Emmet Gowin, Debris Flow At The Northern Base Of Mount St. Helens, Looking South
And you thought DIY was a hot show?
American Vesuvius, opening January 13th in CMA’s photography galleries, was just named one of the 25 most anticipated exhibitions of the new year by the Huffington Post. Presented in conjunction with CMA’s major exhibition, The Last Days of Pompeii: Decadence, Apocalypse, Resurrection, American Vesuvius documents the aftermath of the eruption of Mt St Helens through the landscape photography of Emmet Gowin and Frank Gohlke.
Photography icon Emmet Gowin will spend an evening with Friends of Photography on Friday, February 1, at the home of Pat and Chuck Mintz. Reserve soon as space is limited.
AIPAD 2012 is in the books, and the 22 FOPers who attended may be imbibing a little extra caffeine this week after several busy days interacting with dealers, artists and curators.
The group kicked off the long weekend on Friday morning, as Barbara Tannenbaum led a pre-opening tour of the exhibition, highlighted by a meet-and-greet with photography legend Arthur Tress. At 71, Tress remains a formidable and prolific creative force. More than twenty of Tress’ vintage prints entered the CMA collection earlier this year.
Arthur Tress on the AIPAD floor
FOP attendees enjoy Arthur Tress
Mitch Epstein discusses his recent work at Sikkema Jenkins
The group then moved downtown, meeting photographer Mitch Epstein at his gallery, Sikkema Jenkins, where Epstein walked us through his new show paying homage to iconic old growth trees in New York City. After Lunch with Epstein, the group gallery-hopped through Chelsea, ultimately weaving its way to the studio of dauguerrotype master, Jerry Spagnoli. As he talked about his process for making modern day daguerreotypes, Spagnoli also wove in the near heroic story of capturing his well known images of the Obama inauguration — overcoming challenges to his press credentials and sub zero temperatures, transporting his huge wooden view camera down flights of stairs, over frozen tundra and through dense crowds to expose his four polished and emulsified metal plates. After our daguerreotype lesson, Jerry joined the group to take in the Stan Douglas show at David Zwirner gallery.
FOP members listen to Mitch Epstein
Mark Schwartz and daughter Sophie listen to Jerry Spagnoli
Penny Rakoff examines a recent Spagnoli daguerrotype
On Saturday morning, AIPAD sponsored a series of interviews and panel discussions. Many FOPers arrived early to hear Dutch portrait sensation, Rineke Dijkstra, and some stayed on to hear curators from MOMA, ICP and Yale discuss emerging artists. At Barbara’s invitation, lunch on the AIPAD floor included the company of several young artists including Lori Nix, Rachel Papo and Dana Miller. Rachel brought selections from her stunning portfolios on female soldiers in the Israeli army and on home-schooled families in Woodstock, New York. In the afternoon, the group was treated to a tour of the to-die-for Flatiron District flat and exquisite photography collection of investment banker and modern art blogger, Michael Hogh.
Rachel Papo presents her portfolio
During the course of the weekend, most FOPers made time to see the Cindy Sherman retrospective at MOMA and the Whitney Biennial and a wonderful show of modern Italian photography at Hunter College. Mix in a few good meals, a few good drinks, a Broadway show and a few rendezvous with old friends, and AIPAD week was a week to remember. Kudos to Curator and fearless leader, Barbara Tannenbaum, for coordinating such a rich string of photog events.
