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 © Alessandra Sanguinetti Alessandra Sanguinetti will be giving an artist's talk at Aperture Gallery this Tuesday. Alessandra's work is electric, beautiful and iconic and her quick rise to the upper echelon of the contemporary photography scene has been impressive. See you there.
 © Amy Stein Benefit auction season is on in a big way. See here and here. This Saturday Photographic Center Northwest is holding their second annual PhotoVision Award & Auction. The folks at PCNW have been very generous to me over the years and I was more than happy to lend a piece from my Domesticated series for the auction to support their ongoing programs and activities. You can check out the auction catalogue online.
Here are the details:The Second Annual PhotoVision Award & Auction
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Photographic Center Northwest
900 Twelfth Avenue, Seattle
 A couple of days ago I received an email from a public relations firm inviting me to a product preview party for Nikon at Buddha Bar in the Meatpacking District. Clearly, these folks recognized me as the influential connector and cultural king-maker that I am and wanted some of that magic to grace their flashy, super cool PR spectacular. As I've stated before, I am the opposite of cool. And, I don't mean that in an ironic way that might suggest I am cool. I am literally not cool. So, it was with great trepidation and a supreme curiosity that I decided to RSVP and attend the event Wednesday night. We felt it critical to begin the evening with a relaxing dinner and a few glasses of wine to settle the nerves before we headed to the Meatpacking District to rub shoulders with the models and i-bankers. Every time I go to that part of town I feel so out of place that I am overcome by an irrational fear that style snipers will spot me and fire a couple of warning rounds at my feet to drive me back into the West Village. Properly juiced, the stroll through the Meatpacking District proved carefree. Once at Buddha Bar we were greeted by a yellow carpet, super bright something-fabulous-is-going-on-here exterior lighting and an endless succession of people with clipboards and walkie-talkies asking for our names to check against their master list. There were so many clipboard checkpoints it felt like we were trying to get into the Green Zone. In the end the wait was worth it. We made it through the final velvet rope and were lead to a fantastical land where the bar was top shelf and open and the sushi flowed freely. The evening was all about the product, so friendly Nikon reps were there to showcase their line of new digital cameras. Oh, and I was given a free CoolPix camera on a silver plater. Not bad. I quickly warmed to the idea that I really did belong in a place like this. So, let it be known to all PR people, Amy Stein has embraced her inner shill and is now ready to bring her brand of cool to your corporate event. Of course, I will be preparing a proper rider to make the process of satisfying my needs a little easier. (Kabbalah water, purple Skittles and a carton of Lucky Strikes--you know, standard issue stuff.) If you are interested just have your people contact my people.
 This evening when I was coming home my subway car had seven men with moustaches along for the ride. Seven! That has to be the highest concentration of 'staces this side of a cop convention.
Elton John issued a statement today confirming his ownership of the Nan Goldin photo seized by police. The photograph entitled "Klara and Edda belly-dancing" (1998) is one of 149 images comprising the "Thanksgiving" installation by renowned US photographer Nan Goldin.
The photograph exists as part of the installation as a whole and has been widely published and exhibited throughout the world. It can be found in the monograph of Ms Goldin's works entitled "The Devil's Playground" (Phaidon, 2003), has been offered for sale at Sotheby's New York in 2002 and 2004, and has previously been exhibited in Houston, London, Madrid, New York, Portugal, Warsaw and Zurich without any objections of which we are aware. In my mind the picture in question in not even close to being sexual in a Jock Sturges or Sally Mann kind of way. I guess people see the sexuality they want to see.
 Shen Wei Dance Arts The 2007 MacArthur Fellowship 'genius grants' were announced yesterday and I nearly spit my coffee on my keyboard when I read the name Shen Wei listed as one of the recipients. Holy crap! Did my good friend Shen just get access to a cool half million to spend as he pleases? I was excited for Shen, but I was really excited for me because I thought for I would be getting a call any second inviting me to a celebratory dinner at Nobu. On Shen, of course. I quickly went to the MacArthur site and learned it was Shen Wei the dancer, not Shen Wei the photographer. Damn it all. (Shen, you can still take me out to dinner--it's the genius thing to do.)
 © Nan Goldin Not sure if the photo above is the "art porn" in question (and what exactly is "art porn?"), but here's the ridiculousness from today's Telegraph: Seized 'art porn' owned by Sir Elton John
A photograph by a controversial American artist which is part of Sir Elton John's private collection has been seized by police from a gallery on suspicion it may have breached child pornography laws.
The image, which featured two young girls one of whom was sitting down with her legs wide apart, was taken by the renowned photographer Nan Goldin.
The shot, from the artist's Thanksgiving series, was to be exhibited at the Baltic Modern Art gallery, Tyneside, this week along with some of her other work. But the day before it was due to be viewed by the public, police came and removed the image over fears that it might be breaking the law. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this same body of work was shown at White Cube in 2000. UPDATE: The image above is not the seized image. I repeat, it's not the Nan Goldin photograph seized by police. See my later post for correct image.
 © Donald Weber If you apply to just one juried competition this year, you are pretty stupid. (You should apply to at least three.) But, if you do apply to just one, make sure it's Photolucida's Critical Mass. I can't begin to tell you how many gallery directors, curators, and editors told me they saw my photography first through Critical Mass. I mean, just take a look at the list of 2007 reviewers and try to tell me these aren't the people you want looking at your work. Registration for the Critical Mass 2007 juried competition is now open and runs through October 26. You can register online here. Do it. Andelay!
 © Simon Norfolk Last night was Rachael Dunville's big opening at Peer Gallery and the joint was packed with her friends and family from Missouri, supportive SVA alums, admirers, and the endless throngs of art school hipsters, matrons and patrons, and Blackberry cowboys that come out on a typical Chelsea Thursday. Rachael's work looked great and she was deservedly beaming in the moment. After an hour or two we sneaked away from the crowd and went to grab a quick bite. As is the restaurant custom in New York we were seated within inches of diners on our left and right at a table that was too small to hold the breadbasket, the saltshaker, and the ubiquitous Ikea votive. On many nights this type of seating situation can make for an awkward dining experience, but some nights you get lucky and your fellow diners are generous enough to provide a little reality programming to go with your entree. Last night a lovely lesbian couple decided to “lay it on the line” for us in an earnest succession of overwrought monologues that ultimately amounted to nothing more than admission of mild interest in each other. As the wine flowed so did the eye-gazing and grand statements of ‘like’ each time punctuated by a “you’re so hot” or a “I find you so sexy” and an across the table make out session. Bravo, ladies, bravo. After dinner we caught a cab to Rachael’s after-party at Mathew and Nate’s too fabulous pad in Greenwich Village. Upon arrival I was immediately blown away by the amazing photography collection on their walls and the quality of cheeses on their serving dishes. I had too many wonderful conversations and met too many wonderful people to list them all, but highlights included meeting John Bennette and Simon Norfolk. Never have I been to a party in this city where the crowd was universally interesting and douchebag free. All in all, it was a great evening and perfect celebration of Rachael's success.
 © Amy Stein The October issue of Money Magazine features a story by the fabulous Lisa Hunter about using the Internets to buy art. The story, The Art of the Internet, is a great survey of art online for the beginning collector. Money ran one of my Stranded photos with the article along with pricing info for the series and a shout out to my Los Angeles rep, Paul Kopeikin Galley. In other glossy news, Dina Kantor has been named to Heeb Magazines' Heeb 100 list. The Heeb 100 is the magazine's annual roundup of the one hundred young cultural tastemakers you need to know...who also happen to be Jewish. Other chosen people chosen for the list include comedian Judah Friedlander and porn star Michael Lucas. Dina was recognized for her amazing Finnish & Jewish series.
 © Rachael Dunville This Thursday is the opening reception for Rachael Dunville's first solo exhibition at Peer Gallery. Rachael is a good friend and fellow SVA MFA alum who has been working on her great Springtown series for a few years now. I can't wait to see the finished series hanging on a gallery wall. Peer Gallery is also publishing a 32 page color catalog for the show that you can purchase at the gallery or online at photo-eye. See you at the opening!
Here are the details:Rachael Dunville: Springtown
September 13 - October 20
Opening Reception: September 20, 6PM - 8PM
Peer Gallery
526 West 26th Street, Suite 209
New York, NY 1000
 © Terry Falke I tend to think that I have the photography landscape pretty much surveyed. Boy, was I wrong. I just discovered the work of Terry Falke and this image from his book, Observations in an Occupied Wilderness, and my mind was subsequently blown.
 © Patti Hallock Patti Hallock reminds that the Parsons 2007 MFA Thesis Exhibition is up through September 28 at the Calumet Gallery in New York. Normally, I'm pretty much an exclusive SVA MFA promotion shop, but now that I'm on the faculty at Parsons, I have to spread the love. Here are the details on the Parsons show:Parsons Photography Department: 2007 MFA Senior Thesis Exhibition
September 4 - September 28
Calumet New York
22 W. 22nd Street
New York, NY 10010
 We live in a fabulously depraved moment in time. Whatever your vice, whatever your crave, whatever your want, a shrewd and savvy merchant will be there to sell you relief. Popular culture has become a set of shiny keys to keep us fat and occupied twenty hours a day. In this climate of perpetual excess it's hard for a new product to sink below the clutter and stand out as a champion of deformed imagination and grotesque execution. Enter Domino's and their new Oreo Pizza. Seldom am I moved to comment by the outrageous products of our modern consumer culture, but seeing this heaping mound of cookies and crust smothered in a money shot of icing on my TV has forced my hand. I believe the Oreo Pizza to be a the surest sign yet of our impending doom. It is the first, second, third, and fourth horsemen of the apocalypse riding to our front door in thirty minutes or less. Be warned, America, be warned. The end is nigh!
 © Nathan Baker The Randall Scott Gallery in Washington, D.C., is presenting a solo show by one my favorite people and one of my favorite photographers, Nathan Baker. The show opens this Saturday and features Nathan's Rupture work. If you live in or around The District, you absolutely must go to this opening. Here are the details:Nathan Baker: Rupture
September 15 - October 20
Opening Reception: September 15, 6PM - 9PM
Randall Scott Gallery
1326 14th Street NW
Washington, D.C. 20005 The Randall Scott Gallery is quickly becoming a player on the photography scene. Randall's program this year is going to be packed pretty solid with some great talent. You should definitely start paying attention and look for him at the fairs.
 © Jerry Vezzuso A couple of days ago I received a package from good friend, Jerry Vezzuso, that contained a copy of his new self-published book, Looking Homeward. Jerry is a master printer who has worked with everyone from Gregory Crewdson to Philip Lorca-Di Corcia to Nan Goldin, but he is equally accomplished as a photographer. Jerry's first book of photography, New American Haircuts, was published in 1985 by Ballantine Books Looking Homeward is "a compilation of photographs based on the dynamics of a New York working class family." The photographs in the book are heartfelt and beautiful and I recommend picking up a copy at Lulu.com.
 © Younga Park Jen Bekman has finally launched her new online venture, 20x200, and I quickly scooped up a $20 print by Amy Ross. It will be interesting to see how hungry the masses are for art in large editions at low prices, but I know I will keep coming back for more. These days the Internet is chock full of opportunities to purchase photography by big names at well below market prices. Aperture and Blind Spot are the big names in cheap(ish) prints, but you should also check out the inventory at SF Camerawork, the Museum of Contemporary Photography, and The Photographers' Gallery. Also, I would not be doing my duty as a working photographer and fan of Humble Arts Foundation if I didn't mention their limited edition prints collection, again. You can pick up a small-editioned print from my Stranded series for the ridiculously low price of $375. The print, Peri Route 80 Kentucky, was one of five photos from the Stranded series recently purchased by the West Collection, so what are you waiting for? The big Wall Street collectors may be hurting these days, but that shouldn't stop us hoi polloi from getting into the game and start building our own collections.
 © Jeff Wall vs.  © Stephen Shore
 © Amy Stein Alec Soth has often mentioned his theory that a photographer will be reduced to a single sentence that describes their work; "she makes creepy digital pictures of kids with big eyes, he took picture of Parisian architecture at the turn of the century, she took pictures of freaks and committed suicide." For several years my sentence was 'she takes uncomfortable portraits of women with guns' and I was more than happy with that label and the body of work. Women and Guns was my first serious attempt at producing a series and the photos were head and shoulders better than anything I had down to that point. It was also very successful. The work got me into grad school, it was featured in the 2005 PDN Photo Annual, it has been included in a number of group shows, and still manages to generate the occasional interest from folks on the Internet and magazines. Now, I find myself in a place where I would like to remove Women and Guns from my online portfolio and stop promoting the work. I arrived at this decision for a number of reasons. In my mind the quality of the work is inconsistent. Also, I never finished the series, so the images seem cobbled together without a cohesive vision. Formal issues aside, the work just seems a million miles away from where I am now and my gut tells me it's time to put it behind me and focus on making and promoting the work that really fires my spirit. I am mentioning this because I would like to get feedback from folks on my decision to put that work to bed. Is it better for an emerging photographer to showcase the evolution of their output or should they only highlight their most recent and strongest work? Good idea or bad idea to drop Women and Guns? UPDATE: Just as I'm thinking of doing this La Repubblica, the largest weekly paper in Italy, runs a gallery of photos from Women and Guns and suddenly I am the toast of Italy. Just when I think I'm out, they pull me back in! This event aside, I still think it's time to move on and remove the series from my site.
 © Melissa Auf Der Maur If there is one thing I don't do, it's party like a rockstar. On certain nights I let go and may approach something akin to the party habits of a folkstar or a polkastar, but usually my only incursion into rock bacchanalia involves sitting on my couch watching Rock of Love on VH1. This weekend, however, is all about the rock and or roll music. Tonight I am going to see one of my favorites, Bill Callahan (former Smog), perform at the Highline Ballroom and I couldn't be more excited. So brooding and that voice! He also scores points for having perhaps the single greatest album cover in the history of rock music. Saturday I have been invited to American Photo Magazine's Visions of Rock party at 401 Projects. The exhibit compliments a recent issue of the magazine that features the photography of rock musicians. Normally, photography by people who are famous for something other than photography would make me groan, but some of this work is actually pretty good. My biggest fear is going to this event and being exposed as someone who clearly does not have the cool credentials to be in the same room with Lou Reed and Michael Stipe. One final rock note. If you are in or near Louisville, Kentucky, this Saturday I strongly suggest you make it over to the Rudyard Kipling to listen to Andy Guthrie throw down his sultry and seductive musical stylings. Andy is my cousin and an absolutely amazing talent. His live shows are the stuff of legend and not to be missed.
 © Kohei Yoshiyuki Summer doesn't officially end until September 21, but all the popular markers that spell the true end of the season are upon us. The kids are back in school, something resembling a breeze has returned to the New York City night, and Chelsea gallerists have come home from the Hamptons and opened their shops for business. Like any good fan of art, gratuitous schmoozing, and free wine I will be making the scene this Thursday to catch all the big gallery openings. There are a number of shows on my must-see list, but the Kohei Yoshiyuki show at Yossi Milo really has me jazzed. I have a feeling it's going to be a mob scene at Yossi. Also on the Thursday Chelsea walking tour is Mark Morrisroe at ClampArt and (finally) catching the Easy Rider group show at Yancey Richardson. If you have any other must-see suggestions--photography or otherwise--please give me a shout.
 © Roderick Angle My dear friend, Dan Halm, has curated his first big time show, Click Chic: The Fine Art of Fashion Photography. Click Chic, which includes 50 works by six emerging and established fashion photographers, is "an exhibition documenting the vitality of fashion photography as a vehicle for creative expression, formal experimentation and social commentary." It should be a fabulous affair. Here are the details:Click Chic: The Fine Art of Fashion Photography
September 6 - October 6, 2007
Reception: Monday, September 10, 6 - 8pm
Visual Arts Museum
209 East 23 Street
New York, NY 10010 See you at the opening reception!
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