Melo-Chromatic, Holly Andres
Holly Andres, highlighted by the Robert Mann Gallery of NYC, is an up and coming Portland based photographer whose hyper-stylized images work to convey a narrative while stimulating a viewers pleasure sensors associated with rich, vibrant tonality. Andres style is very similar to that of Crewdson, while hers tends to lean toward the brighter, and distinctively more feminine side of life, as do her narratives. Andres last few works have concerned themselves with adolescence loss of innocence, and seemingly without any male adult cameos. In her seductive Sparrow Lane series, Andres reveals the curious activities of three young girls in manicured environments. The thre...Read more
filed under: photography
tags: Holly Andres Sparrow Lane The Fall of Spring Hill Loss of Innocence
Vector-Voyeur, Andrew Bush
It’s been a long time since I’ve added a new member to my favorite photographer’s list, but Andrew Bush has succeeded in making his way, not only on the list, but in my top ten, with his Vector Portraits. I hope that I have translated my enthusiasm well. The series contains a simple objective, to photograph motorists travelling at 50 to 70 mph. The images were taken in the years between 1989 to 1997, in the Southwestern parts of the U.S. and the L.A. area, a most fresh recipe for some fly images.While observing each image, I think of perhaps a psychology, or sociology behind the wheel. What do these cars say about their drivers. My initial hypothosis is that this must be ...Read more
filed under: photography
tags: Andrew Bush Vector Portraits M + B Gallery Car Psychology Fruedian
Complex Visions of Matthew Brandt
Matthew Brandt, an L.A. based photographer, works in an interesting process. Using a combination of both the image and the physical relationship that that image, as an object, has within our realm of physicality; the photograph as document, catalogues an existence, where as an object (or the object documented) is subject to time and decay. uh, so, for example...In his work, Taste Tests, Brandt uses the iconic image of Half Dome in Yosemite, and silk screens it using condiments such as Cheez Whiz, and Mint Jelly. In Brandt’s series Lakes and Reserviors, he photographs the landscape of various bodies of water, and then submerges the images in a wash of that water until the chemic...Read more
December with Denmark's Nicolai Howalt
In the spirit of winter, I bring you Nicolai Howalt who, in collaboration with David Stjernholm, brings us, Rusland, or Russia in English. This series, exhibited in 2010, is a photographic documentation of the 260 hectares (which is just over 642 acres) of protected moorland in Denmark. It struck me, at first glance, a snow or frost covered forest void of any signs of life. The forest is actually a unique growth. The frost like dusting is actually sand, which was placed there after the “drifting sands” settled in the 1700’s. The habitat found a way to grow among the harsh debris of the historic sand storm of Holocene period. The overgrown forest appears in a timid grays...Read more
Up an Coming: Erin Graboski
Erin Graboski is a Colorado photographer based out of Denver Co. Erin is new to the art scene here in Denver just recently making her work available to the public. She recently launched her website under the name Cosmic Autum. Erin has a interesting style and approach to photography. Like most great artist she does not follow the main path that many people see as traditional photography. Here subjects may be everyday things, the way she manipulates her images in post processing is brilliant. Many of her images have a nostalgic feeling with a combination of vintage film and lomographic feel. The coloring and tone of the images scream dark yet leave you with a tranquil sensibility. ...Read more
For the Love of Photography, Discovering Vivian Maier
Vivian Maier was a privately independent woman who was recently uncovered as a inextricably prolific photographer. She worked at shaping her craft in New York in the 1950's before moving to Chicago where she would spend the rest of her life. She was notably un-materialistic and earned money as a nanny. Late in her life, three of the children she had nannied split her bills, and in 2007, Maier's storage locker would be auctioned and her life's work which she has hoarded away would soon be discovered. Films, Audio, and documentation of a unique urban Americana of the 1950's through the 1990's were found along with over 100,000 negatives. Her work is now being exhibited. What a gift! Alt...Read more
A Rediscovered Chapter, Peter Sekear's Perspective
As the stereotype starving painter goes, it is always after he/she dies that their work is discovered and bittersweet appreciation and success is achieved. This stereotype was achieved by photographer Peter Sekear; Danish American working with Walker Evans during the depression, roaming the states, documenting the culture in decline. Adversely, Sekear died of a heart attack in the 1950’s, instead of starvation, leaving a messy sorting process for his family behind. It has only been recently that the authorities of his work that be, have released his massive work and Sekear is due receiving the recognition of a master of photographer, and a pivotal documenter of American histo...Read more
Art education: Nathan Erfurth’s new twist.
In an effort for a more informed generation, Nathan Erfurth is at the forefront of taking photographs that are in a sense historical fiction, and blending them with education materials in order to create a more rich learning environment for students. When I had first come upon Nathan’s photographs on display at Margie’s Java Joint on 16th street in Greeley, I was taken back to what appeared to be a black and white slideshow of the lives of others, and events that had come to pass. I couldn’t help but feel the images as mildly suggestive of old pulp comics and noir films-- they are an effort, however, to blend what new generations are culturally inclined to notice with his...Read more
Maintaining Inertia with Florian Maier-Aichen
Florian Maier-Aichen is a photographer of German heritage who has developed a work, which combines and encompasses all forms of photography; traditional, alternative and digital. I was first interested in researching more about Florian when I learned that his images are individuals, they do not, or were not intended to, rather, work in a series together. Each image is of separate conceptions, approaches and media, in order to mix the right combinations of techniques, which will achieve Florian’s absolute objectives. I find that I am continually fascinated with artists who have imagery worked out precisely before they begin the work itself. Getting on with it though… Florian...Read more
Light House, Dark Box, Meg Dreyer
Sometimes one gets so caught up in ones life, one never really has a moment to stop and reflect on the whole picture. Life can move very quickly past present moments that pass into our memories Sometimes simplicity is overlooked and forgotten and it is often that the the simplest things are the most challenging to recognize as the most exquisitely and masterfully made; such as a classic chocolate chip cookie, or pin hole photography. And so I bring you a series by artist Meg Dreyer of pinhole photographs entitled Light House, Dark Box. The images are solid and pure exhibits of image making. There is a limitless amount of metaphoric ambiguities that each image could lend itself to. One ca...Read more