Last minute addition to tonights proceedings

On top of all the official festivities regarding NYPH 08 in Dumbo tonight local gallery Farmani is hosting an opening reception for IPA: Best In Show - Portrait Edition, selections from the International Photography Awards 2004 thru 2007 Best of Show curators featuring work by photographers Paul Elledge, Julia Fullerton-Batton, Nadav Kander, Joyce Tenneson and Lauren Greenfield to name a few.

7.00pm - 9.00pm

Farmani Gallery

111 Front Street, Gallery 212

Guest blogging

I am excited to announce that I have been asked by the good folk over at Foto 8 to contribute to their daily blog coverage here of the New York Photo Festival. The promise of an access all areas press pass, free gargle and some loot was just too good to pass up.

So with that we will be on the ground in Dumbo for the 5 day duration and will partake in as much of the fun and frivolity as we can handle. Expect my daily report on all the happenings over there at Foto 8 with a little something something over here on the Jackanory. Hopefully we wont be all photod out by the end of this thing, might have to check myself into photo rehab when all is said and done. Anyways don't forget to say hello if you are out and about.

Lets get the party started

Well if you have been living under a rock you might be unaware of the photo fest happening in New York City next week. Yes the big one is finally here the inaugural New York Photo Festival: The Future of Contemporary Photography aka NYPH 08 and it kicks off in Dumbo on Wednesday the 14th and runs through Sunday the 18th.

What can we expect ? Who knows as this is the events first outing but it seems the essential ingredients are all in the pot. I won't bore you with all the details but go here for the schedule. Its not exactly free either so go here for the pricing structure and here to purchase tickets. It looks like $45 should get you into just about everything including the opening party on the 14th so that's not so bad over the 5 days although be sure to check the fine print as some of the events are limited by capacity.

The evenings are going to pretty jammed with happenings, some of which haven't made it on to the main calender. 'Various Photographs' the exhibit curated by Tim Barber of Tiny Vices is also holding an opening reception on the 14th from 7.00pm to 10.00pm at 70 Front Street. Good news is this event is free and open to the public. Expect this to be a mob scene, you have been warned.


I am pleased to say I will have one picture in the festival as part of Portraiture: An Exhibition by Getty Images one of the many satellite shows that will circumvent the main pavilions, full list here. There will be an artists reception on Thursday the 15th at 81 Front Street from 6.00pm - 8.00pm.

Also that evening there will be a giant book signing extravaganza over at the powerHouse arena from 9.00pm - 10.00pm. An hour seems like a ludicrously short amount of time considering the line up: Lili Almog, Roger Ballen, Juliana Beasley, Harry Benson, Kevin Bubriski, Julia Calfee, Vivian Cherry, Livia Corona, Valdir Cruz, Lalla Essaydi, Larry Fink, Brian Finke, Ron Galella, Stephen Gill, Arlene Gottfried, Christopher Griffith, John Gruen, Alice Harris, David Alan Harvey, Henry Horenstein, Ellen Jong, Leora Kahn, Seth Kushner & Anthony LaSala, Christopher LaMarca, Wassink Lundgren, Jeff Mermelstein, Slava Mogutin, Rachel Papo, Martin Parr, Nigel Parry, Mark Peterson, Thomas Roma, Steve Schapiro, Joachim Schmid, Jamel Shabazz, The Snorri Bros., Michael Spano, Peter Sutherland, Linda Troeller, Victor Vazquez, Veronique Vial, Nathaniel Welch, and David Yellen.

If you entered the festivals New York Photo Awards and haven't heard anything from the organizers yet you will have to try again next year. Looks like they have gone ahead and whittled down all the entrants into manageable groups. Full list of those nominees in the running here. And a ticket to the awards show on the Friday night gets you access to yet another party at the powerHouse arena right after.

Speaking of competitions/parties PDN are getting in on the weeks acivities as they will be hosting their annual Photo Annual party on Tuesday the 13th. Yeah sorry there too if you hadn't heard from them by now you didn't make the grade here either. This event is by invitation only and there is always a pretty strict door policy so if you didn't get the heads up you might want to save yourself any velvet rope embarrassment. In case you were wondering though its at the same venue as last year.


Dumbo residents VII Photo Agency have stretched their involvement and added another on site event to the offerings with a 3 day seminar 16th thru 18th including keynote speakers, show and tells with all the main players incl. Greenfield, Kratochvil, Ladefoged, Morris & Nachtwey, book signings, portfolio reviews etc etc. The price of this event is separate to the cost of admission to the main festival. Full details here.

Fuck I am worn out already just try to get my head around all the possibilities and permutations. I think my liver is just as concerned considering all the opportunities for liquid refreshment. Fingers crossed for some fine Spring weather especially with the organizers expecting 100,000 over the four days. Have a feeling most of the gatherings will be pretty chock a block so the streets might be the best bet for a little extra curricular mingling. Hopefully the event lives up to its potential and wont turn in to too much of a circle jerk. The Jackanory will be in situ throughout to keep an eye on proceedings, more to come on that Monday.

Things to do tonight . . . . 8x10, Earth day & not your average Joel

Its not even Thursday and yet who would have thought we would have so many fine offerings so early in the week. Problem is choices are going to have to be made as scheduling dictates although I bet you could get in all three picks if you were so inclined.

Tuesday April 22


The camera club of New York - Lecture Series presents Richard Renaldi

7.00pm

School of Visual Arts Amphitheatre

209 East 23rd street, bet 2nd & 3rd ave

general admission $ 10.00 / $ 5.00 for students with ID

Richard Renaldi's environmental portraits and landscapes are a collection of photographs about the social makeup of our country and our world. The portraits he makes of ordinary strangers encountered at home and on the road begin a quiet documents of individual struggles and triumphs. However because of the breadth of his interests, Renaldi's pictures try to shed light on our collective reality. Carrying an 8x10 view camera, his favored tool, Renaldi travels widely, constantly scouting for the next person to 'cast' in his ever-evolving narration about the people and places in this city, across the US and around the world.

During the lecture Renaldi will present work from his various long-term projects followed by an informal book signing.



The powerHouse arena : Shifting Landscapes featuring the work of Olaf Otto Becker, Edward Burtynsky, Joshua Lutz, Christopher LaMarca, David Maisel and Simon Norfolk.

opening reception 6.00 - 9.00pm

37 Main street at Water street Dumbo





Joel Barhamand: Soft & Hard - 6 new photographs

opening reception 6.00 - 7.30pm

L'Asso

192 Mott street at Kenmare

Things to do tonight . . . heroin, childhood & a palace

Things have slowed down a little but hey its Thursday after all so here's tonight pick of the litter:


Jeff Olson: North Woods II

Opening reception

6.00 - 8.00 pm

Peter Hay Halpert Fine Art

511 West 25th Street, bet 10th & 11th ave

North Woods II is a series of large-scale photographs taken over the course of two years. Begun in the fall of 2005, the work explores life in an isolated area of New Hampshire that is representative of rural, small town America. Olson follows a select cast of young people, capturing moments of minor significance. Through his use of color and light, Olson infuses these images with a sense of emotional content that is more perceived than understood.

Olson's nostalgia and distinct connection to his past and its relationship to the multiple rural areas he was raised in are a constant presence in these pictures. He spent the substantial periods of his childhood documenting his consistently changing lifestyle as he moved around rural areas across the country. Working first with a camera he found when he was 8 years old (only to have it sold a year later), he received another camera four years later as a gift. These two cameras, one lost and the other a reclamation of the potential its predecessor suggested, enabled Olson to document what he saw on his journeys. His images reflect the solitude of his childhood experiences, as processed through a more mature eye. Courtesy Peter Ray Halpert Gallery

Robert Polidori: Versailles

Opening Reception

6.00 - 8.00pm

Edwynn Houk Gallery

745 Fifth Ave at 45th Street



Jessica Dimmock: The Ninth Floor

Opening Reception

6.00 - 8.00pm

Foley Gallery

547 West 27th Street, 5th Floor

Jessica Dimmock began photographing her series "The Ninth Floor" after being approached by a New York City drug dealer several years ago. She was in the midst of completing her degree at the International Center of Photography for Documentary Photography and Photojournalism. She became interested in photographing the dealer and his daily deliveries. One such stop was the ninth-floor of an elegant apartment building in New York's Flatiron district. For the next two and a half years Dimmock settled in as a long-term observer to candidly record the consumptive and consumed lives of nearly thirty heroin addicts in heir eroding, claustrophobic home.

"...the mood inside was muffled, slow, secretive and sick, becalmed by a septic hush," Dimmock recalls, and though her vivid portrait of that decaying place, with no light and duct-taped walls indeed silences its voyeur, it is her relentless documentation of the human lives struggling through and surviving addiction that impact upon us so profoundly.

Caught between the unaffected, objective nature of journalism and the heart-felt feelings for her subjects, Dimmock reflects how, "...the strange contradictions of this work are such that a mutual trust is built...but that very trust eventually undermines the arms-length neutrality of the documentarian."

A selection of more than forty chromogenic prints from Dimmock's series will be exhibited. The photographs lay bare the privacy and unmentionables of this three-bedroom apartment; its afflicted tenants silhouetting through smoke-clouds, wading in piles of waste, lampshades, bottles, cardboard boxes, and needles. Courtesy Foley Gallery

Opening mob scene

Just as James Danziger had predicted earlier in the week here the Ryan McGinley opening at Team Gallery was the place to be Thursday night in New York.

Ryan McGinley (L)

To say it was busy would be a bit of an understatement, with the curious and adoring throngs packing the gallery and spilling out onto Grand street. Anyone getting to the gallery even 20 minutes after the 6.00pm opening had difficulty seeing the work. No need to serve any alcohol or finger food here to attract a crowd although I have to say a little refreshment would have been appreciated by the parched en masse.

Although we didn't manage to stay for long, spotted in the crowd were: photographers Danielle Levitt, Todd Eberle, Richard Foulser, Ber Murphy, Chris Bartlett, Eric McNatt, Robert Wright who has posted a show review here, Butch Hogan, photo rep Matt Seminara: Friend & Johnson, Jordan Shipenberg: Art Department, Jennifer Pastore and Scott Hall: photo editors New York Times T Magazine and Kellie McLaughlin: Aperture.

Coming attractions

Heres what got me all hot and bothered in New York this week. Just a warm up for whats coming next week.

Tuesday April 1

© Todd Hido

Parsons The New School for Design Lectures Present:
Todd Hido : Artist’s Lecture

6:30 p.m.

Aperture Gallery
547 West 27th Street, 4th floor

As part of the ongoing lecture series hosted by Aperture and presented by the department of photography, Parsons The New School for Design, Todd Hido will discuss the spirit of his work. Hido’s recently published monograph, Between the Two (Nazraeli Press, 2006), features photographs of anonymous models in motel rooms, interiors of abandoned houses. He will also discuss his other series, including exterior views of homes at night. His work has been widely exhibited throughout the United States and Europe, and is included in the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; the Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago; the Cleveland Museum of Art; and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.

Thursday April 3

© Ryan McGinley

Ryan McGinley 'I know Where the Summer Goes'

Opening reception

6.00pm

Team Gallery

83 Grand Street bet Wooster & Greene

Ryan McGinley’s “snapshots” have been evolving steadily since his guerilla show at 420 West Broadway in 2000. In the intervening eight years he has moved away from an artistic practice that was the soul of casual and towards an elaborated production schedule that raises the ante on “being there.” McGinley has gone from being perceived as the hottest young photographer in town to being considered a serious artist with a rare gift for creating enduring color photographs — photographs that show us the best of youth.

The title of this exhibition, taken from an early B-side by Belle & Sebastian, is more than just a piece of poetic musing. McGinley does, in fact, know where his summers go. In the summer of 2007, for example, he traversed the United States with sixteen models and three assistants, shooting 4,000 rolls of film. From the resulting 150,000 photographs, he arduously narrowed down the body of work to some fifty images, the best of which are on display here at the gallery.

The inspirational images for the project were culled from the kinds of amateur photography that appeared in nudist magazines during the 60s and early 70s. McGinley would sit with his models and look through all of the ephemera of the period that he had collected, discussing with them the mood that he was hoping to capture that day. McGinley had chosen a very specific itinerary that would bring his troop through the incredible range of landscapes that are available across the US and carefully planned a battery of activities, sometimes orchestrating the use of special effects. He has always been quite fond of fireworks and fog machines and in this new work they play a major role.

The very artificial constructedness of the project allows for situations in which the models can both perform and be caught off guard. The resultant pictures of nude young men and women playing and living in the great outdoors are innocent yet erotic, casual yet calculated. Courtesy Team Gallery

© Sze Tsung Leong


Sze Tsung Leong: opening reception 'Horizon Series'

6.00 - 8.00pm

Yossi Milo Gallery
525 West 25th street

Horizons is an ongoing series of photographs, begun in 2001, that depict expansive but detailed views of a broad spectrum of environments throughout the world. The locations of the images may be distant in geography (including Mexico City, Cairo, Banaras, Lisbon, Isle of Skye, Tokyo, and Inner Mongolia, for example), and diverse in subject matter (ranging from pastoral landscapes, to monuments, to everyday spaces, to rivers, to industrial zones, to cityscapes), yet the photographs are linked by a horizon which continues in the same position from image to image. When placed side by side, the images form an extended landscape composed of an accumulation of varied continents, cities, terrains, situations, textures, and colors: an unfinished asphalt cul-de-sac lies before a line of tract houses in Victorville, California (2006); a boat drifts past icebergs in Jökulsárlón I, Iceland (2007); clumps of desert sand collect in front of a remote skyline in Dubai I (2007); red stone buildings seemingly hover over an opaque expanse of water in Canale della Giudecca I, Venezia (2007); beachgoers tread through mud on their way to the shore in Dungeness III (2003); boys play cricket in a clearing among electrical poles in Allahabad I (2008). Courtesy Yossi Milo

Please join Ari Marcopoulos and David Strettell at Dashwood Books for a book signing of Dashwood's inaugural publication “The Chance is Higher” by Ari Marcopoulos:

6.00 - 8.00 pm
Dashwood Books
33 Bond Street bet Lafayette & the Bowery

“The Chance is Higher” is a 72-page book featuring 40 black-and-white images by legendary Dutch photographer Ari Marcopoulos, all of which were printed on a Xerox machine. For years Marcopoulos has worked with Xeroxes as sketches for books, zines, and exhibitions. In love with the simple direct beauty of this low-fi technique, the artist turned to that medium to create this new body of work.

The book is designed by the Swiss team Gavillet and Rust who worked with Marcopolous on his landmark 2005 book “Even the President of the United States Sometimes has got to Stand Naked” (JRP Ringier), their cool elegant style subtly emphasizes the immediacy of the work.

”The Chance is Higher” by Ari Marcopoulos numbered limited edition of 700 copies. Price $85(Deluxe edition signed and numbered in an edition of 50 copies). Order books online.

Out on the town . . . . last night

James White (L)

Well we did the decent thing for a change last night and made the long trek out to Brooklyn for the opening of the new Bond Street gallery. It turned out to be quite the ballyhoo, not in the freshly constructed main gallery but in next doors rather spacious annex which really is more of a photo studio then anything else. This is where the evenings action was centered with uber celebrity photographer James White in the house showing some of his scantily clad A list clientele. To be honest his work is really great but you know what it didn't really hold up in the flesh; this stuff looks fab in a magazine with a tight layout and a nice bit of type thrown on it not supersized and hanging on a wall.

Nevertheless it was quite the crowd and James's popularity as a photographer and a person was pretty evident by the who's who who turned out. Spotted in the mix were photo editors Brenda Millis: Mens Health, Maisie Todd and Nancy Weisman: ESPN the Magazine, Doris Brautigan, Alison Unterreiner: Esquire, photo directors (we don't want to ruffle any feathers) Fiona McDonagh: Entertainment Weekly and Micheal Norseng: Esquire, art buyer Alex Tasch: Euro RSCG, photo rep Matt Seminara: Friend & Johnson, Eric Miles director rare books and auctions: Photo-Eye, photographers Matthew Furman, Eric McNatt, Chris Bartlett, Ber Murphy, Michele Asselin, Jonathan Saunders, Robert Wright and Rafael Fuchs.

*Update* And in case you were wondering I did ask one of the photo editors in attendance whether she would take the time to look at APE's Flickr promo when it comes online - she said she would oh and I also heard mutterings that some reps would be taking part.

Coming attractions aka things to do this week

With spring in the air things are certainly beginning to pick up with plenty to help get your photo fix. Here's what tickles my fancy this week in NYC.


Thursday March 27:


Opening reception: Bruce Gilden "Coney Island of the Heart" and others.

Bond Street Gallery

6.00pm - 9.00pm

297 Bond Street bet Union and Sackett
Brooklyn

And as a bonus in the galleries annex we have James White: "James White Photographs" Including 10 limited editions – 8 images of the Victoria's Secret models photographed for Esquire Magazine in a custom made clam shell box.

This is also the galleries opening night proper; located between Smith Street's chic restaurants and shops and the developing neighborhood of Gowanus. This location perfectly illustrates the gallery's mission, which is to present photography from the spaces in between—from artists who often fall through the cracks of the arbitrary and dated classifications of traditional curatorship.

Founded by photographer agent Bruce Kramer (ArtMix photography)and photographer Robert DiScalfani, who lives and works in the neighborhood, Bond Street Gallery is the first photography gallery in the area. It is housed in a 100-year-old townhouse that the founders have restored while keeping the original structure of the building intact. Inside it has exposed brick walls, and out back is a tranquil courtyard.

Bond Street Gallery will blend fine art and commercial photography, the fields in which both founders have worked and lived for decades. "These two worlds are becoming more and more interwoven," says Kramer, "and we want to create an outlet that reflects that.” The gallery will also mix vintage and contemporary, famous and undiscovered, homegrown and foreign.

Saturday March 29:


Slideluck Potshow

Theme: Patterns

Time tbc

Chelsea Art Museum
556 West 22nd Street @ Westside Hwy

In case you are one of the few who don't have a clue on the Slideluck Potshow here is the skinny. Its a non-profit slideshow and potluck for members of arts, photography, and media communities. Participants bring food, drink, and up to five minutes worth of slides. The evening begins with a couple hours of dining on the home-cooked delights of participants, while drinking and mingling. It is not uncommon to arrive with, for example, a full-bodied bottle of wine, some vegetable samosas, Thai green curry, pumpkin ravioli, or some rosemary lamb chops. All guests are asked to contribute as the event is entirely dependent on participation. Following the potluck, the lights are dimmed, the crowd is hushed, and a spectacular slideshow commences.

Slideluck Potshow is a forum for exposing artists, curators and editors to new work, while infusing the arts community with a non-commercial vitality and refreshing exchange. Photojournalists, painters, designers, sculptors, fashion and fine art photographers all show their work alongside one another in a relaxed and spirited atmosphere. Presenters range from the very accomplished to those who have never shown work publicly before, but regardless of status, none is allotted more than five minutes for their slideshow. Past participants include; Elliott Erwitt, Chris Buck, Alec Soth, Martin Schoeller, Doug Menuez, Alex Majoli, Alistair Thain, Bruce Gilden, and Eugene Mirman.

Participants are encouraged to take creative risks, in terms of content and presentation, and to not just show their portfolios. Each slideshow has a section with a theme, as well as non-themed section. The submissions are collected and curated in advance of the slideshow. Cutting-edge multimedia presentations are welcomed and all shows are accompanied by music, commentary, or other surprises.

The event is primarily geared towards photographers, artists, photo editors, reps, art buyers, curators, collectors, designers, and other members of the media. Slideluck has become a place for artists to come together and share their work in a congenial, non-competitive atmosphere. It is rarely held in the same location twice, and the space in which it takes place sets the tone for the evening. More than anything else, this is a fun, inspiring evening, that is meant to remind us of why we are creating in the first place.

Slideluck Potshow was founded by advertising and editorial photographer, Casey Kelbaugh, in 2000. Kelbaugh produced twenty shows around Seattle, and together with Producer Alys Kenny, is now organizing roughly three events a year in NYC. Slideluck has become something of a global phenomenon, as they are now taking place everywhere from Berlin to Minneapolis, Mexico City to Washington, DC. As a 501c(3) pending non-profit, the existence and growth of Slideluck Potshow is very much dependent on the contributions and generosity of the individuals and institutions that lend their support.


Sunday March 30:


Opening reception 'Bitter Sweet': Photographs By Arlene Gottfried

A talk and book signing to be followed by a sunset reception on the beachfront estate to coincide with the release of her latest book "Sometimes Overwhelming" published by powerHouse books.

1:00pm - 5.00pm

The Alice Austen Museum House
2 Hylan Blvd
Staten island

Since the early 70’s Arlene Gottfried has created her own private document of the city, a precious mix of moments that can lead the viewer to laugh, cry and often times blush. She was recently summed up as a “quiet defender of the grimly vibrant denizens of an older New York that’s disappearing daily”, by Tim Murphy of New York Magazine. This show highlights work from he latest book “Sometimes Overwhelming” (published by powerHouse March 2007) and never before seen color photographs that continue her photographic obsession.

Directions:
Take the 1/9 to South ferry, W/R to Whitehall Street
or 4/5 to Bowling Green Station
From the Staten Island Ferry:
Take the #S51 bus to the corner of Hylan Boulevard

ABOUT ALICE AUSTEN HOUSE:

Alice Austen House Museum is a national historic landmark, maintained by the Friends of Alice Austen. Austen was born on Staten Island in 1866, and was introduced to the nascent art of photography at the age of ten by a seafaring uncle. Austen is a singular figure in history, a well-traveled society woman, an accomplished artist with a dramatic personal story that intersected with some of the most important cultural figures of her time.

“Clear Comfort” was the name of the charming waterfront cottage where Austen lived most of her life, along with her companion of 35 years, Gertrude Tate. The home has been preserved as the Alice Austen House Museum to honor her fascinating life and significant contribution to the field of photography.



Blog:Mode - Panel Discussion

The afternoon panel offers an opportunity for a critical and creative dialogue about fashion as both an art form and a reflection of the zeitgeist, as well as the place of the blog to facilitate the public voice.

Panelists include:
Cathy Horyn, journalist and fashion critic, The York Times
Diane Pernet, film festival curator, co-editor-in-chief of ZOO magazine, and editor-in-chief of A Shaded View On Fashion
Scott Schuman, photographer, fashion journalist, and creator of The Sartorialist blog.

3:00 p.m.
The Grace Rainey Rogers Auditorium
Metropolitan Museum of Art

Free with Museum admission

Tasty titbits

We are taking off to the sun for a little spring break so in an attempt to continue to entertain here are a few bite sized treats to tide you over:

Fashionista has got the scoop on the duo behind the Marc Jacobs/Juergen Teller spoof here. Turns out the dynamic duo of Hart + Larsson are the cheeky chappies behind the faux Spring Summer '08 campaign.


The upcoming and highly anticipated New York Photo Festival has volunteer opportunities a plenty up for grabs see below:

Volunteer for New York’s first international-level festival of photography! Theinaugural New York Photo Festival (May 14–May 18, 2008) promises to deliver a dynamic, high-quality event in what is arguably the photographic capital of the world. Volunteer staff is needed preceding the festival (March-May), and during the five days of the festival. All volunteers will receive a complimentary all-access pass to the festival exhibitions and programming.

Volunteer opportunities include the following areas:

Production: Assist the Production Manager and work with the Exhibitions Coordinator with pavilion set up, art installation and de-installation.

Marketing/Publicity: Assist in organizing festival publicity, interfacing with press, conducting research, maintaining press databases and archiving media coverage and documentation, media check-in.

General/Administrative: Assist with a wide range of Festival matters, including providing support for the Festival Directors, and liaising with development, production, exhibition, and VIP departments and sites.

Festival Staff: Guide, staff pavilions, and provide support for Festival-goers. Opportunity to help in setting up and dismantling the festival. Volunteers will be required to attend a training session before the festival.

Please download the application form here, and return to:

Rebecca Stepler
Volunteer Staff Coordinator, New York Photo Festival
Fax: 212-366-5247; email: rebecca@nyphotofestival.com


Big shout out to friend and inspirator the amazingly talented Livia Corona. As some of you may remember Livias book Enanitos Toreros was an early contender on my list for book of the year 2007 here. Unfortunately things got held up and the book is finally due for release from Powerhouse within the next few weeks, the final printed matter is on a container ship mid Pacific as we speak. Livia has consented to a little one on one in the near future here on the 'Jackanory' and I look forward to sharing with you the trials and tribulations of working on a project like this, hooking up with a publisher and the effort that it takes to getting it into a bookstore.

In the meantime though hold your breath as Livia is in the Netherlands tonight as one of six finalists in the REAL Photography Award which will be handed out to one lucky shooter this very eve. The field was narrowed down from 30 and the award ceremony coincides with an accompanying exhibition at the Las Palmas Art and Exhibition Centre in Rotterdam.

To be perfectly honest I had never heard of this competition before but it turns out it is a new and unique bi-annual photography award focusing on the themes of 'Nature, Development and Architecture'. The award is sponsored by ING Real Estate and is designed and encourage and promote contemporary photography. Oh and the winner is entitled to EUR 50,000 in prize money. Fuck yeah nice one. Fingers crossed for Livia.


We have finally updated the blogroll in an attempt to help spread the link juice.


Don't forget we are still accepting entries for the competition to win the award winning 'A Room with a View'. You still got till the end of the month so plenty of time left.

Things to do tonight . . . . NYC

Much to the relief of some I won't be able to make it along to Brian Finke's 'Flight Attendants' opening tonight at Clampart; so no fear of me forcing myself and my camera upon photo folk. As a huge fan of Brian and his work I am pretty bummed to be missing out on all the revelry. Should be a big turnout for this most popular of photographers.

Brian has spent the last few years flying the friendly skies photographing flight attendants on carriers in the United States and abroad. This is a vibrant collection of photographs documenting the lives of those adventurous souls who chose to work at 40,000 feet. Shot before, during and after flights the photographs capture the allure of the high-flying profession alongside the more quiet moments of the attendants daily lives.

The show coincides with the release of a book of the same name published by PowerHouse. This is Brian's second monograph a follow up to "2-4-6-8: Photographs of Cheerleaders and Football Players".

Reception with the artist 6.00pm - 8.00pm

Clampart
521-531 West 25th Street
Ground floor

For you trivia buffs Brian got married the day after me and I was honored when he asked me to take his wedding pics. Obviously it didn't work out, probably a good thing I would have been sweating it big.

Heres to you Brian Finke !

Out on the town

The sausage cart

So recently on the 'Jackanory' its been a little more fluff then substance but we have been busy being busy getting busy so we haven't been able to dedicate as much time to the blog as we may like. But fear not we have lots of interesting stuff in the pipeline and in an effort to keep the material fresh and original we won't be jumping in on every photoblogospheric thread. In the meantime though lets get back to the fluff stuff.

Juergen Teller & I

I have to say it was quite the last night at Lehmann Maupin for the Juergen Teller opening of 'Ukraine'. I got there bright and early, expecting it to be a total madhouse what with fashion week and everything. It turned out to be a most enjoyable evening with the throngs never getting completely out of hand. The gallery laid on a fine spread of German food and beers via a vending cart positioned conveniently/inconveniently right at the front door. The smell of sausage permeated the gallery, with the waft of the tasty treats causing some in the crowd to question their own personal hygiene. A little disorganized the food/drink station caused some confusion but as the long lines sorted themselves out the extra curricular appendages were certainly more than appreciated by the hungry crowd.

The pictures on display were a bit of a mish mash, not only was the 'Ukraine' series on view but also selects from Tellers latest Marc Jacobs campaign with Victoria Beckham and other oddities. Some prints were framed on the wall others were displayed in well display cases. They were all a manageable personable size with none really bigger then they needed to be, refreshing for a change. To be honest I didn't have a problem with the mix; Juergen has a special place in my heart so I will always be favorably biased. It always amazes me to see how relevant and fresh his work still is even though many may consider him a dated one trick pony.

Herr Teller was most gracious in allowing a portrait of the artist with the 'Jackanory' and also seemed quite touched when we whipped out our copy of 'Go Sees' for his signage. Smoking up a storm he was obviously oblivious to all the health and safety violations he was breaking (badass) as he enjoyed the partisan crowds affection and attention.

Stefan Ruiz & I

It was quite the crowd, a heavy sprinkling of the beautiful people; photographers, fashionistas, models, hipsters, scenesters, all adding their bit to the buzz. A real who's who spotted in the mix including photographers Jason Florio, Jessica Antola, David Rinella, Christopher Sturman, Nick Haymes, Livia Corona, Bharat Sikka, Joe Fornabaio, Rafael Fuchs, Scott Rudd, the crowd worker himself Patrick McMullan, Robert 'Don't get on the plane' Wright, Cara 'Ground Glass' Phillips and it was a special treat to meet one of my all time favorites Stefan Ruiz for the first time, also seen were Photoshelter photo director Meagan Ziegler-Haynes, W magazine creative Eddie Leida, the NY Times T Magazines photo department represented by Judith Puckett-Rinella and Jenifer Pastore and NY Times fashion editor Cathy Horyn.

Joseph Michael Lopez & I

Then we did a quick hop skip and a jump down to the west village where we caught the tail end of the Joseph Michael Lopez opening. Seen here were Andrew Beardsworth and Jordana Zeldin.

Things to do this week . . . . NYC & RI

Tuesday February 6


Tod Papageorge
'American Sports, 1970: or How We Spent the War in Vietnam'

Talk and Book Signing

6.30 p.m.

Free Admission

Aperture Gallery
547 West 27th Street, 4th Floor, NYC

Tod Papageorge will discuss the coolly observational yet intensely engaging work featured in his new Aperture monograph American Sports, 1970 or How We Spent The War in Vietnam. These remarkable images, taken over the course of a watershed year for popular opinion against the war, draw a subtle but sharp parallel between the war in Vietnam and the American attitude toward spectator sports during a time of conflict.

Wednesday February 6


Stacy Renee Morrison

“THE GIRL OF MY DREAMS”

2:00 p.m. invited talk by the artist

Fine Arts Center Galleries, University of Rhode Island

Also February 7, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. reception for the artist


Thursday February 7


Book signing for Rockaway, NY by Roe Ethridge
published by SteidlMack

6.00 - 8.00 pm

Dashwood Books
33 Bond Street
between Bowery and Lafayette, NYC



The 'Master' himself Juergen Teller

'Ukraine'

Opening reception 6.00 - 8.00pm

Lehmann Maupin

540 West 26th Street, NYC

Teller was commissioned, along with four other artists, by the PinchukArtCentre to interpret the Ukraine for the 52nd International Venice Biennale 2007, where a selection from this series was first shown. This exhibition marks the first time an expanded version, along with other new works, will be shown in the United States.

Faced with how to experience and discover the Ukraine, Teller chose to employ the city as a setting for a W Magazine fashion shoot, characteristically mixing fashion, still-lives of the city, and portraits of ordinary people as a way of representing his own fantasy of a country marked by a brash youthful energy and an obsession with capitalism. In Teller’s Kiev the membrane between harsh economic reality and obtainable fantasy is surprisingly thin and these pictures represent a place where beautiful girls wait to be discovered in a place where the desire for luxury has reached a fever pitch. Courtesy Lehmann Maupin

Joseph Michael Lopez

'Above Below'

43 8th Avenue Gallery, NYC

between Jane & Horatio

opening 6.00pm - 9.00pm

Joseph Michael Lopez photographs those moments of introspection we steal on the way to or from our destinations, as well as frenetic, over looked moments of life in an urban metropolis. In one shot an unconscious man appears to have just fallen off his seat on the subway; one leg still caught up on the armrest. In another a child, back pressed against a subway pole, clasps her arms behind her in a perfect cross formation.

Out on the town

Massimo Vitali & I

Last night we made it uptown to Bonni Benrubi for the Massimo Vitali opening. A rather civil well behaved affair so no real craziness to report on. Spotted in the crowd were photographers Domingo Milella, Joe Fornabaio and Karine Laval.

Out on the town

Gus Powell (left), the tall one

Well we managed to get ourselves all the way up to 103rd street for the opening reception of Gus Powells 'Manhattan Noon'. It was my first time visiting 'The Museum of the City of New York' and I have to say there was quite the turnout considering the inclement weather and the northern environs. Plenty of fine drinks and tasty finger food to comfort the crowd.

5B4 aka Jeffrey Ladd (left)

Spotted in the mix were photographers Jeff Mermelstein, Darin Mickey, Bryan Leitgeb, Joe Fornabaio, photog/blogger Jeffrey Ladd aka 5B4 and Ber Murphy aka Pelicula 64 and Christina Cahill and Marcia Kebbon from Orchard Represents.

Then we hopped the 6 train back to Union Square to catch the tail end of Erika Larsen's 'Young Blood' opening at the Redux Gallery. Again a packed house and one was most relieved to see they had the freight elevator in operation to help transport the masses to the 12th floor.

Erika Larsen (left)

Spotted here were the Ground Glass herself Cara Phillips,man about town Rafael Fuchs, photo editors Amy Berkley Field and Stream, Erica Beckman Fortune Small Business.

Last night on the town

Well we took ourselves out and about last night trying to take in as many openings as possible and didn't end up doing so bad after all.

Domingo Milella (left) The Jackanory (right)

First up was Domingo Milella at TracyWilliams Ltd. This was my first visit to the gallery which it turns out covers two floors in a west village brownstone. Interesting space, a hybrid of sorts, a galler/house, with the big prints exhibited in regular sized rooms that maybe unwittingly give potential buyers a true glimpse at how these mighty pieces might size up in their own homes. That's the thing isn't it, much of the art we view here in the city is on display in vast Chelsea warehouses that bear little or no physical relationship to the spaces in which the work may eventually be hung. I had never really thought of that before and Milella told me later that the images were specifically chosen for each of the rooms. Remember a 52 inch flat screen TV doesn't necessarily work in every space so why should a massive print, remember size isn't everything, proportion can be.

Martin Schoeller & me

We then made our way to the Marty Schoeller opening at Hasted Hunt. Can I say full house, it was certainly chock a block with a strong turn out for this most popular of photographers.

Dawoud Bey and me again

Then it was on to 347 west 27th street where we checked out the Bart Michiels show 'The Course Of History: The Mediterranean Theatre' at Foley Gallery before descending a floor to Aperture for Dawoud Bey's 'Class Pictures'.

So far so good right on schedule to making plan as mapped out in Tuesdays post here. Unfortunately this is where the nights activities got held up as Aperture certainly know how to keep a large crowd grounded; an ample supply of alcohol coupled with en suite bathroom facilities always seems to do it, so Katy Grannans opening on the lower east side was a miss. Although I am happy to say we made it down to BBlessing for the 'Adolescence and the Virtues of Maturity' extravaganza only to join the mighty hoardes waiting to gain admission. Fuck that so, the scene on the inside looked just as packed, I was certainly interested but there was no way through the throng.

The scene outside BBlessing, is that Danielle Levitt in the door ?

No worries though it was quite the night, with a veritable who's who spotted during our travels. Out and about were photographers Chris Bartlett, Eric McNatt, Joe Fornabaio, Adam Friedberg, Christopher McLallen, Ber Murphy, Jeremy Liebman, Victoria Hely-Hutchinson, Christy Whitney, Anna Bauer, Ofer Wolberger, photographer/bloggers Robert "Don't get on the plane" Wright, Raul 'Mexican pictures' Gutierrez, William 'Vignette' Brinson, gallerist Jen Bekman and photo editor Keri Pampuch from Quick and Simple.

Things to do this week . . . . New York

Well here we go again ! Looks like there is plenty happening around town again as we come out from our holiday slumber. Here are a few tasty treats that may tickle your fancy.

Wednesday 9 January


The fabulous Katy Grannan brings us not one but two openings and receptions this week.

First up is 'Another Woman Who Died in Her Sleep'

Greenberg Van Doren Gallery
730 Fifth Ave @ 57th Street

6.00 - 8.00pm


Thursday 10 January


Katy Grannan 'Lady Into Fox'

Salon 94 Freemans
1 Freeman Alley

6.00 - 8.00pm

In the new works, Grannan explores the uneasy relationship between fixed photographic portraiture and her subjects’ mercurial identities. The photographs are replete with ambiguity and contradiction: they are evidence of an invented, unknowable self, confronting inescapable photographic description. Her subjects are “new pioneers,” three northern Californians who struggle to define themselves under the scrutiny of relentless sunlight. California serves as both a literal and metaphorical backdrop for Grannan’s photographs. It is a mythical destination and a real end-point where sunshine illuminates both the abject and the joyful.

Lady into Fox features Gail and Dale, two middle-aged transsexuals and best friends whose experience in the world is mediated by romantic escapism and willful delusion. Grannan thoroughly embraces her subjects’ vision of themselves, their interpretation of femininity, and the pleasure they derive from gender mimicry and performance. The photographs, however, also describe the pair’s solitary interior lives and their deeper existential need to be visible.

Another Woman Who Died in her Sleep follows Nicole, an elusive and complicated woman with whom Grannan worked for nearly three years. Grannan’s shifting photographic approach mirrors Nicole’s ever-changing persona, her defiance, and her near self-annihilation. Here, Grannan questions photography’s ability to describe a complex individual with a single photographic “truth.” Courtesy Salon 94

Domingo Milella

Tracy Williams Ltd
313 West 4th Street bet Bank & West 12th Street

Reception with the artist: 6.00 - 8.00pm

This is Domingo's first solo New York exhibition. A recent graduate from SVA, Milella has spent a little time in his past working with yours truly before going on to greater things working for two of the all time greats, Massimo Vitali and Thomas Struth. Sure to be a big star in his own right don't forget where you read it first.

Milella’s perspective offers us a fresh interpretation of the changing face of our surroundings to day. Close by or far off borders, nations, megalopolis, are the subject of a geography at the edge of importance and function. Using an 8 x 10 camera, Milella captures these contradictory panoramas subtly noting the struggle for place between man and nature in contemporary society. His photographs have a certain impartiality allowing the viewer to interpret the image and draw their own conclusion. Nature seeps through these photographs as vegetation merges with trash in Cuautepec, Discarica, Mexico City. Unfinished rooftops and building debris pile up as the sun pierces the hot landscape in Naucalpan, Mexico City.

Milella’s photographs of industrial cities are not tyrannical. These are images filled with respect and complicity. Unsettling and passionate at once, Milella’s images speak volumes about the urban-human dilemma. However, a sense of hope reigns within his photographs even in the grimmest of settings. Nature’s power to evoke change in the urbanized jungle is brazenly evident. Courtesy Tracy Williams Ltd

Martin Schoeller 'New Work'

Hasted Hunt
529 West 20th Street, 4th Floor

Opening Reception 6.00pm - 8.00pm

In this show Marty brings us more BIG heads. Black & white and color work will be on display that has not been exhibited on the east coast before. Its a cornucopia of faces including celebrities, athletes, musicians, politicians, his family and the debut of his specially commissioned pictures of members from the Amazonian Pirahã tribe. Martin lugged all his gear into the jungle to capture the striking, mysterious faces of the rarely photographed Pirahã people, an indigenous hunter-gatherer tribe that lives primarily on the banks of the Maici River in Brazil. Currently numbered at approximately 360, the culture is in grave danger of extinction. These photographs were specially commissioned by "The New Yorker."



Dawoud Bey 'Class Pictures'

Aperture Gallery
547 West 27th Street, 4th floor

Press & Patron Preview: 6.00 - 7.00 p.m.

Opening Reception: 7.00 – 9.00 p.m.

For the past fifteen years, Dawoud Bey has made striking, large-scale color portraits of high school students across the United States, from a wide economic and social spectrum. Each portrait is accompanied by a brief autobiographical statement from the student. By turns poignant, funny, or harrowing, these revealing words often contradict our assumptions about youth in America. Bey’s unusually respectful and perceptive portraits transcend teenage stereotypes and establish him as one of the best portraitists at work today. Courtesy Aperture

An intriguing show comes at us courtesy of BBlessing and Table Bros

'Adolesence and the Virtues of Maturity' curated by Vincent Skeltis and Daniel Jackson

Featuring the work of Studio Von Birken, Andrew H.Shirley, Danielle levitt, Vincent Skeltis, Daniel Jackson, Justine Parsons and Brendan Donnelly.

BBlessing
181 Orchard Street

Rsvp recommended: rsvp@bblessing.com

8.00 - 11.00pm

Thursday night is certainly action packed I reckon you could do it all, but it won't leave much time for hanging around. I havent made my plan yet beut it could go something like this. Start with Milella then up to Hasted Hunt for Schoeller followed by Aperture a quick cab to the lower east side for Grannan et volia nicely in time f for 'Adolescence and the Virtues of maturity' around the corner on Orchard Street.

Hong Kong dong

It would seem that never a week goes by here on 'Whats The Jackanory ?' with out mentioning our favorite T-bone himself Terry Richardson. Not one to miss out on a marketing / promotional opportunity El Tel is currently 'Terryizing' Hong Kong through December 23. In association with Diesel, read all about it here, Terry has been paired up with local contemporary artist and illustrator Michael Lau for a special exhibition. Terry supplies new work from a recent trip to Rio and Michael one of the worlds most famous cult-toy designers has created some unique pieces of art encompassing all things Terry including a life size plastic double with erect dangly bit, above.

Things to do this week . . . . New York

I will be out of town but the good folks at Aperture amongst others are looking to keep you busy this week in my absence.

Monday, November 26

Gillian Laub
Artist's Lecture
6:30 p.m.

Free Admission
New York Public Library
Mid-Manhattan Library
455 Fifth Avenue

Gillian Laub has worked in Israel and Palestine, producing portraits of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, Haifa, Tel Aviv, Ramallah, Nablus, and other locations in the region. Her first book, Testimony (Aperture, June 2007), contains fifty of her portraits of Israeli Jews, Israeli Arabs, displaced Lebanese families, and Palestinians. This year marks the fortieth anniversary of the Arab-Israeli Six-Day War.

Tuesday, November 27

Magnum Celebrates 60 Years
Book Launch and Celebration
6:30 p.m.

Free Admission
Aperture Gallery
547 West 27th Street, 4th floor

Aperture is pleased to host the launch party for Magnum Magnum, a Thames & Hudson publicati