Mona Kuhn

I had the pleasure of hosting the second of my 4 Evenings with Fine Art Photographers series tonight, featuring Mona Kuhn as the guest lecturer. It was a totally amazing evening, all because of Mona's generosity as a lecturer, photographer, and someone engaged in the world around her. For an hour and a half, she shared her journey, her process, and her inspirations. She has a remarkable intelligence, and is grounded, centered, and conscious her intentions. In other words, a real person without pretension and wanting to help those around her. People like Mona make me proud to be a photographer. She stayed to answer every question even though it had been a long day and evening. Already a fan, I have a whole new level of respect and admiration for this very special person.

Carl Corey

continuing to look at photographers from Photolucida

I was given the heads up by my friend Tom Chambers, to keep an eye out for Carl Corey at Photolucida. I was able to see his work at the massive portfolio walk Thursday evening, held at the Portland Art Museum. There were 3 different hour long shifts, where photographer's presented work on long tables as crowds of enthusiasts and fellow participants gorged at the buffet line of images. Later in the event, I found myself at reviewer tables next to Carl, and could hear experts waxing rhapsodic about his work and his print quality. And trust me, it was well deserved.

His site reflects a number of other fantastic bodies of work, and also reflects that his long time commitment to his art has not gone without notice or recognition.

Images from Wisconsin Tavern League







Images from Propaganda and Circumstance





Images from Portraits of Ranchers

Kelli Knack

continuing to look at photographer's from Photolucida

Los Angeles photographer, Kelli Knack, knows how to make beautiful images. But it's a subtle, carefully crafted kind of beauty, that combined with her amazing hand coloring talents and exquisite silver gelatin prints, make the images glow and shimmer with light and color. Seeing these in person at Photolucida was a treat and what made them even more remarkable was that there was no trace of the artist's hand.

Jane S. Noel and Eileen Kennedy

continuing to look at photographer's from Photolucida

As the baby boomer generation moves into their golden years, the subjects of age and transition will be explored more thoroughly than ever before. Two photographers at Photolucida examining this subject were Jane S. Noel, sharing the results of appearance in First Impressions and Eileen Kennedy, with an on going series on retirement titled, Beyond Success .

Statement from Jane S. Noel's First Impressions
"While standing at a crosswalk, a young man in a passing car leaned out and said "Watch out grandma!" I knew the grandma remark was because of my white hair. It made me angry and I had no recourse. This is my response.
I developed a survey based on hair color. Six hundred copies were distributed through a network of friends from Seattle to Greece. Four hundred and eleven were completed. All participants saw only one image while completing the survey."








Statement from Eileen Kennedy's Beyond Success
"There is a time for departure even when there is no certain place to go". Tennessee Williams
"What is it like when you have had a long, successful career and are "at the top of your game," but are expected to move on and let another generation succeed to your leadership role? Beyond Success is a continuing portraiture series about the emotional transition of leaving the familiar structures, community, and rewards of a fulfilling career. Like other periods of life change, it is a time for considering what will be lost, what will continue, and what will be gained in the next phase."

Susan Seubert

One of the highlights of the evening festivities at Photolucida, were the art openings in the Pearl District of Portland on Saturday Evening. The Blue Sky Gallery space is big and beautiful, with a number of exhibition rooms featuring Alberlardo Morell (who also gave a terrific lecture at the Portland Art Museum), Alexis Pike, Terry Toedtemeier, and Andy Freeberg.

Susan Seubert had a fantastic show at the Froelick Gallery featuring a grid of unique ambrotypes of nests (that are also available as large lambada prints). This was an example where the subject matter so perfectly fit the photographic technique. Also exhibited were a number of different series, including Bomb in a Box (digital pigment print on tissue paper, encaustic wax, and lead) and Dress (tintypes). Susan divides her time between her commercial and fine art work. Her fine art web site is full of thought provoking work, presented in a way to engage and enchant the viewer.

Images from Nest






Images from Bomb in a Box






Images from Dress

Photo Lu See da

After four loooong days in Portland, attending one of the best organized portfolio events in the U.S., Photolucida provided me with a mind boggling amount of visual and mental food for thought. Best part: connecting with wonderful photographers, renewing friendships, deepening relationships, being inspired, and getting re energized. Worst part: laying your work and your emotions on the line over and over, even when you are very tired. Very worst part: having a reviewer that was rude, arrogant, disrespectful of my materials and the effort that it took to create the work, present the work, pay lots of $$ for the review, the hotel, the meals, the transportation, and to show up with enthusiasm and grace. Very best part: the variety of cocktails that began to numb the mind following said experience.

So what did I want from this and was it worth the price? I would be lying if I didn't say that a nice fat book or a traveling exhibition, or perhaps a museum show would have been a nice result. But being practical, I realize that it's all about making connections, getting on people's visual Rolodex, and infusing your work with your intentions and point of view in a way that doesn't happen in the virtual world. As much as I like to complain of the the costs of these events, where else am I going to to meet publishers and curators and festival directors and gallerists from all over the world, that will actually take the time to discuss my work in a meaningful way.

What is unique to Photolucida are the reviewer/participant connections--it's not a "them and us" kind of review. We were all in it together, dining together, staying in the same hotel, spending time in the lobby. There is a respect and a camaraderie, and it's very appreciated.

Over the next few weeks, I will share some of my experiences and the wonderful work I had the privilege of seeing.

Mona Kuhn, Thursday, April 30th

I'm hosting the second of the 4 Evenings with Fine Art Photographs next Thursday, March 30th, featuring the incredible Mona Kuhn. This is a not-to-be-missed evening, so if you are going to be in Los Angeles, find out more information at Julia Dean Photoworkshops.

Also heading off for Photolucida today and will report from the road!



Mona Kuhn