Edward Winkleman, art dealer and owner of Winkleman Gallery, has an incredibly active blog. Not only does he thoughtfully blog almost every day, but he usually generates 100+ comments.
Edward’s honest and frank posts gives those on the other side an incredible insight into the gallery scene and business. Bravo for transparency!
Recently, he started a weekly post, Tuesday’s Aside, in which he answers people’s gallery and career questions.
Here are some recent gems:
1.) Investing in Yourself - what to do to advance your career when you come into extra $
2.) Political Correctness - in the gallery scene and artworld
3.) Studio Visit Strategies - what to do and not to do when a gallerist or curator visits and when, how, and even if to ask for one
In this last post, Edward introduces a fantastic metaphor, the art spiral pictured above, and goes on to share his insights on this process. It’s such a wonderful summation of the artistic process (which so often does have an artist coming back to the same themes and ideas again and again, just parsed differently) that I will quote it in full. Enjoy!
Anonymous you note: “I know the direction I’m (already) moving in, which is quite different.” In my experience, though, the direction most artists are moving in only seems different for a while. Here’s a simplified version of how I imagine most artists’ journeys/interests (as opposed to careers) would look if charted. [see above]
The spiral is the path I see/hear about repeatedly in studio visits. Obviously there are many more spokes to this spiral, different subjects that reemerge from time to time, points along the path where you adopt the influence or return to a subject (marked with the red asterisks) and others when some idea/subject/concern occurs to you but you press on ignoring it (where the spiral crosses a spoke but there is no asterisk).
I find this image useful, though, when I recognize during a studio visit that an artist has “returned” to an idea or introduced something that might seem entirely new until I see much older work and realize that for many artists they keep returning to the same ideas again and again, only with more insight/ experience than the last time. At such junctures, certain ideas might seem to be threatening what you’ve built perhaps because it’s been a while since Subject A was part of your practice/ consciousness. You might have dropped it off at one asterisk. But generally it’s radiating through your overall practice all the while. If you need it again, you can pick it up and use it.
An artist I showed this diagram to the other day suggested it’s actually much more complex than this. Rather than one two-dimensional spiral, each artist’s journey is actually a three-dimensional series of multiple interwoven spirals, and the intersections are not always so chronological. I suspect he’s right, but the whole point of illustrating this is to note that I don’t think dealers (or anyone else) should associate changes in an artist’s practice with a lack of seriousness. Not if they’re taking a long-term view.
It may not be easy even for the artist, at the point marked “Today,” to see how it’s all related (and how a drastic change in medium or practice will later be combined with other more thoroughly examined spokes and bring one’s audience back round). Personally I think what seem like dramatic shifts are OK so long as the artist has interesting ideas, is rigorous about exploring them, and has a solid studio practice. It will all come together again, and probably be much more interesting for pushing further out along the spiral, rather than sticking in one spot along it.
The PRC wants to invite you to a kickoff event for our new group, The Young Professionals. From emerging artists, to collectors, to photo fans, The Young Professionals is an exciting new hub for the Boston photography scene.
Join us on October 16th from 6 - 8 pm for the first Emerging Collector’s Event. We’ll have cocktails and hors d’oeurves and get the chance to talk first hand to a few of the artists whose work will be in the 2008 PRC Benefit Auction.
Thursday, October 16, 6-8 pm
808 Gallery, 808 Commonwealth Ave, Boston, MA 02215
Admission: $10
Please RSVP by October 3rd. Call Cate Brennan, Programs Coordinator, at 617-975-0600 or email cbrennan@prcboston.org with questions or if you would like to join the Young Professionals of the PRC.
This fall, close to 200 vintage and contemporary photographs go up for auction to benefit the PRC. Above is one of the amazing images on which you can bid. Keep checking back to see more auction images. Click here or on the above image for more information.
Image credit:
Martin R. Anderson, Provincetown, C-Scape 2005, Self-Portrait #5, 2005/2006, Selenium Toned Gelatin Silver Print, 5 1/2 x 8 inches, Edition 3/30, signed verso
On Saturday, October 25th at 808 Commonwealth Avenue close to 200 vintage and contemporary photographs go up for auction. Above is one of the amazing images that the audience will be able to bid on. Check back to see more auction images. We will be posting them regularly. Click here for more information on the event.
Image Credit: Matt Siber, Citgo, 2003, Archival Inkjet. 22 x 18 inches, AP, signed verso
This is always an exciting time of year on Comm. Ave. While the rest of Boston is quiet, there is a beehive of activity going on at the BU West T-stop!
We have given over our gallery to the imagemakers of tomorrow (PRC Summer Photo Camp is halfway through!) and right next door there are young graduate students about to blossom.
Boston Young Contemporaries, organized by BU studio art graduate students, takes over the former Cadillac Building from mid July - mid August. Now in its third year, you can see witness vibrant talent, juried from 12 regional graduate and post-bac programs. You can read the Boston Globe’s review right here, or stop on by yourself! It’s up until August 22nd.
Do they include any from this excellent list of 10 songs with photographic themes courtesy of Photo Shelter’s most excellent Shoot the Blog?
Besides Outkast’s Hey Ya! and their iconic “shake it like a Polaroid picture” chorus, what else, pun intended, develops? (Be sure to also check out the above post’s comment section for even more photo songs and photo punniness.)
A mix of such tunes might just be the perfect soundtrack for the next PRC PhotoSLAM! What do you think?
While you contemplate, you can listen to Jack Jackson’sF-Stop Blues!
On Saturday, October 25th at 808 Commonwealth Avenue close to 200 vintage and contemporary photographs go up for auction. Above is one of the amazing images that the audience will be able to bid on. Check back to see more auction images. We will be posting them regularly. Click here for more information on the event.
Believe me, I’m the last person who wants to rush the summer along (despite today’s oppressive heat and no home air conditioning). But having just confirmed our fall speakers I can now say that I won’t be quite so despondent after the last leaves have fallen. We have the pleasure of hosting some pretty amazing artists this fall and I wanted to share the news.
Below is the list of folks and the corresponding dates of their lectures. But please keep in mind that dates may be subject to change so always check back to prcboston.org, for the most current information.
Polaroid Spotlight Lecture featuring Barbara Crane Thursday, October 23
The depth and breadth of work Barbara has produced is staggering. There’s not many people out there who can move so deftly between styles, materials, subjects, formats, etc., etc., as Barbara. Truly a Renaissance photographer!
Paul Fusco Thursday, November 13
One of the great Magnum photographers, Paul Fusco has traveled the world covering the stories that have defined our generation, including Robert F. Kennedy’s assasination and subsequent funeral train procession. He’ll share pictures from that story, which are included in his new book Paul Fusco: RFK, soon to be released by Aperture. A show of this work is currently up at Danziger Projects and was recently featured in the New York Times Magazine.
Larry Fink Thursday, December 11
Check out Fink’s current show and latest body of work, The Democrats, at Pace/MacGill Gallery. He’s applied that candid aesthetic, that we all came to know and love from his work covering black tie affairs in New York City, to the recent Democratic nomination campaign trail.
Image Credits, Top to bottom:
Barbara Crane, Santa Barbara and Refrigerator, “On the Fence” series, Tucson, Arizona, 1980, 8 x 10 inches
Paul Fusco/Magnum Photos USA. 1968, Robert KENNEDY funeral train
Larry Fink, Hillary Clinton, NC and IN, 2008. Gelatin silver print paper, 24 x 20 inches
The Polaroid Spotlight Lecture is sponsored by the Land Fund of the Polaroid Foundation
A couple of weeks ago, the Boston Globe had a huge story about the 14 Boston commercial galleries that are changing, moving, or closing. Read the piece by Cate McQuaid here and see a slideshow here. If you really want fancy, try out their interactive map here. This coming fall’s openings will certainly be different. We wish all the best!
For other perspectives - be sure to check out Greg Cook’s recent post, as well as his excellent overview and coverage of the breaking gallery news since the spring as it happened.
Over in Big Red, and Shiny land, Matt Nash posted his take on their blog Our Daily Red. Also in the last issue of Big Red, Jess T. Dugan has an interview with Joseph Carroll on his new gallery endeavor and and Steve Aishman gave a beautiful eulogy to Allston Skirt.
On Saturday, October 25th at 808 Commonwealth Avenue close to 200 vintage and contemporary photographs go up for auction. Above is one of the amazing images that the audience will be able to bid on. Check back to see more auction images. We will be posting them regularly. Click here for more information on the event.
Image Credit: Brian Finke, Kate, Tiger Airways, C-Print, 9.5 x 9.5 Inches, courtesy of CLAMPART
FRIDAY, JULY 25 Newburyport Art Association.Jane Sydney & Michael Cunliffe Thompson. Reception: 7-9pm. 978-465-8769. Hills Gallery. 65 Water Street, Newburyport, MA 01950.
Editor’s Note: This is the first of what hopes to be many posts by our intern/workstudy students! The first is by Kassia Karr, a 4th year BA/MA student in interdisciplinary studies, focusing on South Asia, at BU. As you can see by the above image and at her Web site, she is also a very talented photographer! She’s been away from the PRC for about a year. We’re glad to have her back!
When I landed at Logan Airport in May, it was windy, rainy, and cold: 55, maybe 56 degrees. I had been in transit for over 36 hours, and when I realized that the only ‘warm’ piece of clothing I possessed was a single, well-worn cardigan, I was ready to hop the next plane back to India.
After returning to New England weather, what could possibly cheer me up? Coming back to work at the PRC, of course! I jumped right back into my position as a PRC intern after a year’s absence from Boston. I had left the day after last year’s “Exposure” exhibition, and returned a little over a week before this year’s show. The center was a busy place, with artwork to be hung, condition reports to be filled out, newsletters to be sent, numerous letters to be folded and stamped, etc. The opening reception had a great turnout despite the threat of rain. If a girl in a bright blue skirt handed you a glass of wine or a beer, that was me. Yes, interns wear many hats, including that of bartender.
While I was gone I kept up with PRC happenings via our very active Flickr site. From 7000 miles away I was able to look at images from the 2007 PRC Benefit Auction, the installations for the AD AGENCY, student, and New England Survey exhibitions, and shots of various photographers from our lecture series. I regularly updated my Flickr account as well, giving people back home a little glimpse of my life and travels during my year abroad. I also enjoyed perusing our contacts’ Flickr sites and user-driven groups like the New England Survey photo pool. I was happy to see my friend and local photographer Derek Vincent contributing some of his work to the pool.
Despite the mediocre weather, I’m happy to be back in Boston and back at the PRC. There’s a busy summer ahead, as it’s time to start organizing the 2008 PRC Benefit Auction set for October 25th. I am looking forward to the work ahead!
ABOVE IMAGE: Hanukkah in Madurai. December 2007. Photo by Kassia Karr
This fall, over 200 vintage and contemporary photographs go up for auction to benefit the PRC. Above is one of the amazing images that the audience will be able to bid on. Keep checking back to see more auction images. Click here for more information on the event.
Image credit: Eric Almquist, Russell Orchards, Ipswich , Massachusetts, 2007/2008, Inkjet Print, 22 1/2×30 inches
Above is just one of the many images featured on the hilarious blog photoshopdisasters.blogspot.com. Check back daily and be sure to browse their older posts, accessible at the bottom of the page. Do give yourself enough time to browse, you’ll be sucked in!
Below is their ode to post modernism that accompanies the above classic from Mexico’s Maxim as well as their open call for erased furniture, missing belly buttons, elongated body parts, and cloning gone wild.
“By renormalizing the model’s waistline, Maxim Mexico takes a bold socio-political stance in the ongoing battle of the politics of representation, clearly referencing the oppressive reification of male-gaze heteronormative modes of synthesis in a semiotic blancmange of post-structural teakettle barbecue hatstand fishmonger.”
Have you seen a truly awful piece of Photoshop work? Clumsy manipulation, senseless comping, lazy cloning and thoughtless retouching are our bread and butter. And yes, deep down, we love Photoshop.
If it is commercial and awful then please let us know! Anonymity can be arranged for the easily embarrassed/canned. Although I am hopeless at replying to email, be assured that each and every tip is followed up.
THURSDAY, JULY 10 Atlantic Works. Unsuitable Content an Atlantic Works Group Show. Opening Reception: 6-9pm. 617-913-1871. 80 Border Street, 3rd Floor, East Boston, MA 02128.
FRIDAY, JULY 11 Gallery 339. Yale MFA Photography 2008. Opening: 6-8pm. 215-731-1530. 339 South 21st Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.
Gallery Kayafas.The Merry Cemetery of Sapanta: Photographs by Peter Kayafas. and Bremner Benedict: Gridlines. Reception: 5:30-8pm. 617-482-0411. 61 Thayer at 450 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118.
Kingston Gallery.American Summer ‘08. Opening Reception: 5-7:30pm. 617-423-4113. 450 Harrison Avenue #43 Boston, MA 02118.
Laconia Gallery.Taking In: AIB Photography ‘08. Opening Reception: 5:30-8pm. 433 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118.
SATURDAY, JULY 12 Hallmark Museum of Contemporary Photography.Andarge Asfaw: Ethiopia from the Heart. Artist Reception and Talk. 413-863-0009. 85 Avenue A, Turners Falls, MA 01376.
New Bedford Art Museum.Artist Reception and Talk with Jane Tuckerman. Reception: 2pm. 508-961-3072. 608 Pleasant Street, New Bedford, MA 02740.
On Saturday, October 25th at 808 Commonwealth Avenue over 200 vintage and contemporary photographs go up for auction. Above is one of the amazing images that the audience will be able to bid on. Check back to see more auction images. We will be posting them regularly. Click here for more information on the event.
Image credit: Frederick Harris Jewell, Street Scene, Mukden, Manchuria, China, Ink jet print, 12 x 18 inches.
We hope all photo friends enjoy the long weekend and celebrate in your respective ways! The PRC will be closed the 4th and through the weekend.
Today, I begin to take down the PRC Juried Exhibition (a great run! - but all good things must come to an end). The gallery will soon be given over to Summer Photo Camp, so there will be no exhibition on display until early September. Make no mistake, we’re still here, busy prepping for the next year and our upcoming 2008 PRC Benefit Auction!
Above is a Flickr montage for your enjoyment and here are some tips for photographing fireworks from the Boston Globe. Have a safe and happy 4th!
In this feature, we showcase an image per week from our current exhibition, EXPOSURE: 13th Annual PRC Juried Exhibition, juried by Aperture’s Lesley A. Martin. In celebration of the last weeks of the show, we increased the frequency (and the excitement). This is the last image!
Today is the last day to see the PRC Juried show! We’re open today - Wednesday - from 10am - 6pm. (If you are out of town, browse our flicker set.)
This week’s image is from Ellen Susan and is a gorgeous wet plate image. Ellen has been getting a lot of attention as of late. Besides the multi-page spread in June’s PDN, American Photo’s excellent State of the Art blog has a very long post on her work. Congrats!
ABOUT : Ellen Susan (Savannah, GA) produces one-of-a-kind portraits of U.S. Army soldiers based in Southeast Georgia using the historical wet plate process. The majority of men and women in her “Soldier Portraits” have been deployed to Iraq two or three times since 2003. A graduate of MassArt and RISD, Susan has shown at the Houston Center for Photography; RISD|Works in Providence, RI; New Orleans Photo Alliance Gallery in New Orleans, LA; and has an upcoming solo show at Blue Sky Gallery in Portland, OR this summer.
From Susan’s statement:
“Soldier Portraits” - The wet collodion process was the primary photographic method from the 1840s through the 1880s, encompassing the dates of the American Civil War. The men and women photographed for the Soldier Portraits project are members of the U.S. Army based in Southeast Georgia. Most have deployed to Iraq one to three times since 2003. Many are in Iraq now. Army deployments now last 15 months.
The necessarily long exposures of this slow process often result in an intensity of gaze, and the grainless, highly detailed surface brings out minute details of each individual. These attributes, combined with the historical military associations made me feel that the process could be a meaningful way to photograph contemporary soldiers and to provide a counterpoint to the anonymous representations seen in newspapers and on television. I wanted to produce physically enduring, visually arresting images of people who are being sent repeatedly into a war zone.
ABOVE IMAGE: Ellen Susan, SPC Shaun Kramer, 2007, from the series “Soldier Portraits,” Aluminotype, 10 x 8 inches, courtesy of the artist
In this feature, we showcase an image per week from our current exhibition, EXPOSURE: 13th Annual PRC Juried Exhibition, juried by Aperture’s Lesley A. Martin. In celebration of the last weeks of the show, we increased the frequency (and the excitement). This is the 2nd to last image!
You have 2 days to see the show - the last day is July 2nd! We’re open this week Tuesday and Wednesday 10am - 6pm. (If you are out of town, browse our flicker set.)
This week’s image is from Erik Shubert. Erik’s work, like the other Eric, is about work - and funny! Luckily, I haven’t had too many desk jobs, or these would hit even closer to home. I was thrilled that these two could meet at the opening reception.
ABOUT : Erik Schubert (Cambridge, MA), inspired in part by Dale Carnegie’s book How to Win Friends and Influence People and his businessman father, has been collecting and documenting scenes and ephemera of corporate aspirations and failure. A 2007 MFA graduate of MassArt, Schubert has shown in several juried student shows in Boston such as Boston Young Contemporaries and the 2007 PRC Student Exhibition. He has an upcoming solo show, Thinking Big, at the Slocumb Gallery at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN.
From Erik’s statement:
“How to Win Friends and Influence People” - Realizing that we live in an increasingly business-centered society, how we navigate as “businesspeople” may determine the success or failure of our aspirations and the ability to pursue them. I am interested in how this kind of society shapes our visual world and language.
At a young age it was instilled in me that the mythology from Dale Carnegie’s classic book, How to Win Friends and Influence People was one that predicated success and happiness in life. The book has been widely published and accepted by businesspeople and corporate planners all over the world, including my father.
Some images are documentations of found items, constructed on location. Other images are documentations of ephemera that I have collected from such places as expositions, infomercials, my family, and home. With these photographs, I try to explore and communicate metaphorically the success, failure, and complexity of corporate mythologies in society.
ABOVE IMAGE: Erik Schubert, Level II, 2007/2008, from the series “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” Archival Inkjet Print, 19 x 23 inches, courtesy of the artist
Boston Photography Focus is a blog dedicated to Boston photographers, Boston photography exhibitions and education, photo enthusiasts, and all manner of photo-based activities, news, happenings, topics, and ideas in and around Boston, New England, and beyond. It is sponsored by the Photographic Resource Center (PRC) at Boston University, New England's center for photography. The PRC is an independent non-profit organization that serves as a vital forum for the exploration and interpretation of new work, ideas, and methods in photography and related media.
Boston Photography Focus is a blog dedicated to Boston photographers, Boston photography exhibitions and education, photo enthusiasts, and all manner of photo-based activities, news, happenings, topics, and ideas in and around Boston, New England, and beyond. It is sponsored by the 
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