Francesca Woodman & Chloe

I was scanning my black & white negatives when I came across another tree portrait that I couldn't help but colour. I thought it a good opportunity to display a photographer I recently discovered, Francesca Woodman, and a lovely blog that featured a photo by that photographer. Francesca died at the age of 22.

Okuyama Print

Katherine & I happened to be in a thrift store, dropping off stuff, trying to reclaim some space in our home, when I saw this sitting on a pile of old photos. It is not a photo, of course, but a woodblock print by Gihachiro Okuyama. He lived during the first half of the 20th century. I paid two dollars for the print.

It is humbling to think of the years of dedication to a craft, only to be left on a discard pile in a thrift store. I feel very lucky to have found it.

Etta James

Katherine tells me that someone once said, "All art aspires to music." If that is true, I know I aspire to the kind of feeling Etta James regularly attained. She passed away the other day.

Truth And Beauty Studio

Again I offer one of by photos so I can introduce somebody else.

This weekend I made the effort to see some photographs of India by local photographer Bjoern Obst at "Truth and Beauty Gallery", on 16th and and Heather, in Vancouver.

The photos were beautiful, as you can see on his website. Bjoern was in the gallery talking to the owner of "Truth and Beauty", and curator of Bjoern's show, Peppa Martin. They were both warm and welcoming and we had a long talk about photography and the benefits that a photography collective in Vancouver could offer. Peppa's gallery is also her studio where she does her portrait work and displays some of her own terrific prints.

Cloud Box

This image is an experiment in selected focus. But the purpose of this entry is to show you a recent discovery. The piece is called "Cloud Box" and it is by Peter Alexander, from California. It was done in the '60's, I believe. I found it in today's edition of "Art Knowledge News" which I receive every day.

Coal Harbor & David Burdney

This is a recent shot I took of Vancouver's Coal Harbor. The sky never fails to do something nice for me if I make the effort to get up early and get out. David Burdney is a Winnipeg born photographer who deserves all the attention he gets. I saw his work at a local gallery recently. It was a great inspiration.

Banksy

I am creating this blog entry (or phlog as I prefer to call it) simply as en excuse to provide a link to a youtube entry that features the work of Banksy, a British graffiti artist. It is the opening to "The Simpsons" that they allowed him to design. It is wonderful in so many ways.

The Topp Twins

Photographs can influence one in a lot of ways. I took this album home from the local library on a hunch. I liked what I heard So I googled them. I think they're great.

The Ironies Of Art

As a small 'a' artist, that is, one who has not tried to make a living through his art, I have profound admiration for those who have lived the life of an artist. Whether they did so successfully or not doesn't matter. It is a struggle just to create a personal art form; to have it understood and accepted can be an even more difficult task. To do this and get financial recognition is almost more than can be hoped for.

I have written in earlier posts about my appreciation of Japanese printmakers. Most people know that they had a profound effect on the French impressionists and, therefore, on modern western art. What I learned just recently was that the French discovered these amazing works of art because the prints, which had gone through periods of increasing and declining popularity in Japan, were thought of such little value in their native land during the mid-nineteenth century, that they were used to wrap other goods which were being exported to Europe. This is how the European artists discovered them, as wrapping paper.

The above print is by Hiroshige who lived from 1797 to 1858.

Stuart Clugston

I have not yet had the opportunity to explore larger format analogue cameras but I hold the masters of these cameras in very high regard. There is such an artist in Vancouver, in my neighborhood as a matter of fact. Stuart Clugston just finished a show at Omega Gallery, 4290 Dunbar Street. I caught his work the day before it was scheduled to come down. I am only sorry that I did not get there early enough to spread the word before it was too late. 

There is a link to Ansel Adams. I was told by Omega's owner, Tien Ching, that Mr. Clugston studied with an assistant of Adams and the connection is apparent in the quality of the prints that were on display. Mr. Clugston has, in the past, been selected by the Royal Photographic Society for exhibition in the U.K.

Marjan Mozetich

It must be no secret by now that the atmosphere, I mean sky, clouds and weather, are a continuous inspiration to me. The subtleties of moisture, wind and light in the airs above the ground, and their effect on the landscape, have been an ever growing source of delight to me. 

I was surprised by a piece of music on CBC radio, as I often am, and was immediately struck by its ethereal quality. I felt at home in it. I fell further in love with it when it ended and the announcer gave its title. It was "Unfolding Sky ", the first movement of "Postcards From The Sky", a work in three movements for string orchestra, by Marjan Mozetich. I finally went out and found a copy at Sikora's, on Hastings. It was on an album of music by Mr. Mozetich called "Affairs Of The Heart", featuring the CBC Orchestra, Directed by Mario Bernardi.

Dunbar Antique & Lighting and Sally Mann

Antique stores have obvious appeal. I wandered into Dunbar Antiques & Lighting a few days ago and took some pictures in the fading light. I was made very welcome by the owner, Sergio Parenti. We talked photography and he told me about a documentary he had seen recently about Sally Mann.

His store was a lovely mix of styles, from suits of armour to clothes and paraphernalia from the American south-west, and more. The light faded before I got going but it was a treat to be there.

Edward Burtynsky

Edward Burtynsky is one of Canada's foremost photographers. His most famous works are shot with large format cameras and printed on a very large scale. He established a photo lab and digital imaging centre, Toronto Image Works, in 1985. His theme for a number of years has been our effect, especially through industry, on the world's landscape. I first became aware of him when he began chronicling the Three Gorges Dam Project in China. 'Manufactured Landscapes' is a film that shows him at work and some of the resulting prints. It is a fascinating documentary film both for its depiction of Mr. Burtynsky as an artist and, through his photographs, an instigator of social dialogue, and for the stunning photography itself. Mr. Burtynsky is donating a number of his recent prints to the Surrey Art Gallery and will be speaking  at the presentation to the gallery on February 12th, 2009. I phoned for my tickets to the event a few hours after it sold out, but I will go see the prints at least once, and hopefully a number of times. The image above is the spring 2003 cover of 'Canadian ART' magazine. 

And One Show I Missed

Vancouver is rich with world class photographers. On my blog list you'll notice Alex Waterhouse-Hayward. If you haven't explored his blog I would suggest you do so as soon as possible. He is not only an extraordinary photographer but also a gifted memoirist.  Visit his blog and discover for yourself.

I have mentioned Jeff Wall in other posts.  

Someone that I met briefly, in my other life as a recreation programmer in a downtown/east side long-term care facility, is another name on the list of world-class photographers. Lincoln Clarkes has been photographing Vancouver, especially the downtown east side and the people in it, for a long time. 

I got a chance to meet Mr. Clarkes when he came to our facility to ensure that his long-time friend, Richard (Dick)  Oulton, was properly situated. He also took the responsibility of making sure that Mr. Oulton's photos did not become lost and that they received the recognition they deserved. Last fall his efforts were rewarded when Presentation House included some of Dick Oulton's photos in 'Juliette & Friends' a show based on photos culled from local archives. They also co-published, along with Bywater Bros. Editions, a book of selected photographs entitled. "Lynn Valley #5  Meet Dick Oulton". 

I wasn't able to get up to Presentation House for the show but I did get to see a package that Mr. Clarkes (that's him above, under one of Dick Oulton's photos) dropped off at Central City Lodge, for the people who were lucky enough to spend the last couple of years of Dick Oulton's life with him. We appreciated it.

                                          

Luke Howard

Luke Howard was the man who gave clouds their names. There is a wonderful book, 'The Invention Of Clouds' by Richard Hamblyn, that chronicles the life of Howard, focusing on his meteorological contribution. Clouds were one of my early subjects and still are. They are also one of the primary tools of the outdoor, natural light photographer. The illustrations above are: 1) a portrait of Luke Howard  2) one of his sky sketches  3) one of my Instamatic X-15 cloudscapes (circa 1977)  4) Maple Ridge Sky (2008)  5) Cloud Over Cypress Mountain (2007) 6) Night Cloud Over Vancouver (from Stanley Park) (2007)

Japanese woodblock prints & Jeff Wall

In my last blog I mentioned the 'Views Of Fuji'. A number of Japanese artists have done views of Fuji but probably the most famous is Hokusai (1760 - 1849). These are three of my favorite views. Japanese woodblock prints were a major influence on 19th century European artists, including the impressionists. Both the Japanese aesthetics and early photography affected the impressionist movement. Jeff Wall, a fabulous and world renowned Vancouver photographer has a photograph in the Tate Museum that is clearly a response to the top picture. It is a marvelous photo. Follow the link below to see it.   http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/exhibitions/jeffwall/rooms/room7.shtm

Wim Wenders

Recently my children gave me a book of photographs as a gift. It was "Pictures From The Surface Of The Earth" by the great movie director Wim Wenders. He is the director of one of my favorite movies, "Wings Of Desire".  It is a beautiful black & white film that never fails to move me with it's compassion for our failings and frailty and its respect for the human spirit. Apparently he keeps a panoramic camera with him most of the time and the results are in the book. They are beautiful to look at but are more than that. Like his films they  leave one with the feeling that Mr. Wenders truly enjoys the world and respects his fellow inhabitants. But he is not above being critical or sharing a joke. Many of the photos are from the American southwest where he shot, "Paris, Texas" and "Don't Come Knocking". "Don't Come Knocking" was especially beautiful to watch, with the richly textured landscape, architecture and light of the western desert area. Mr. Wenders sites Edward Hopper as a strong influence. There will be more on Mr. Hopper in the future.

Guy Maddin

This photo is a still from Guy Maddin's "My Winnipeg". A person's relationship with the city of their birth can be a complicated one. Coming from Winnipeg brings me a particular joy. "My Winnipeg" is a good way for someone from someplace other than Winnipeg to start to get to know the city, and Guy Maddin.  To find out more about Mr. Maddin's movies, go to http://www.guymaddin.net

My family home is on Lorette Avenue. This is important to remember if you ever watch "My Winnipeg". You'll find out why we don't talk about Lorette.