Roger Ballen: Rock Star

With all the fluff its time to get a little meaty here on WTJ. We took in a number of the seminars yesterday. Aperture Presents: In Conversation Martin Parr and Erik Kessels was a treat with Kessels and his Dutch sense of humor stealing the show for me. Smart, funny, creative and the format allowed the boys to play out a well choreographed double act. We also saw Jan Banning who introduced his presentation of 'Bureucrats' by announcing that the subject matter was well boring and that his presentation was well boring too. Of course it wasn't boring at all. Well played sir ! Man its that dry Dutch humor again. One of Parrs big announcements was that like it or not the Dutch are coming. Expect to see a huge Dutch presence on the photo art scene. Don't forget where you read it first.

Jan Kempenears on the other hand is Belgian. The work is solid and he seems like a very cool bloke but man the presentation was actually boring. None of that extra dry Dutch humor here. Note to Jan we didn't really need to see pictures of how his exhibitions were hung in galleries. I know I know its all part of the big picture but still I had to walk out before the end.

So that leaves us with the surprise hit of the festival for me so far. And yes what as a surprise seeing it was the opening act and maybe 11.00am on a beautiful Spring morning is not when you want to be going to see a show and tell with the prince of darkness himself Roger Ballen but what the fuck I have been an avid fan and what with these media credentials I am access all areas.

I first saw Rogers work a few years ago when work from his Outland series was on display at the Gallery of Photography in Dublin. Probably 2002 or so. I was of course initially struck by the content but also by his framing; square, use of hard flash and the exquisite black and white tones.

These show and tells can be a bit painful after all we are photographers not performers per-se. Thankfully I have never had the opportunity to bore an audience to death with poor stage craft. No fear with Roger though, fuck me after a cursory round of thank you's to Kathy Ryan, the festival committee etc etc he unleashed the beast.

Ballen dropped his head, grabbed a microphone, changed the tone of his voice and started to stalk the stage as he embarked on a journey into the Shadow Chamber. Man was he good, rock star good. A monologue ala Spalding Grey. This wasn't a talk this was a fuckin performance

"Something perked up in side me and when something perks up inside me I got to do something about it" he said referring to the time he first spotted the structure in which the Shadow Chamber project takes place.

It was epic, one for the grand kids, it will be like where were you the day Roger Ballen took the stage at NYPH 08 ? Fuck man I was there. Wow what was it like fuckin magic like when I saw the Smiths back in 83 or 84. So if you missed it sorry the festival might just be all down hill after this.

Roger Ballen

And then the talks over and Roger is all back to normal; a nice middle aged man with a stripey jumper (sweater). Slightly schizo perhaps; might explain the work.

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.

Whats on deck for this week . . . . . so far

Well the beginning of the week is top heavy so here are some tasty morsels if you are looking to get out and about.

Monday November 12

Photo © Stephen Shames

Photographer Stephen Shames is holding a benefit at the Steven Kasher Gallery, 6.00 - 8.00pm, 521 West @3rd Street for Ugandan orphans. On display will be work for sale from Shames project 'Uganda: The Forgotten Children' and the drawings by the children themselves depicting their lives. All monies raised will be used to educate orphans and children from refugee camps. More info here.


Just up the street we have the Camera Club of New York's annual benefit auction, 6.00 - 9.00pm, Peer Gallery, 526 West 26th Street. The auction showcases the work of emerging as well as established photographers. Go here to view the online catalogue, donating for the cause are Larry Fink, Eric Weeks, David Armstrong, Carrie Levy, Matthew Monteith, John Arsenault, Amy Elkins, Danny Lyon to name a few.


Tuesday November 13

Photo © Danielle Levitt

Artists talk: Danielle Levitt, Aperture Gallery, 6.30pm, 547 West 27th Street.

Levitt will discuss her latest work on youth experience as she explores the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Her indefatigable energy and bold personality allow her to capture the unexpected instant between the posed and the natural. Levitt has not limited herself to one demographic; she seeks out a new generation of American adolescents that exists in a suspended state that is neither rural, suburban nor entirely urban. The portraits reflect universal teen traits. When shooting, Levitt recognizes the cultural personae formed through her subjects' assumed identities and prefers to show them in their everyday scenarios, allowing small details to add subtlety to the portraits. Courtesy Aperture

Things to do tonight . . . . New York

Photo © Paolo Pelegrin

Grab a few pints @ The Half King and listen to Magnum photographer Paolo Pelegrin and reporter Scott Anderson talk about their work on 'War In Lebanon'.

Artist’s statement:

Having covered the Middle East for a number of years, I headed to Lebanon immediately after hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah broke out there in July 2006. Initially, most people thought the conflict would only last a few days; instead, the war went on for over a month and led to the deaths of over 1500 Lebanese, 150 Israelis, and the destruction of much of Lebanon’s infrastructure. While constantly criss-crossing the tiny country, I spent the greatest amount of time in the besieged south Lebanon city of Tyre – the ground-zero of the war – working on a report for the New York Times Magazine with writer Scott Anderson. It was important to me to get as close to the action as possible in hopes of conveying to the outside world the human consequences of this “improbable war.”

Images will be on display @ the pub till June 17. Talk starts @ 8pm, 505 west 23rd street, bet 10th & 11th ave.