civilized ku # 822 ~ the free market at work

Snow on the West Branch of the Au Sable ~ Au Sable Forks, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
Main Street ~ Au Sable Forks, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
Main Street ~ Au Sable Forks, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggenSnow we've got, extreme cold, -10˚F to -30˚F, is on the way.

Late yesterday afternoon, I took a NYC friend over to the gallery to see the exhibit. We were hanging around and jawing long enough that daylight turned into night. After a bit, 2 walkersby noticed us and stopped in. Long story short, one of them purchased 2 of the 24×24 prints.

2 of the books have also sold. Hey, before you know it, I might actually make money on this thing.

civilized ku # 821 ~ strange

Xmas lights and ladybug ~ Au Sable Forks, NY - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggenIt should come as no surprise that I have made no pictures (other than gallery documentary stuff) over the past 2 1/2 - 3 weeks. And, for whatever reason, that fact hit me like a ton of bricks today.

When it did it me, the result was a rather weird feeling of ... well ... emptiness. Something was missing. The feeling was almost physical, like I had forgotten to put on my pants or something. It was, in a word, weird.

Time to get back in the saddle.

civilized ku # 816-820 ~ after the party's over

20 Main ~ wherein I kick the Cinemascapist's and another gallery owner's ass • Au Sable Forks - in the Adirondack PARK • click to embiggen
Gallery side wall • click to embiggen
Gallery side wall • click to embiggen
Gallery center wall • click to embiggen
Exhibit folio and book • click to embiggenWhile some of the gallery goers were enjoying libations and live music at 20 Main as part of the exhibit event, I went back across Main Street to the gallery to take pictures of the exhibit sans people. It was my first opportunity to do so as I drove the last nail and hung the last picture about 5 minutes before the opening reception began. It was that close.

FYI, the exhibit is comprised of 37 prints* - 12 24×24s and 25 12×12s. In addition there is the 8×8 soft cover books and the 8.5×11 10 print folios. With absolutely none of the exhibit items existent prior to the opening, it really is amazing that it all came together. Much thanks to my erstwhile assistant, Erica, who was of great value in the production of the picture stuff. And, of course, much thanks to The Wife who gave up the kitchen for a couple days (it became the picture mounting facility), who handled all the refreshment stuff, and who was generally supportive and tolerant of a half-crazed picture maker throughout the duration of the run-up to the exhibition opening.

And, the reviews are coming in ....

Last Friday, I went to the new Tahawus Lodge Center – currently under renovation as part of an ongoing rehab project. On display was "The Forks - there's no place like home" by photographer Mark Hobson,which features intimate and intriguing portraits of the local community ... you can see Hobson's great photos right through the great shop front windows ... you might have seen Hobson's work recently in the Lake Placid Center for the Arts Annual Juried Exhibition. "Most of my pictures feel like memories of dreams from long ago," says Hobson, describing his work. "In my mind my pictures seem more like...glimpses of lost connections to something intuitively known or remembered ." Of course, a picture is worth a thousand words, so the best way to experience Hobson's evocative work is to head over to Ausable forks and check it out ... It is a great photography show in an exciting new gem of a space and I recommend stopping by for a visit. Athena Roth ~ lakeplacid.com/blog

Over the next day or two, I'll put up an online gallery of the pictures in the exhibition.

*3 of the 24×24 prints are on easels in the front windows - these prints were turned inward during the exhibit.

civilized ku # 809-815 ~ the show must and did go on

(l-r) JB, the Landscapist, the wife, and the Cinemascapist • click to embiggen
Opening reception • click to embiggen
Opening reception • click to embiggen
Opening reception • click to embiggen
Opening reception • click to embiggen
Opening reception • click to embiggen
Opening reception • click to embiggenThe opening reception was an unmitigated success. My turnout expectations were greatly exceeded - the gallery room turned over at least 5 or 6 times during the 3 hour course of the event*. My best estimate is that is that attendance numbered in the neighborhood of 100+ visitors. And the really pleasing aspect of the turnout was the great number of "townies" that came out as opposed to the usual suspects, art crowd wise. The pictures were very well received and there were several comments that I really really appreciated.

One comment was from regular Landscapist visitor / some time commenter JB, who emphatically proclaimed that there really was nothing like seeing the pictures as prints on a wall as opposed to seeing them on a device (smart phone, IPod, iPad, laptop, monitor) screen. This from a guy who is wired-up and "connected" to the max. Although, that said and even though JB is not a "serious" (nor, TMK, semi-serious) picture maker, he does have an art sensibility so that comment did not register with any element of surprise.

The big surprise (and most appreciated) comment was one from an "older" female townie, one who frequents our town's "dive" bar.

an aside - it should be noted that this "dive" bar has quite a rep as the most serious supporter - in the form of live music performances - of local / regional musicians. Its rep as a dive bar comes from the fact that it has a lot of character. Some might say that it's seedy and rundown but it's not like the rats commit suicide or anything like that.

Just the mere fact that this townie (I don't know her name) attended the opening was wonderful. The added bonus of her comment - which came at said bar where I had arranged for live music as part of the opening happening - was delightful icing on that cake. That said, her comment went something like this - "Your photographs are wonderful ... I like it that you see things that most of us don't see or, if we do, we ignore ... You see differently from the rest of us ... I have to start looking better at things."

That notion, my dear friends, is exactly the intent / outcome I strive for with my pictures. And here's the thing that this incident illustrates - this outcome has happened previously but, 9 times out of 10, it happens with non-picture making types rather than with picture makers. Just sayin ...

The other comment of note, IMO, had nothing to do with my pictures or picture making, per se. Rather, it had to do with the event itself. That comment came from the owner of the "dive" bar, a long time resident of The Forks. She stated that it was really great to see people out and about on Main Street on a Friday night. She said that the town seemed alive, the way it used to be. And that, if you read my last entry (civilized ku # 808), was one of the reasons I got involved in this exhibit / project.

So, all in all, the whole endeavor was, IMO and that of many others, an unqualified success. Would I do it again? You betcha. Although, I would give myself another couples weeks of prep time. And, if I get my wish of permanent occupancy, you can bet I'll be doing it again.

*keep in mind that the gallery room you see in these pictures was backed by another room - the room with the wine, cheese, and other refreshments. That room always had as many people in it as the gallery room at any given time.

civilized ku # 808 ~ working, relaxing, working

Pillows - firm / soft ~ Holiday Inn - Cherry Hill, NJ • click to embiggenIt's Sunday and all the somebody-else-has-to-do-it deadlines have been met. This week is devoted, almost exclusively, to printing, mounting, and hanging the work.

My hardworking assistant from Pittsburgh and I - not to mention the wife who has been picking up most of the around-the-house-stuff slack - are taking it easy today. That is, if "taking it easy" means that Ms. Assistant (who is editing/processing some of her work - event/wedding photography), the wife (who is packing and putting away all the Holiday decorations), and I (who is going up to the gallery and tacking some prints to the wall to see if my print placement hanging strategy is going to work) are actually taking it easy. IMO, considering all the long hours and deadlines of the past week, it seems like taking it easy to me.

In any event, I have a little time to do a blog entry so I thought that I would address the questions, re": the exhibit, from Mary Dennis, who wrote:

I would be interested in hearing about the process you went through to actually get the gallery space and show your work ... Do you see this new gallery, if you are lucky enough to be able to rent it, as your permanent work/creative space? A new role as gallery owner on the horizon perhaps? Also, are you actually going to frame your images?

As I had mentioned in a previous entry, I had been made aware - in an invitation to a come-see-what-we've-done opening reception - that there were plans for the gallery space. The plans were not very ambitious - 1 easel with work in each front window with a different/rotating featured artist every month(?) or there about. The idea was to present a lived-in/in-use feeling to the space and the building in hopes of attracting tenants for the rest of the available building space. IMO, that idea was little better than what most malls do to "disguise" empty-store space - putting some kind of display in the widows together with an "exciting new store coming soon" (so they hope) sign.

In the case of the gallery in question, the gallery itself would rarely be open for business. The only benefit to the featured artist would be in the form of a sign/notice that gave artist contact info - for more information about Joe Bloze Toothpaste and Toothpick Art call/click .....

With little or no foot traffic in the gallery itself and only a few rotating pieces of art, the idea that the gallery would create a "buzz" for the building and/or the notion of Main Street revitalization was, IMO, a bit of a pipe dream. What the place and town needed was a full blown exhibit opening - wine, cheese, live music, lots of people, and some great pictures of the town itself, made by a great picture maker who just happens to be from the town itself.

So, all of those thoughts (and a few more) are what I presented to the building owners at the come-see reception on Dec. 29th.

I did not appear "unannounced" (so to speak) - I had introduced myself to them a year or so ago. During that conversation, I had extolled my creds as an advertising / marketing Creative Director, a Fine Art Picture Maker, the only town resident who had his own PBS television series, the only town resident who had successfully renovated an empty 72,000 sq/ft warehouse (in Rochester, NY) into artist's lofts, and so on and so on. The net result of that conversation was that they recognized and approached me at the opening whereupon I started into my spiel.

When I got to the part about an opening exhibit (with reception) of town pictures that I could have hanging within 2-3 weeks, the hook was sunk and all that was left was to reel 'em in. That effort came in the form of their visit to my home the next day where they viewed some of my pictures, talked a few details, and left me with a set of keys and a happy have-at-it. After which they headed back to their base in NYC and I headed directly to the gallery to reflect in my good fortune and began formulating an actual plan to get things done.

When it started to dawn on me what exactly I had gotten myself into - perhaps too much chutzpah and not enough commonsense - the admonition to "be careful what you wish for ..." started a slow rolling echo in my head.

Now, lest this sound rather flippant and cynical, the truth is that, when all is said and done, I really do care about the success of this renovation venture in particular and that of our Main Street revitalization in general. I would love to be a part of kick-starting and creating a "buzz" that might be contagious to others considering similar Main Street renovation projects (of any kind).

If that involvement could be ongoing in the form of a permanent gallery (here's hoping) - for my work and that of some select others (primarily, but not exclusively*, Adirondack based) - with an adjoining space (behind the gallery wall) for a portrait studio / photo workshop space, I would be absolutely delighted. Although, it would NOT be for use as my "permanent work/creative space" - that will always be in my home work/creative space which fits me like a well-worn glove.

FYI, I am not framing the pictures. They will be mounted on 1/2 inch black archival foamcore which will be backed by a wood backing frame (for strength and stiffness) that will be offset (hidden) from the picture's edge by 1 inch. The pictures will be mounted and trimmed flush with the foamcore edges. There will be no glass involved.

*in part, that means you, Mary.

The Forks ~ there's no place like home

Click here to view this photo book larger

The book's finished.

life in pictures # 15 ~ working working

Sale ~ Cherry Hill Mall - Cherry Hill, NJ • click to embiggenA number of questions, re: my upcoming exhibit, have been asked. I'm taking a short break from crunch time stuff, so I'll try to answer them as best I can.

Bit first, Anil Rao stated that, "I wished I lived closer so that I could see the framed prints
come one, come all • click to embiggen in person in a gallery setting". Which reminded me that I wanted to extend an invite to anyone who's so inclined to make it to the opening or, for that matter, to the gallery at anytime while the exhibit is up. That could be for quite a while, perhaps even indefinitely, if I have my way - I've made an offer to rent the space and small studio space behind it.

FYI the attached invitation isn't the finished piece - I have yet to add the address and the fact that I am arranging live music at the bar, 20 Main, across the street from the gallery. Suffice it to say that, if anyone out there is coming, the gallery is on Main Street in Au Sable Forks and you would have to be deaf, dumb, and blind to miss it.

Question # 1 from Sven W - when selecting the exhibition images, what is the criteria you are using?" Since the exhibit is titled The Forks / there's no place like home, criteria # 1 is that the pictures be in or around Au Sable Forks. After that, I am picking pictures that best represent how I see, tossing out those pictures that, while nice enough, are more like those you might see in a calendar of Au Sable Forks.

Question # 2 from Sven W - "are you planning on posting an online gallery of your final 24?" and a somewhat related one from Anil Rao - I am hoping that you will do us a favor and post some pictures of the opening reception and also of the work hanging on the walls." The answer to both questions is "yes" - there will be an online gallery and I will have pictures from the opening and of the gallery when the pictures are hung.

Question # 3, 4 from Dennis Allshouse - "do you have a fixed size
folio case • click to embiggenfor the hanging prints...?" and "How are you boxing the portfolios?" I am hanging 2 print sizes - 12 24×24 inch prints and 14-20 12×12 inch prints. The portfolios will be in a folio box as per the photo on the right.

FYI - both the folio and the exhibition photo book will be available here on The Landscapist.

That's about it for now. So it's back to crunch time for me. Hope to see a few of you at the opening.

civilized ku # 807 ~ is it art?

iPad "art" • click to embiggenThe wife and I are acclimating ourselves to our new life with iPads but, to be honest, other than lying bed on Sunday AM, sipping coffee, and reading the NY Times on our iPads, things haven't changed all that much.

On the other hand, last week - the day after Xmas - as I was white-knuckle / clenched-teeth driving through the east coast nor'easter (a 6 hour trip that took nearly 11 hours), the wife was next to me relaxing and reading 'Eleanor and Franklin', an ebook that she had purchased and downloaded while we were motoring down the Northway on our way south. During the drive, while the wife was reading, Hugo was playing games on the other iPad.

In any event, it appears that the iPad will be useful device, picture making wise. Amongst a number of capabilities and other than the slideshow function which I will use to create slideshow portfolios of my multiple bodies of work, the device can also download pictures - even RAW files - from a camera or memory card for instant viewing (or just end of the day reviewing) while out and about making pictures.

However, the real unexpected bonus of iPad ownership is the ever changing fingerprint painting art that, when held at the right angle to the light, is visible on the touch screen.

Update on Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 10:41AM by gravitas et nugalis

Several questions have been raised, re: the bottle in the picture. The picture is a found picture, not a set up. The bottle is 90.4 proof Woodford Reserve straight Kentucky bourbon. It was a Xmas present from a member of the wife's family. Not pictured is a box of whiskey stones that was also part of the gift. Together, they do indeed help with the crunch time stuff.