Forgive me Cyber Readers, for it has been too long since my last blog entry…
August 20th seems a long time ago, and I suppose in the minds of the Facebook addicted eejits, it is, but really it isn’t even the imagining of a drop in the bucket of time. Let’s not even talk geological passages, here. Face it folks…A lot has happened and not much time has passed.
The 14th Colony is swinging along. I was well received in the first group show and both my digital pieces looked lovely on the wall. I didn’t sell anything, but exposure is what I need these days. I have some misgivings concerning the co-op concept, however. Granted, I feel that that if a person wants to hang their work, a space should be available. This is regardless to style or skill. If they need the outlet, it should be provided somehow. But…should “naive” art be hung next to more skilled and professional work, thus diminishing one or both of the pieces? In a democratic/anarchic co-op system, shouldn’t there be criteria when exhibition is involved? I don’t know.
Right now The Photo Show is up. This was a show conceived by the “leader” of the co-op and myself. Originally it was going to be a documentary piece, but that was ruled to be too exclusive so opened up the event and I dropped any leadership role I had assumed. Suddenly there were 30 photographers signed up. I didn’t know the group had 30 photographers. In the end about 20 delivered work to hang and it looks really lovely. It is a very diverse group show illustrating the many talents of those of us looking through a viewfinder. Some I like better than others, but that’s to be expected. I brought 6 medium format silver prints to the show and they all went up, which was a great relief since I had shot, processed, matted and framed all 6 for this show specifically. I didn’t want to break up the flow based on available wall space. They are also priced to sell…
The concept of criteria brings me to my next idea. Using the 14th Colony as an umbrella, I am going to start a small rebellion. I am going to found what I will call “The Monochrome Collective.” This will be a small group of photographers (digital and film) who work only in black and white. Heavy Photo-shopping will not be allowed. We will deal with fundamentals of b/w work, namely the Zone System. This criterion will weed out many people and, hopefully, allow for a professional edge to emerge. I wish to keep the Collective small, allowing for more intimate meetings, shows, etc…Like the 14 Colony, it will be a place to exchange ideas, network and support each other’s art.
That being said, let’s clear something up about labels. ‘Silver print’ is the same thing as ‘silver gelatin print’. Exactly the same thing. The idea was coined by museum currators who felt that ‘silver gelatin print’ sounded more important than ‘black and white’ or just plain ‘silver’. This is in the same vein as those who try to make a real difference between ‘giclee’ and ‘inkjet’. They are the same thing, except that ‘giclee’ is used to make a statement regarding paper and inks, which are better, yes, but no different than commercial inks, i.e. more expensive. Check the web, folks. The illusion has been shattered.
I’m off to the showers and then getting ready for the opening of the show this afternoon at 3PM.
JDCM
