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My favorite Banksy from last years LA visit. Got to the site the day it went up. The black paint had a glitter sort of finish to it. LOVE IT!
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Depth of Focus and Out in the World - Readings
Both the articles Depth of Focus and Out in the World help articulate the progression of photography and still life. The most critical component of the articles is the correlation between the photographer and the image the photographer is shooting. I have gravitated to this particular component in both articles because I am currently in the process of realizing my complex relationship between what I choose to photograph and how I choose to orchestrate the photograph within the frame. I wonder where the threshold lies between producing a well constructed photograph in the traditional sense and producing an intriguing photo that does not necessarily abide by traditional “rules”.
For me, the crux of both articles is the realization that the defining lines in mediums have been blurred – specifically in photography. Technology, progressive thinking, and experimentation have allowed photography to evolve into a sort of ambiguous form of art. The photographer is no longer restricted to documentation and depiction, instead a photographer has the freedom to openly alter reality and reveal his/her role in the production of the photograph.
I have to say that I do not think that this phenomenon of altering reality and mixing media is restricted to photography. Natalia Fabia is an incredible painter that mimics photographic style within her paintings. Her hyper-realistic paintings blend both a photographic element with traditional painting, making it difficult to decipher what medium she is using. Overall, I think the art world is being redefined with technology and medium exploration.
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It Happened at Pomona- Part 3: At Pomona
I had the opportunity to visit the Pomona College Museum this weekend. There were several artists that appealed to me, and I left feeling very inspired. Lewis Baltz and Judy Fiskin’s structural photographs were amazing. It is one thing to see books of Baltz’s work, but to see it in person is a completely different experience. The composition of the photos, the grid, and frames all shared the qualities of a rhythmic rigidity. Judy Fiskin’s photos were so small that the viewer was forced to really look at them in detail. It was nearly impossible to browse becaue of the size. I found myself nearly 2 inches from the frames in an effort to really examine the details. My favorite photo of hers was the home with the very odd double tree. I found myself admiring the black edges on around the photo paper. Overall, I was completely captivated by both artists.
I also quickly became enamored with Hap Tivey’s light installation. I remember sewing a lampshade years ago that had a very similar shape so I had a very personal connection to the work. This semester I have been drawn to light and light manipulation, therefore I think my affinity for Tivey’s work evoked a lot of emotion because I identified with his fascination with light sources. There was a meditative quality to his work.
Mowry Baden’s work also appealed to me on a very personal level. I happen to love interactive art and his pieces were particularly interesting because I have extensive experience working with children with Autism. Baden’s work targeted multiple sensory sytems, and I could not help but equate one interactive piece with a dysfuncitonal vestibular system (something that afflicts so many children in the Autism community.) I am referring to the piece that pulls down to head level as you walk through it. It was very disorienting and familiar at the same time. I felt as though I was walking down a hall, but it was incredibly difficult to maintain my balance.
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Jan Svankmajer…I love his movie, Alice.
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Okay, so this isn’t one of my “finest” moments. When Banksy hit LA, my friend and I scouted out all the locations to see the art in person. This meant loading up three kids in the car, packing snacks, bathroom breaks, etc. We were just about to leave LA when someone told us that this particular piece in the video had been uncovered (the building owner covered it up because he considered it graffiti.) Well, I proceeded to take video of what I thought was the building maintenance crew cutting out “Charlie” for the owner’s profit. NOPE….they were thieves :( Yes, I filmed them, watched them, and I think at one point made the comment, “Well, good for the owner…at least he can profit from his fire loss.”
They ended up posting the piece on ebay and auctioned it off for approximately $8,000!
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Anahata Katkin - mixed media artist
