Update - Research Showcase, etc.

I was accepted into the Research Showcase and have been going back and forth with the organizers on how to best display The Real Americans work in The Firstenburg Student Common. I find it interesting that they talk about showing fine art, but are actually stumped as to how I can display photographs, other than using easels. It turns out they are not allowed to hang anything on the walls unless it can be held up with masking tape. Ouch. As of right now, it looks as if I will be showing unframed prints of an undetermined size, depending on what I think will stay up with masking tape. My other option is to choose 2-3 images, print them larger and frame them to be shown on easels. I always worry about easels getting knocked over when a framed piece is displayed, but I may have to just go with the flow. I also been working on printing all of the California diptychs to add to the already completed ones and it should help me to determine which prints I show at the Research Showcase.

In addition to figuring out the Research Showcase, I am signed up for the Art Fair (the next day) and have been creating new work for that event as well. I decided I would veer away from selling photographs, because there are already a large number of "student photographers" who are going to be there. Besides, I do not want to sell my fine art photos at an Art Fair. Instead I am creating new works in my other style of mixed media, which I used to sell at Saturday Market. It is more time consuming, but I never want to follow the crowd. :)



In other news, I have been expanding on the silkscreened print I did for FA 363 with a series of "you and me, me and you" prints. Ideally I would like to complete 9 or so, but have been having some technical difficulties and am starting 4 of them over. The vintage images of couples sometimes translate well, but the four I was working with failed to give enough detail, so back to the drawing board. Yoshi actually worked with me a bit one evening when we were both in the studio at the same time. Each of the prints is inspired by someone in my life I have a relationship with - friend, family member, etc. I decided to sit and free associate about each individual while writing the background text for each print. The information will be partially obscured because of the image of the couple, like the first one I did for FA 363. My intention is to complete 3 of each print (1-AP and 2 - numbered prints), give the AP to each person who inspired the piece and keep the remaining set of 2 prints. It really is about "without you, I would just be me", there would be no you and me, me and you, us or we. The individuals selected all have made some significant impact on my life and I believe I would not be the same person if I had never met them.

I have spent approximately 12-14 hours in the darkroom this semester and plan on continuing as soon as Jeanette replaces the developer so I can print from my developed negatives. I spent 4 hours one day, just to realize the prints were not crisp because the developer was bad. Frustrating, but I at least have the dark prints to look at, so I will know what I want to re-print on larger paper when I get back in there.

Stephanie and I have been working on a few side ideas as well, but other than exploring "through the viewfinder" (she more than I) we haven't launched into anything else new together, just separate projects. Well, I will admit I have been allowing her to take more candid photos of me when we are hanging around each other, so in a way I have become one her models/victims. It is an interesting turn of events since I do not normally let anyone photograph me. Body issues. In the end it's good for both of us.