The Drawing Project

The first drawing available from Jason Polan's The Drawing Project

I am beginning to think that Jason Polan does not sleep. He produces amazing work at a ridiculous clip and manages a vast array of creative enterprises including the Taco Bell Drawing Club and his blog, The 53rd Street Biological Society. Now you can add The Drawing Project to his restlessly expanding portfolio. What is The Drawing Project, you ask? Jason says,

"I am starting a new project. There will be a drawing posted everyday. The drawing will be available for you to see and possibly have. The first person to request the drawing (send an email to art@jasonpolan.com with your name, the address to send the drawing, and the drawing number) will receive the drawing in the mail. The artwork will be posted on this website.Once the drawing has been claimed it will be noted within the post on the website. Each drawing on the site will be labeled on the reverse and limited to 1. There will be all different drawings (the first one is of a frog). I hope you enjoy the project. It begins right now."

Big Photography Openings

Nura Garuba and friend with their monkey, Nigeria 2005 © Pieter Hugo

Two huge photography shows are opening tonight in Chelsea and I couldn't be more excited. First up, Pieter Hugo is showing his Hyena Men and Honey Collectors work at Yossi Milo. I have been a huge fan of Pieter's work for a few years now and have seen his gorgeous prints before at various art fairs. (I even own one.) The show at Yossi is Pieter's first solo show in New York and will feature very large scale prints of his instantly iconic portraits.

Kromanns Remise 2 2005 © Nicolai Howalt and Trine Søndergaard

Next is Nicolai Howalt and Trine Søndergaard's amazing How to Hunt series at Silverstein Photography. Last night I had the pleasure of going to dinner with Nicolai, Trine and photographer Beth Block. They couldn't be nicer folks. We talked about Denmark, the photo world, our recent American Photo mention, but mostly I just gushed about their photographs. It's rare that I see work that takes my breath away, but the photos in How to Hunt are so stunning they did just that.

Do not miss these shows. See you there!

Battle Photo: Tower of Power!

This Battle Photo comes by way of suggestion from the always ambulant Timothy "Booneville" Briner.

Cooling Tower © James Rotz

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Amos Coal Power Plan © Mitch Epstein

ArtWalk NY This Tuesday

Net 2007 © Amy Stein

This Wednesday is the 13th Annual ArtWalk NY benfiting the Coalition for the Homeless. ArtWalk is one of the premier art benefit auctions in New York and this is the second year I have been asked to participate by donating a print from my Domesticated series. I couldn't be more honored.

The Coalition for the Homeless has never been more necessary and deserving of your time, energy and money. According to the organization homelessness in New York has reached a new record, with more than 35,000 people, including 14,000 children, sleeping in emergency shelters every night. All proceeds from Artwalk NY directly fund programs provided by the coalition.

Here are the details:

13th Annual ArtWalk NY

Co-Chairs: Richard Gere, Carey Lowell, and Kayce Freed Jennings
Artist Honoree: Donald Baechler
Event Honorees: Arthur and Alice Kramer

Tuesday, November 27, 2007
6:30PM Silent Auction
8:00PM Live Auction

Metropolitan Pavilion
125 West 18th Street, NYC 10011

Tickets
$125 - General Admission
$250 - VIP Seating

For tickets or event information, please call 212.776.2056.

How Cool Is This?

© Robert Bechtle

Six of my Stranded photos are going to be hanging in a museum show next to works by Robert Frank and Robert Bechtle. Holy crap! Seriously, one of these things is not like the others. I will post more about this show later.

Talented Friends: Eric Percher and Matthew Baum

© Eric Percher

Last night we attended an open studio featuring the work of my dear friend and studio mate, Eric Percher. Eric was showing photographs from his Work series. The work offers an insiders perspective on the tense personal crises of conscience that play out during working hours in the glass towers that give identity to this city. The photos offer me a constant cool reminder of why I ditched the workaday fluorescent light life a few years ago to take up photography. Eric has recently done the same with much success. The photos looked great and our studio was jam-packed. Eric's work is currently featured on Humble Arts Foundation's Group
Show series and you can see it tonight at the always fun Slideluck Potshow.

© Matthew Baum

Speaking of Humble Arts and dear friends, Matthew Baum and his work are currently featured on their Solo Show. Matt's photographs look great, but are even more gorgeous in person.

Zoe Strauss Kicks Ass

© Zoe Strauss

How much ass can one lady kick? If that lady is Zoe Strauss then we are talking about a full time ass-kicking machine. Mrs. Strauss was just named a USA Gund Fellow for 2007. United States Artists awards $50,000 to each fellow "to nurture, support, and strengthen the work of America’s finest living artists." What a huge honor and certainly well deserved. Big congratulations to Zoe.

Humble Arts Foundation Announces Grant Winner

Claire, 2007 © Molly Landreth

Humble Arts Foundation has just announced the winner of it's first semi-annual grant for emerging photographers (GEP). Drum roll, please. The winner is the very talented Molly Landreth, for her current series, Embodiment.

I tend to gush a bit when talking about the Humble Arts Foundation, but they are just so gushable. If you are an emerging photography, and frankly who isn't, you should apply for the GEP. If you are just a fan of great organizations helping young photographers you should support the GEP by purchasing a limited edition print from some amazing photographers. My suggestion, pick up the Amy Stein (only two left!!), the Dina Kantor, or the Corey Arnold. They will make fabulous stocking-stuffers for the holidays.

Robert Adams On PBS

East from Flagstaff Mountain, Boulder County, Colorado © Robert Adams

Last night's episode of the PBS show Art in the Twenty-First Century featured profiles of four artists whose work exists at the intersection of the natural and man-made world. The subject matter and the inclusion of one of my all-time favorite photo heroes, Robert Adams, made the show absolute must viewing. In the video below, Robert Adams talks about his landmark series "The New West."More video and interviews with Adams can be found on the PBS site.

To All My Friends

Five Sour Cherries © Neil Plotkin

I am very fortunate to be surrounded by a tight group of very talented friends and family members. They are a constant source of inspiration and each seems to firing on all their creative cylinders right now. Over the past week I have had the privilege of sharing in some of their professional and personal successes.

Saturday we took in an open studio event for my very dear friend Neil Plotkin. Neil is an amazing painter and his newest work includes beautiful landscapes from a month spent in the Loire Valley and a new series called Empty Studio.

Before Neil's open-studio we attended the wedding of my printer, Carl Saytor. The ceremony was conducted with fire by the Reverend Billy and featured a joyous assembly of friends and family. The whole affair was something like the cast of Rocky Horror meeting the cast of Cirque du Soleil at Burning Man. They even had a man in a banana suit stalk the aisle! Definitely the most entertaining wedding ceremony I've ever attended.

This past Friday my cousin, Andy Guthrie, rocked Galapagos to make it the semi-finals of the 2007 Williamsburg Live Songwriter Competition. Andy performed one of his amazing new songs, It Goes On, which you can listen to here.

Last Wednesday the always lovely Jon Gitelson stayed with us while he was visiting New York showing work to some A-list galleries and museums. While he was here, Jon shared plans for his massive new public arts project in Chicago. Very cool.

It's so motivating to see their efforts being validated by others and, more importantly, by their own happiness.

New Halloween in Harlem Photos

This past Wednesday I hit the streets of East Harlem for the fourth year in a row to shoot portraits for my Halloween in Harlem series. In past years it was much easier because we lived in the neighborhood, but it was worth the trip from Jackson Heights to experience the chaos and joy of the holiday across 110th Street. Three of the new photographs are below. Check out my Web site to see more new Halloween in Harlem photos, plus photos from Halloweens past that have never been posted. Enjoy.

© Amy Stein

© Amy Stein

© Amy Stein

Battle Photo: Wind In Hair!

Southbound © Mike Brodie

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Dakota (Hair), 2004 © Ryan McGinley

Confessions of a Bialy Hater

Last night we made a trip to our local supermarket to buy groceries. Not uncommon and barely worth mentioning, except that this evening the seeds of a rift in our marriage were planted in the bread aisle of Trade Fair. We usually do our grocery shopping after 10 PM because if you come earlier the supermarket is so teaming with humanity it's like trying to play Twister in the Black Hole of Calcutta. It was here that my husband, John, decided to take up Trade Fair on their three bialys for a dollar offer.

"I hate bialys!" was my response.

He claimed that bialys were the missing link between bagels and English muffins and that most people outside of New York hadn't yet discovered their deliciousness. I said they are a dead bread and that America has spoken loud and clear on the subject. Am I crazy? Do I have bialys all wrong?

It should be noted that I have been so busy scanning and printing of late that my blog posts have fallen off a bit. Sorry about that. I will post some new Halloween in Harlem images a little later today.