reading...

Just started reading this book. Very excited since it has been recommended to me by a million people. It was suggested reading for Doug Beasley's workshop at CPW and I never got around to reading it. I will give a review when I am finished.

I have to say, that is one big advantage to the semi unemployed life--- reading time a plenty!

What are you reading right now?

NYFA MARK Artist Talk

I will be giving a brief artist talk at this event. Would love to see you there!!! It is free and we would all appreciate you coming and giving us feedback.

Rosendale MARK Artists' Talks

Throughout Spring 2010, 60 artists from five different regions of NY state participated in MARK, a program of New York Foundation for the Arts. Women's Studio Workshop, in its second year as a partnering organization with the MARK program invites you to attend artist talks by the 12 participating MARK artists in the Rosendale region.

Thursday May 27, 2010 6p-8:15p

Marbletown Community Center
Route 209 (Main Street in Stone Ridge, Also known as Route 209, directly across the street from Key Bank)
Stone Ridge, NY 12484

All participating artists will be giving a 5 minute presentation on their work. There will then be a 5 minute period of question and feedback.


MARK10 Rosendale Artists:
Michael Asbill
Cristina de Gennaro
Gordon Fearey
Allison Leach
Jill Parisi
E. Elizabeth Peters
Kaete Brittin Shaw
Elizabeth Unterman
Lori Van Houten
Pamela J. Wallace
Tona Wilson


MARK is the New York Foundation for the Arts'(NYFA) statewide six-month program for visual artists seeking a unique opportunity for individualized focus on the professional side of their creative practice. Partnering MARK organizations include Women's Studio Workshop as well as other arts organizations throughout New York State.

For more information on the MARK program visit nyfa.org/mark.

getting adjusted

I took a break from blogging for the past few weeks.

Getting this new semi-jobless life of mine into perspective.

It is slowly coming together. I think.

It is a beautiful thing to have time and freedom and I do not want to waste a second of it.

I get to be an almost full-time artist and I am slightly overwhelmed. Only because it is everything I have been asking for and I have to figure out how to make it work for me. Believe it or not- I still do not have as much time as I need to be in the studio or out shooting. Very complicated.

On the flip side, looking at new work is as important to me as making it. So, I will be headed to NYC for New York Photo Festival in Dumbo starting this Thursday. A lot of very interesting exhibitions and speakers over the 4 day event. I look forward to taking it all in and digesting it thoroughly.

The festival is very cool because it organizes several exhibitions and constructs a panel schedule around the topics of each show. The visiting curators include Vince Aletti, Erik Kessels, Fred Richin and Lou Reed.

In addition, they have a very large portfolio review event. Many wonderful reviewers are invited to participate--- it is a great place to showcase your work. Will most surely take advantage next year when this newer work is further along.

NYC is buzzing with photography that is not related to NYPH. Some of the exhibitions I plan on seeing:

KlompChing Gallery in Dumbo (very close to the NYPH events) will have a reception for Helen Sear on Thursday evening.

image by Helen Sear, courtasy of the Klompching Gallery

MoMA has a tremendous amount to see: William Kentridge (through May 17), Henri Cartier-Bresson (through June 28) & performance by Marina Abramovic (through May 31). I can seriously spend the entire day here-- and I just might end up doing that.

The last big thing on my list that I have to see is:

Haunted: Contemporary Photography/Video & Performance at the Guggenheim.

I will keep you updated....

notes from the blogosphere

I recently wrote an article for PQ (Photography Quarterly) about the photography blogging community called "notes from the blogosphere". Nymphoto wrote a nice mention of it as well as several other features from that issue on their wonderful blog.
You can see it here.


Nymphoto is a wonderful resource that I read on a regular basis. Nymphoto: A Collective of Women Photographers provides online exhibitions, group shows, collective publications and an open forum for artistic discourse. Nymphoto remains a trusted and innovative resource for women photographers. Got to love it.

Another brief mention of the long awaited PQ #98 was given on jen Bekman's blog Hey, hot shot here.

Hope you are having a nice week!

2010 is going to be a great year....

Ahhh... It is finally here. the 2010 workshop schedule. Check it out on CPW's homepage. Even though I am not running the program anymore I will still endorse it with all my might. Best workshops ever.

greetings from the sunshine state

A few days away in Florida for J's cousin's wedding. Fun times for sure. Nice to be in lala land for a bit. We keep hearing about the crappy weather back in New York and I feel slightly guilty since it has mostly been warm and sunny here.

Have not seen any art--- even though I had a list of spots I was hoping to check out. Busy with other things and time goes fast. The good news is that I was insired to take a few pictures. Imagine that?! One was even a self portrait. Maybe I will share when I return.

Be back soon on the rainy and dark side. Maybe I will bring some sunshine with me?

picture of my day

Have not been posting much in the last few weeks. Been very busy at work and in my personal life (see my two favorite boys above). Life moves fast and I am trying not too miss too much of it.

The big news is that I am getting ready to leave CPW next month. I have been there for three years and am ready to pursue other professional paths. I am hoping to move on to a full time faculty job and simultaneously pursue my own art with more diligence. I am applying for several positions, but have yet to receive any offers. Fingers crossed that something perfect emerges. If you hear of any positions that might suit me or have any advice about applying for faculty jobs, please contact me.

I love CPW with all my heart and will continue to be a part of its extended family. You will see me at all the major events there- listening to the artist lectures, volunteering, taking a class, using the facilities, or just having some fun with the extraordinary people who work there.

Most certainly not an end of something, but the beginning. So excited to see what the universe throws at me. I will keep you informed!

the light at the end of the long winter tunnel

the smell, taste and sights of spring air. ahhhh. deep breathes of warm, sun soaked inhalations.

and that light! what a sight for my sleepy wintered eyes. Those reflections and shadows are so uniquely spring.

book wishlist

image by Hank Willis Thomas

I mentioned Hank Willis Thomas in my last post because he spoke at the SPE conference. While he is on my mind I would like to acknowledge that his book Pitch Blackness is now on my immediate book wish list. It should be on yours too.

The image above is from the series Unbranded, which is represented in his book (which was published due to Willis-Thomas winning the first ever Aperture West book prize). By removing the logos and product information from these advertisements, Hank examines the ever so complicated Black image in American media.

You can purchase it through Aperture Books here.

notes from the field: an SPE overview

Jenn and I out taking a stroll on market St.

Back from a great national conference. Still processing all the information. Spoke on a panel about Language, Diversity and Community. Heard speakers including Kip Fulbeck, Hank Willis-Thomas, Dawoud Bey and so many more. Deb Willis was the honored educator and I was so looking forward to hearing her lecture---but instead a number of people who have been close to her throughout the years paid tribute to her exellence. which honestly, made me want to hear her even more- their words were incredibly moving.

Bought a few books at aperture, talked to many interesting artists and students, looked at art and played a little too...capped each night with a martini (or two...or three)

My only comment about the event is that for a topic as big as diversity I felt that there was not enough discussion time after each panel/lecture. To really dig in and get our hands dirty I believe that a public conversation is necessary. Even despite this, I think some important points and histories were discussed.

Dawoud Bey just posted his thoughts on the conference and a transcript of his lecture as one of the conference's keynote speaker's on his blog What's Going On.

Philadelphia was a great city for the conference. It was energetic and creative.
The bus that SPE organized for a gallery tour took us to the new yet wonderful Philadelphia Photographic Arts Center, and to Gallery 339 where I saw the exhibition Show by Henry Horenstein(who wil be teaching at CPW this summer).

Jenn and I got to walk around a bit and snap a few shots and visit the oh so wonderful Mutter Museum. Aside from the medical specimens that were intriguing beyond belief (I stared at deformed fetuses and objects that were lodged in people throats for hours)- there was a fascinating ceramics exhibition on display which explored the various perspectives surrounding the idea of "normalcy". So glad I made it there.

Another fun thing I got to do was see Justin Townes Earle (Steve Earle's son) at a great, small venue on the west side of town. Killer music- I highly recommend. Oh, did I mention that I went with Henry Horenstien. Yes, the man whose photographic texts taught me almost everything I technically know about photography at age 14-24 was rockin' out with me at a folk concert. This Crazy life.

A few images from my walk:






Happy Monday!