The LIVING NATURE Exhibition
© Janos Lanyi
The LIVING NATURE Exhibition
We share our world with animals and plants, and both of these groups, while their physiology may differ, certainly demand our attention and care in various ways. They have a similar meaning to many of us as well, and we provide them with love and dedication, the closer they are to us, as they often share our most closely defined personal spaces. Some people talk to their plants, others to their pets, and some talk to both, placing similar value on these living beings that are our companions.
As the contributions for this theme came in, I saw a celebration of our animals and plants. I also saw that our group of photographers found visual excitement in the appearance and characteristics of these various “creatures” and vegetation. Whether they are found around our house, or majestically attempt to survive in their native habitats, there is a definite impact that plants and animals have on our psyche and our emotions. The particular observations collected here certainly pay tribute to the majesty and beauty of the plants and animals around us, and convey the impact they have on us, as well as the impact we have on them.
This time the order is by first name, in alphabetical order. Congratulations to Janos Lanyi for having his image selected as the keynote photograph, and to all the participants for their great work: Beatta Bosworth, Bill Collins, Diane Reeves, Douglas Stockdale, Gerhard (Gerry) Clausing, Jan Brueckner, Janos Lanyi, Jim Koch, Jim McKinniss, Linda Berman, Manuel Martinez IV, Scott Mathews, and Stan Kuran. All images are copyright © by each individual photographer, with websites available by clicking the name when highlighted. Since this is an exhibition open only to our group of Photographers Exchange members, yet shown to the whole internet, it is our custom here (contrary to practice for other shows) to include some curator’s images as well, if only to call attention to yet another particular artistic perspective. Remember that Doug and I have issued a call for guest curators, so let us know if you are interested!
It was a pleasure to curate this exhibition for our group. Also, please pay attention to the newsletter that outlines the next two exhibition opportunities. We also welcome new members, which would allow newcomers to participate.
Enjoy!
Gerhard (Gerry) Clausing, Exhibition Curator
Beatta Bosworth
Bill Collins
Diane Reeves
Douglas Stockdale
Gerhard Clausing
Jan Brueckner
Janos Lanyi
Jim Koch
Jim McKinniss
Linda Berman
Manuel Martinez IV
Scott Mathews
Stan Kuran
On-line exhibition: Water & Ice
copyright Scott Mathews
Within the artistic genre of landscape, documentary and still-live photography, the subject of water and all of its related forms is one of the classic themes. The subject of water has continued to evolve into contemporary art due to its metaphoric potential as representing one of the basic essences of life, thus carries the capability to visually represent a multitude of feelings and conditions.
This exhibition is an investigation of all of the conditions of water; whether it is a foggy day, the mist of a cold rain or a cascading waterfall runoff, and for this winter season, both ice and snow. This exhibition is inclusive of the events that occur in conjunction with water; how we as individuals, both directly or indirectly, interact with the various conditions and effects of water.
This is a broad interpretation of the myriad ways that visual symbols of water are investigated, whether the “modern” unadorned nature or the urban human landscape, as an abstract concept or a straight rendition while being created using digital capture, film or other analog techniques.
The fourteen artists in this exhibition include: Paul Anderson, Roger Bennett, Beatta Bosworth, Jan Brueckner, Gerhard “Gerry” Clausing, Bill Collins, Stan Kuran, Janos Lanyi, Scott Mathews, Jim McKinniss, Marc Plouffe, Diane Reeves, Robert Staeck and Douglas Stockdale. I have arranged the images alphabetically by last name. All images are Copyright © by each individual artist/photographer, with websites if available by clicking on the name when highlighted.
The exhibition is open only to members of Photographers Exchange and it is our custom (contrary to practice for other exhibits) to include some of the curator’s images as well, if only to call attention to yet another particular artistic perspective.
Cheers,
Douglas Stockdale, Associate Editor & exhibition curator
Exhibition:
Paul Anderson
Jan Brueckner
Bill Collins
Stan Kuran
The HUMAN NATURE Exhibition
Jan Brueckner
The HUMAN NATURE Exhibition
It is the nature of humans to want to leave their mark, while life also leaves its marks on them. Whether it is through their own presence, or more indirectly through writing and art on paper, in blogs, or on walls, or paint on canvas, or through photographs and other media – there are memories and interpretations and evidence of the human spirit that outlast the moment.
The submissions for this exhibition are also a notable testament to the human spirit. We observe strong personalities, we can study human nature, both here as well as in other countries, as observed by our talented members, and we also witness attempts to make a difference through markings of all sorts, as well as an absence of significant markings at times (no program on TV). The selections shown here constitute a fascinating set of observations of many personal and social moments.
There are similarities and differences in the points of view represented. One could have grouped them by similarities rather than by photographer. Nevertheless, in the end I chose to keep the groupings by member; in this case – very predictably – alphabetically by last name. Congratulations to Jan Brueckner for having one of his images chosen as the keynote image, and kudos to all the participants for their imaginative work: Roger Bennett, Beatta Bosworth, Jan Brueckner, Ellen Butler, Gerhard Clausing, Bill Collins, Jim Koch, Stan Kuran, Janos Lanyi, Scott Mathews, Marc Plouffe, Diane Reeves, and Douglas Stockdale.
All images are Copyright © by each individual photographer, with websites available by clicking the name when underlined. Since this is an exhibition open only to our group of Photographers Exchange members, yet shown to the whole internet, it is our custom here (contrary to practice for other shows) to include some curator’s images as well, if only to call attention to yet another particular artistic perspective. Remember that Doug and I have issued an open call for guest curators, so feel free to volunteer!
Enjoy the images! Hope to see you at the meeting on Thursday, December 13; in any case, best wishes for the holidays and for 2019!
Gerhard (Gerry) Clausing, Exhibition Curator
Roger Bennett
Beatta Bosworth
Jan Brueckner
Ellen Butler
Gerhard Clausing
Bill Collins
Jim Koch
Stan Kuran
Janos Lanyi
Scott Mathews
Marc Plouffe
Diane Reeves
Douglas Stockdale
Fall Season – On-line Exhibition
Photographer; Harvey Chin
The year is traditionally marked by the passing of time as indicated by the seasonal weather conditions; it is currently the fall while steadily heading into winter. This seasonal period also has events that are well known; Halloween, Thanksgiving, and coming soon Christmas and Hanukkah. Most of these holiday events are family events in combination with a reflection of the seasonality time of year; the fall colors of Thanksgiving and snowy conditions we usually associate with Christmas.
This exhibition investigates this fall time of year; either as a holiday event or seasonal environmental conditions that describes the Fall Season.
The ten artists in this exhibition include: Roger Bennett, Beatta Bosworth, Jan Brueckner, Harvey Chin, Gerhard “Gerry” Clausing, Bill Collins, Jim McKinniss, Stan Kuran, Janos Lanyi, Scott Mathews, and Douglas Stockdale. I have arranged the images alphabetically by last name. All images are Copyright © by each individual artist/photographer, with websites available by clicking on the name when highlighted.
Cheers!
Douglas Stockdale, Exhibition Curator
Fall Season exhibition:
Jan Brueckner
Bill Collins
Stan Kuran
Ellen Butler at Flux Art Space, with Dan Gerchik: “fistfuls of change”
Two photographers will be showing their work at Flux Art Space, Long Beach – Ellen Butler and Dan Gerchik: Ellen’s public telephones and Dan’s gritty urban images.
The reception is on Saturday, Nov. 10 from 3 – 5.
Ellen will be at the gallery this Saturday, Nov. 3, from 12 – 5.
Hours are limited, but alternative visits are possible, contact Ellen here.
Thanks to Betsy for the show and to all who attend!
And here, as a preview, are some of Ellen’s images:
All images Copyright © Ellen Butler
Report on the Medium Festival of Photography: John Divola Lecture and Paris Photo/Aperture Book Selections
The Medium Festival of Photography in San Diego is one of the most delightful and productive photography events in Southern California, with many useful activities, as we have reported several times, such as our impressions and experiences at the 2017 and 2016 Medium Festivals, along with announcements in between.
This year, the Keynote Speaker was John Divola, whose lecture encompassed many examples of his work, beginning with the 1970s. Particularly interesting was his performance art applied to abandoned buildings, which, once photographed, became new art, with some of it subjected to further enhancements; work at abandoned military installations, fierce encounters with dogs in the desert, and experiments with color and light in many locations were further fascinating photographic adventures presented in an appealing and forthright manner by this local luminary, a professor at UC Riverside. He also did a book signing of his 2018 volume Vandalism:
The Executive Director, scott b. davis, introduces the keynote speaker
John Divola delivering his keynote presentation and signing his latest book, with Douglas Stockdale
At the Gym Standard in North Park, San Diego, the Paris Photo/Aperture PhotoBook Exhibition was a great opportunity to examine a number of outstanding photobooks first-hand. The following four books stood out to me as particularly noteworthy; I am showing a double-page spread from each, right below each bit of information:
Karoline Hjorth and Riitta Ikonen, Eyes as Big as Plates (Oslo: Forlaget Press, 2017), covering the role of the elderly in society, presented in nature:
Mayumi Suzuki, The Restoration Will (Self-published, Tokyo, 2017), dealing with the loss of her parents in the tsunami of 2011:
Senta Simond, Rayon Vert (Self-published, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2017), an especially innovative approach to depicting the human face and form:
Debi Cornwall, Welcome to Camp America, Inside Guantánamo Bay (Santa Fe, NM: Radius. 2017), a comprehensive approach to detention:
Thanks again, Medium Festival, scott b. davis and team!
The Abstract Visions Exhibition
Ellen Butler
The Abstract Visions Exhibition
Abstract photography is connected to the external world in mysterious and ambiguous ways, to stimulate something within us. As you look at such images, you not only have something to think about, but may also have some feelings stirred up, since there are a variety of ways to interpret images that are not straight-forward; your associations for each image are part of your individual experience. Formations and shapes, colors, movement and juxtapositions may cause you to linger and let your mind and heart wander and wonder… I was very pleased to see a range of levels of abstraction in what was submitted for this theme, because there is also a range of levels between what is real and what is unreal, especially these days.
The included submissions constitute an amazing array of abstract visions. Congratulations to Ellen Butler for having her image chosen as the key image, and kudos to all the participants for their imaginative work: Bill Collins, Bill Edwards, Diane Reeves, Douglas Stockdale, Ellen Butler, Gerhard Clausing, Jan Brueckner, Janos Lanyi, Jim McKinniss, Paul Anderson, Roger Bennett, Scott Mathews, and Stan Kuran. Given such interesting diversity in the approaches taken, I have arranged the images alphabetically by first name. All images are Copyright © by each individual photographer, with websites available by clicking the name when underlined. In order to let the images speak for themselves when first viewed, I have decided to list the titles, as supplied, at the end of the exhibition.
Enjoy!
Gerhard “Gerry” Clausing, Exhibition Curator
Bill Collins
Bill Edwards
Diane Reeves
Douglas Stockdale
Ellen Butler
Gerhard Clausing
Jan Brueckner
Janos Lanyi
Jim McKinniss
Paul Anderson
Roger Bennett
Scott Mathews
Stan Kuran
Titles of the images:
Bill Collins: Almost Monochrome
Bill Edwards: Abstract
Diane Reeves: Arial 58 – Arial 83 – Homage to Miró
Douglas Stockdale: Angst – Confusion – Loss, all from the series Memory Pods
Ellen Butler: Untitled – Untitled – UPS
Gerhard Clausing: Arrival or Departure – Fake World – Punctured Recollections
Jan Brueckner: Abstract 1, Abstract 2, Abstract 3
Janos Lanyi: Don’t Let Them Wear You Down – Here Be Monsters – Light My Fire
Jim McKinniss: Three Horses on the Beach – Horse on the Beach #14 – Horse on the Beach #5
Paul Anderson: Oblivious – Symphony #1 – The Conversation
Roger Bennett: Torrey Pines – Yosemite – Lower Antelope Valley
Scott Mathews: Chaos – Flow – One Stone
Stan Kuran: Curtain Pattern – Calla Lilies – Eucalyptus Abstract
Report on the Opening Night of the Photo Independent and Fabrik Expo Show
Last night I had the great pleasure to attend the opening of this important annual event, held at the Reef in Downtown Los Angeles.
It is a great opportunity to get in touch with old friends and make some new ones as well. The ever so gracious host, Chris Davies of Fabrik Media with his great staff, did a fabulous job making everyone feel welcome and taken care of.
Especially noteworthy this year was the attraction called Skulpturengarten, which even included a set of nature scenes on large panels by Sandra Mann – photography as sculpture. Other attractions were architectural shots by Richard S. Chow, abstracts by Jonas Yip, the work by Cathy Immordino, which has a special appeal, as it combines old and new elements; check it out below. On the even more edgy side, there were nudes and other provocative images by a number of gifted photographers; I was particularly impressed by the work presented by Vlad Kenner, Carl Shubs, and Milan von Brünn. A special treat was the series Dressed by Jerry Weber: his fascinating work that touches many subjects – especially gender, culture, and fantasy – was ably enhanced by the presence of some of his models in costume, as you can see in my images below.
Since I am on the Editorial Board of The PhotoBook Journal, I was also looking out for interesting books. Jonas Yip, Richard S. Chow, Ara Oshagan, and Douglas Stockdale were ably conversing with many interested guests concerning previous and new book projects; check out our forthcoming book reviews for more details. Not only that, but the renowned printing company Dual Graphics of Brea, California, whose work goes back all the way to Ansel Adams, was present to consult with potential authors.
A most enjoyable event; as announced in previous posts, the show continues through Sunday, October 7. Don’t miss it!
Gerhard Clausing
Dennis Keeley, Chair of Photography at Art Center College of Design, in conversation with Chris Davies (right)
Jonas Yip
Richard S. Chow
Cathy Immordino
Upper picture: Douglas Stockdale, whose books are printed by Dual Graphics. Craig Evans, lower picture right, explains the finer points of quality printing to a potential customer.
Where does reality end and fantasy begin?
All photographs above Copyright © 2018 by Gerhard Clausing
Survey of Contemporary Landscape
Diane Reeves, Pyramid, Nevada
The investigation and image capture of the landscape dates back to the earliest photographs made by a camera in 1826 by Joseph Nicephore Niepce and the landscape still remains as one of the classic photographic genres.
Photographers have romanticized the landscape as part of the Pictorialist movement in the early 1900’s and incorporated it into the Modernist movement of the f/64 group in the 1940’s through the late 1960’s. The landscape photograph evolved with the Conceptual art movement, harking back to the New Topographics exhibition in 1975 at the George Eastman House exhibition. Today landscape photographs have become ubiquitous, either in the multitude of family vacations or the documentation of the surrounding urban/rural environments posted on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr or other social media.
The images in Contemporary Landscape in this on-line exhibition are a broad investigation of the myriad ways in which we investigate the landscape through art and photography. It is a photographic survey of current landscape practices; whether investigating “classic” unadorned nature or the gritty urban landscape, as an abstract concept or a straight rendition while being created using digital capture, analog/film, digital manipulation or in combination with other medium and artistic expressions.
The 13 artist/photographers in this exhibition include: Paul Anderson, Jan Brueckner, Ellen Butler, Frank Cancian, Gerhard “Gerry” Clausing, Jim McKinniss, Jim Koch, Stan Kuran, Janos Lanyi, Scott Mathews, Marc Plouffe, Diane Reeves, Douglas Stockdale.
Cheers!
Douglas Stockdale, Exhibition Curator
Survey of Contemporary Landscape
Jan Brueckner
Frank Cancian
Jim Koch
Stan Kuran
CONNECTIONS
copyright Jim Koch
CONNECTIONS exhibition
Photography is a medium that allows us to connect: to communicate with other individuals as well as with the world as our ever-present backdrop. While in our current time digital processes seem to create distance, the medium of photography cuts through this digital omnipresence and enables us to address human concerns and to draw parallels and achieve insights that are at the core of our existence. Time, place, light, and emotions inspire the photographer to create images which are intended to engage the viewer in our shared human experience, and a multitude of human emotions can be elicited through images that range from the tangible to the abstract and metaphorical.
The images in CONNECTIONS present individual interpretations of the myriad ways in which we connect to each other through photography. As the images were created, a connection between the subject and the photographer was established. A second level of connection may be shown or implied through the elements depicted in the photograph. A third connection then is created by the viewer’s interpretation of the image. Thus the process of CONNECTIONS is indeed a multifaceted and creative one that reaches beyond the depiction itself and is intended to share human experiences and interpretation, facilitated though the medium of photography.
Artists & photographers who are included in this exhibition include: Diane Andrus, Diane Reeves, Douglas Stockdale, Ellen Butler, Frank Cancian, Gerhard Clausing, Jan Brueckner, Janos Lanyi, Jim Ashcroft, Kathy Shapiro, Jim Koch, Marc Plouffe, Michael Weitzman, Paul Anderson, Raquel Landworth-Kleinhenz, Robert Staeck, Roger Bennett, Scott Mathews, Stan Kuran, & William Edwards (listed by first name). Copyrights belong to each artist/photographer.
Curated by Douglas Stockdale
Exhibition:
Diane Andrus
![ellen butler Anne [right]](https://thephotoexchange.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/ellen-butler-anne-right.jpg?w=720)
Frank Cancian
Jan Brueckner
Jim Ashcroft
Kathy Shapiro
Michael Weitzman
Raquel Landworth-Kleinhenz
Robert Staeck
Stan Kuran
leave a comment