery downtown:





Friday, Feb. 19, 7-12pm

Lomo

The fact is, I have a great disdain for blurry, unfocused, grainy, or noisy shots for the most part. My eyes don't see that way and what I want most from photography is to be absorbed into a scene and alternate reality, if only for a heartbeat. These things take away from that experience. Hence, I've never been a big Lomo fan but I recognize others are and they do make some neat novelty products. Hey, whoever's contributing to the medium, right? Even better if they're doing so here.

We got a Lomo store:

On February 18th, 2010, the first Lomography Gallery Store and official Lomography Embassy will open its doors on the West Coast! To mark the event and usher in the new era of Lomography in Los Angeles, we are planning a huge celebration with an ocean of drinks, live Mariachi music, tacos and tamales, and even dancers! And we would like to invite you to join the fiesta! The festivities will begin at 7:00pm, and run until we are out of drinks! Space on the guestlist is limited, so to ensure your spot at the party, send an RSVP to shopla@lomography.com now!

Lomography Gallery Store LA
7998 Santa Monica Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA 90049

Lith Printing Workshop

Translight Photography Center is hosting a Lith Printing workshop next month. I'm a sucker for these processes so thought I tend to post about these. In an age of digital, this could be an excellent way to differentiate oneself:


LITH PRINTING WORKSHOP
Instructor: Francesca di Leo
Dates/Times: MARCH 7th, 14th, 21th, & 28th 2010
Sundays 11am-3:00pm (14hrs total),
Workshop Fee: $225 + $160 lab fee
Enrollment Limit: 10

Lith printing is a process that uses a lithographic two part developer in a very dilute solution to obtain color and texture from a black and white paper. Different papers have different qualities in Lith printing, ranging in color from warm sepias to salmon and even olive tones. Other papers have very little color shift, achieving beautiful textures instead, giving the print a texturally graphic quality.

In this four week workshop, students will explore the world of Lith printing and a whole new way to express themselves artistically. Attendees will learn how to “expose for the highlights and develop for the shadows”, which is the basic principle in Lith printing. All students who attend this class should have a basic knowledge of traditional black in white printing.

A non-refundable deposit of $100 is required in order to reserve a space in the workshop. The balance is due on the first class session.

Please Send Deposit to this address:
Freestyle Photo
Attn: Francesca di Leo
5124 Sunset Blvd
Hollywood, CA 90027

EMAIL: me@francescadileo.com
http://www.translightcolors.com/photoworkshops.html

Annenberg

So now that Annenberg's done what seems like a year of sports photography, is next year going to be focused solely on architectural photography?

What disappointing programming since their inauguration. I'm holding out hope they can turn this thing around after year one...like with the President.

Through Sat - Mark Swope @ Craig Krull

Native Angeleno, Mark Swope's show of photos of the L.A. "River" ends on Saturday at Craig Krull Gallery. They fit in nicely on the heels of New Topographics at LACMA.

LAT Review here says "they present the strongest evidence against the status quo, a powerful, plain-spoken case for the river's revitalization."

Let's hope someone's watching.

Vinegar Valentine

Vinegar Valentines were typically decorated with caricatures and an insulting poem. A quick Google search yielded this gem. Happy Heart Day.

Tonight - This

"This" is a collective of sorts from what I gather that is putting on a group show tonight in Highland Park from 7-10pm. I'll be heading to check this one out, as there are lots of recognizable and respected names on here.

Click on the flyer for info.

Feature plus show - Kwaku Alston

Editorial and lifestyle photographer, Kwaku Alston's series of Sartorialist-esque street portraits of characters in Venice, Horizon Court will be on display Friday near the scene of the crime. Check out the whole set here.










Friday, Feb 12th, 6-9pm
1346 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice Beach

Opening Thurs - Ruven Afanador

Having spent 4 years of my life in Spain, I'm pretty excited for tomorrow night's opening of Ruven Afanador's new series, Mil Besos, at Fahey Klein. The series showcases the women of flamenco and select work from his first book on bullfighting will also be on display.




Thursday, Feb. 11th, 7-9pm
Fahey Klein]
148 N. La Brea

Saturday - For the Love of Haiti

This is happening on Saturday:

The Art Reserve in collaboration with Studio Morke present a night of Art, Music, People and Love to continue awareness for the healing of Haiti.

For the Love of Haiti promises to be a unique and compassionate event complete with a silent auction with complimentary beverages including beer and wine as well as an exclusive musical performance by ORGONE. Renowned artists such as Tony Duran, Clayton Brothers, Patrick Hoelck, Mark Lebowitz, Lisa Solberg, Salomon Huerta, Roni Feldman and others have donated various pieces of art in conjunction with The Art Reserve to produce a rare and never-before seen art collective with 100% of proceeds to benefit Doctors Without Borders.

For information check out www.fortheloveofhaiti.com

RSVP@studiomorke.com

Saturday, Feb. 13, 7-9pm, Rooftop Cocktail After Party 9pm - 2am.
Studio Morke : 1026 S. Santa Fe Ave. #201 Los Angeles, Ca 90021

MOCA's Downfall

Yes!  Someone did a Downfall parody of the MOCA directorship going to Jeffrey Deitch.

"There's always the Hammer..."

Feature - Raoul Gatepin

Though I prefer to feature local photographers, I'm also partial to bodies of work completed in CA by outsiders such as this and this.  In Raoul Gatepin's case, he lived here in LA for two years before he moving to the dark side (Brooklyn) so I thought I'd show some highlights from his pL.A.nes and L.A.merique series. 

And they say nobody walks in LA...

 

 

 

Quote of the Week - Charles Harbutt

"This sense of quickness, of being alive on this earth, of simple orgasmic sense perception, is the point at which great photographs are made. Photographs come from that moment in the process of cognition before the mind has analyzed meaning or the eyes design and at which the experience and the person experiencing are fully, intuitively, existentially there. Such images look like photographs, not paintings: there is a tremendous sense of stopped time, of the blinking shutter, of being alive and still there, of discovery (rather than analysis), of chance, not design, of quick emotion from an uncertain cause. Photography is at its best when it deals with the very act of seeing in itself and not with recollections in tranquility or dilletantism of design."

- Charles Harbutt

Via

Patrick Romero Interview on Mossless

Mossless is a blog that posts short interviews on photographers with accompanying photos. Patrick Romero, previously featured here has one up now.

The Photo Coterie has a similar format to Mossless. Go check them out too.

Opening / Feature - Brooke Shaden

Brooke Shaden has been a contact of mine on Flickr for quite some time now and I was excited to see she had moved to LA.  The opening for her first show here will be Thursday night at Flazh!Alley and coincides with the San Pedro Art Walk.


Brooke Shaden
"Ballet Vacate; A Dancer In Distress"
Flazh!Alley
Thursday Feb. 4th, 7-11 PM (18 and over)

1113 S. Pacific Ave. Ste. B, San Pedro, CA 90731