GARY'S ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY 4 "M 57, M 15, NGC 891"

Taken Thursday evening by my father in his back yard.
(Because the photos blend in with the busy background, please click them to look closer)

CHRIS VERENE at DNG Gallery

Chris Verene’s new book and series “Family,” published in 2009 by Twin Palms Publishers, is the sequel to his critically acclaimed monograph about his birthplace, Galesburg, Illinois, where his family has lived for three generations. Galesburg is a central Illinois town that has fallen on hard times, much like other small towns across the United States. This series conveys his bittersweet fondness for the now decaying community in which he grew up, which still holds lessons about aging, disability, unemployment, alcoholism and other difficulties.
Verene has been photographing his family and friends since 1984 and has committed to this project for the duration of his life. “The key to my artwork,“ Verene has written, “is that it can only be born out of real and deep friendships and bonds with the people in the pictures.” Each image, whether it is of his family at Christmas breakfast, or of a rundown trailer of two of his friends, is accompanied by a hand-written, sincere text, giving the viewer an insight into Verene’s relationship to his subjects.
For more on Chis Verene: http://www.chrisverene.com/


Currently at DNG Gallery
154 N. La Brea
Los Angeles, CA 90036
Show ends November 7, 2009
GALLERY HOURS: Tuesday - Saturday 10-6

ESTHER PEARL WATSON ON T.V.

Esther Pearl Watson was recently interviewed on KERA television, a local channel in Texas, near her hometown. I really enjoyed watching the down home television style and hearing her talk so comfortably about her work. You should watch it too!
Interview on KERA television - CLICK THESE WORDS



*Remember the good-old days when television was like this everywhere?

"GOING WHERE I'VE NEVER BEEN"

A very personal documentary about the photography of Diane Arbus

There... Are... Four... Lights... !!!!

John Maus is currently on tour. Check him out if he comes to your town.He is one of the finer entities currently residing in a human body. I caught his show last night and it was tear worthy!

Sep 17 2009 8:00P Bottom Of The Hill San Fransisco, California
Sep 18 2009 8:00P Holocene Portland, Oregon
Sep 19 2009 8:00P The Vera Project Seattle, Washington
Sep 24 2009 8:00P UW Madison Memorial Terrace Madison, Wisconsin
Sep 25 2009 8:00P Schuba’s Tavern Chicago, Illinois


And if you haven't yet please see the video we made in collaboration :

ENTERPRISE by John Maus from Telefantasy Studios on Vimeo.

Buy his albums here http://www.upsettherhythm.co.uk/johnmaus.shtml

HIJACKED PHOTOGRAPHERS IN TV DOCUMENTARY

Exciting news! A documentary film based on the Hijacked Photobook is in the works! Producer Jack Pam has been flying around the world interviewing everyone from the book and taking a look into the way in which they approach their work. When Jack came to interview me, I happened to be shooting Francois Sagat for a segment of my sci-fi show,"The Multinauts" ( In the segment Francois will be advertising a futuristic perfume....and that's all I'm gonna say about that for now) Don't know when the documentary will air, but I sure am looking forward to it.

"AS USEFUL AS AN INFLATABLE PIN CUSHION"

A few years ago my friend Francesca Baglione asked me if I would participate in a small show she created for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival called "Miss High Leg Kick's Fashion Bus". Based on the structure of a high fashion catwalk, caricatures of everyday London people would emerge from a double-decker bus onto a catwalk with all the pizazz and confidence of a supermodel. It's goal; to entertain the viewer but also to remind the world that everyone is fabulous. (this realization must only take place after you are done laughing hysterically) I figured if Im going to photograph this show, I absolutely have to be in it as well.

The first year we did the show, it was a "failure". Failure meaning the shows were somewhat empty often having to perform for an audience of two people. When the reviews came out,one in particular read "FASHION BUS- As useful as an inflatable pin cushion" 1 star. Francesca burst into tears. In an attempt to comfort her I said, "Who ever said art was useful? A blender is useful" and from then on we took being an inflatable pin cushion as a compliment.

We pressed on in all that supposed failure. A years later, The British Arts Council saw the show and decided to back us up. With their help and everyone at the Colchester Arts Center, for the past two summers we have been able to take this show on the road and turn it into a spectacular celebration of everyday people.

This summer we went back to Edinburgh to prove ourselves. To reclaim and redefine inflatable pin cushions. Yet by the time we got there, we realized it didn't really matter what people thought. The cast was so involved in the mere act of performing that the show was not strictly assigned to the stage. Everywhere we went was a stage...what more can you expect of a bunch of show offs? Taking photographs was easy.

Rather than show my own photographs of our recent time in Edinburgh, the above photos are the work of my friend and fellow cast mate Steve Nice, who picked up a camera after we met during the first run of Fashion Bus in 2006 and is now studying at Kingston University in London. I am so excited for him and his emergence into the world of photography.

*click on photographs to see them in detail