harlan erskine * photography/blog

Tonight!!! William Greiner opening at Klompching Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

Loungers
Noac, 1995, Digital C-Type Print, Signed & Numbered Verso

I am exhausted, spent and still unfinished with my final projects for the School year but I have to go to this for a bit tonight. I'm looking forward to seeing the final images in printed form. So far, I have only viewed Greiner's work on his website and his blog.

FALLEN PARADISE — William Greiner
May 1 — June 27

OPENING RECEPTION: May 1, 6pm — 8pm

This is the underbelly of pre-Katrina New Orleans. Greiner presents an image of a city that was already devastated, by neglect and abandonment, long before natural disaster struck. His imaging of New Orleans' urban vernacular is perceptively pictured through a carefully constructed use of color, form and content.

William Greiner's modus operandi is the American Color Tradition — the snapshot that isn't. Here, the familiar becomes unfamiliar. The seemingly objective actuality of the city, its banality, its ordinary everyday impression, is transformed into a vista of flush saturated palettes of color. Born, raised and (until Katrina) living and working in the city, New Orleans has always been an importnt source of inspiration for Greiner's work.

Here, a decade of looking and picturing his immediate environment, is brought together and displayed for the first time. Fallen Paradise is a celebration of apparent incidental imagery that is, of course, abound in formal devices — frame, vantage point, shape and line. Although there exists an autobiographical subtext, Greiner is most successful in compelling us to also look, not just at his city, but at the photograph itself. Whilst the importance of his subject does not disappear, these images function as photographic artifact — at once, they are observation and cultural object.

William Geiner lives and works in Baton Roughe, Louisiana.

KLOMPCHING GALLERY

111 Front Street, Suite 206
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Labels: art openings, Artist, blogs, Brooklyn, events, gallery

What is wrong with AIPAD?

Photo of the 2008 New York APAID show by Susan Sermoneta.

A few weekends ago, I went out to see The AIPAD Photography "show". I wouldn't call it a show - that would give it too much credit. The only thing that was like a show was the price.

$25 dollars for the day.

No student ticket pricing.

Zero.

What is wrong with these people? Are they that elitist that they need to overcharge EVERYONE? Even the bigger more prestigious and more historically significant show, The Armory Show has a fair student price of $10. I am glad I didn't post this right after I went since I was in a angrier mood then and I maybe would have said something rash.

I almost didn't go until I found an artistic method of entry. As for how the fair was? It was ok there were some highlights and some embarrassments. I would post them here but I wouldn't want to help them. One thing I will note is how interesting it is to see who isn't represented at these fairs but are in other fairs. Those famous Germans with the big price tags weren't there at all as far I saw.

So, next year AIPAD please consider at student pricing all the cool Art Fairs are doing it.

Lots of blog coverage here here here here and countless others...

Labels: art notes, events, gallery, General Art, New York

Black Sun Project, debuts at Bas Fisher Invitational, Miami, FL (UPDATED x2)

UPDATE: The show will be up for on more gallery walk this Saturday April 12th 7-10PM. Although I can't be down in Miami the gallery will be open, please invite everyone you know, stop by, check it out and let me know what you think.

On Saturday, March 8th, 2008, I opened my first solo show at the Bas Fisher Invitational. It was great to be back in Miami to get some fresh air and see all my friends there. Please check out the images of the show below the Press Release.

PRESS RELEASE

The Bas Fisher Invitational presents “Black Sun Project,”
a new series of photographs by Harlan Erskine.

Harlan Erskine
“Black Sun Project”
March 8th - April TBD, 2008

Opening Reception: March 8th 2008 7-10PM
Closing Reception: April 12th 2008 7-10pm

other viewings by appointment only: lightofman[at]gmail.com

Bas Fisher Invitational
upstairs on the 2nd floor
of the Buena Vista Building
180 NE 39th St. Suite 210
basfisherinvitational.com

Black Sun Project

“The sun is not fiery after all, but a dead planet. We on earth give it its light.”
—Minor White

My photography certainly began in a formalistic project based practice but this particular project is very much a departure for me because I am experimenting in photographic abstraction. Not long after photography’s invention, many photographers experimented with abstraction of photographic space. Even the early contact prints of plants produced by the inventor of the Calotype, Henry Fox Talbot, are in essence an exploration in photographic abstraction. I am particularly interested in the later abstraction from the 1930’s of Man Ray and his then assistant Lee Miller and their rediscovery of Solarizations or the Sabattier Effect. Particularly interesting are the more direct echos of my project in the singular images from Ansel Adams and Minor White. Their Black Sun images, through overexposure solarization, are the analogue version of my images. Therefore, in a similar way, they explored abstraction in relation to the contemporary photographic technology of their time–this exploration, titled Black Sun Project, explores photography through a significant contemporary technology, the mobile phone.

Contemporary practice has very much brought a particular kind formalism into vogue but with new sets of guidelines. I am certainly guilty of applying many of these parameters within my own work but in moving away from my previous methods of working, I have found some clarity in my previous explorations as well as a new avenue to explore. I will continue to work the way I used to but every so often, it is beneficial to perform radical change and see where it leads. Taryn Simon’s photograph of the albino tiger is good example of a photographer who is photographing an evolutionary glitch/mistake. Nature normally weeds out albino tigers born in the wild since they are not well suited to their surroundings and have a very tough time surviving–they tend to get horribly sunburn and stick out in its surroundings. By the same logic, technology companies normally weed out glitches from their products (we hope they do anyway) to improve their products. The manufacturer of this cellular phone eventually weeded out the black sun solarization effect so this artwork is self–reflexively about that mistake or glitch in the technological evolution of mobile photography and photography in general.

The Bas Fisher Invitational is a artist run alternative art space, located in the Buena Vista Building in Miami’s Design District. It was founded in July 2004 by artists Hernan Bas and Naomi Fisher in the wake of losing their favorite alternative art space “the House” to Miami’s rapid gentrification. Their premise is to simply invite artists who they are inspired by to publicly showcase their work, exposing additional exciting voices to Miami's growing art scene.

For additional information please contact the gallery at lightofman[at]gmail.com or contact Harlan Erskine at Me[at]harlanerskine.com

Black Sun 0006, c-print on diasec in wood frame, 48" x 64"

Black Sun 0009, c-print on diasec in wood frame, 48" x 64"

Black Sun 0181, c-print on diasec in wood frame, 48" x 64"

Infinite Black Suns, 104 c-prints, 4" x 6" each

Labels: art openings, events, gallery, Miami, my pictures

Peter Funch

"Communicating Community" from the series "Babel Tales" by Peter Funch 51 x 23 inches.

One of the many people I got to meat during last weeks Armory Show madness was photographer and gallery owner Peter Funch. I got to take a quick look at his prints at The Volta Show but I wanted to spend more time with them. Hopefully they will be up again in New York.

Peter is a cofounder o f V1 Gallery in Copenhagen, Denmark. Their website has a nice gallery of Peter's Babel Tales. Peter was also selected by Getty Images in their New Photographers 2007 collection of image makers.

Labels: Artist, gallery, Photographer

New York Times: On Miami's Art Scene

Reflection of a visitor to the Rubell Family Collection in the Wynwood Art District is seen in an untitled work by Anselm Reyle. Chip Litherland for The New York Times.

In Sunday's New York Times Travel Section there is a article that not only got Miami's art world right but mentioned some friends of mine. Have a look The Miami Art Scene: The Beach Party Moves Indoors. Congratulations Jen Stark, Frank Wick, Scott Murray at Twenty Twenty getting a huge write up, Naomi Fisher and Jim Drain and many others. Its a great write up that is surprisingly on point with where the spots are while avoiding all the South Beach clichés of the standard Miami Travel article.

Labels: Art Basel, gallery, Miami

Selections announced for Humble Arts Foundation's "31 Under 31: Young Women in Art Photography"

Image by Sara Padgett Heathcott

Hot off the mass email today Humble Arts Foundation has announced the 31 selections out of over 1000 submissions for the upcoming show “31 Under 31: Young Women in Art Photography.” The exhibition opening reception on Saturday, March 1st at 3rd Ward in Brooklyn and the show will stay up for the month.

I went through the Exhibiting photographers and found as many websites as I could. They may be showing newer work then what they have on their websites but it was still nice to take a look at some new voices as well as the friends and fellow SVA Students and Alumni that made it in. If any of these websites are wrong please let me know and I will correct it.

Congratulations to all.

Alana Celii
Amy Elkins
Ahndraya Parlato
Allison Grant
Ashley Lefrak
Alejandra Laviada
Alex Van Clief
Catherine Maloney
Dina Kantor
Dru Donovan
Elaine Stocki
Hannah Whitaker
Helen Maurene Cooper
Jaimie Warren
Jessica Bruah
Jessica Roberts
Ka-Man Tse
Kate and Camilla
Kelly Kleinschrodt
Manya Fox
Marta Labad
Mary Mattingly
Molly Landreth
Nadine Rovner
Rachael Dunville
Reka Reisinger
Sara Padgett Heathcott
Sarah Small
Sarah Sudhoff
Tealia Ellis Ritter
Talia Chetrit

Labels: Artist, events, gallery, MFA, New York, Photographer

Tonight: Screening and Talk with Filmmaker Jem Cohen

I first came upon filmmaker Jem Cohen (wiki) (Video Data Bank) in a 2002 show at EYEBEAM. He was showing Chain, a new three channel piece shot in 16mm film, with a fantastic soundtrack by Godspeed You Black Emperor. The film washes the viewer with images in a Koyaanisqatsi (wiki) style and I remember his film being the highlight of that show so It will be interesting to see him talk tonight.

The Change You Want To See Gallery
Monday, January 28th, 7:30pm, free
84 Havemeyer Street, at Metropolitan Ave
Williamsburg, Brooklyn 11211

Labels: Artist, events, gallery, New York

New York Gallery ratings

Interesting new blog How's My Dealing? is a place for Artists to share their positive/negative experiences with critics, curators, and galleries. There aren't too many comments so far and some of the comments a bit on the whiny chip on my shoulder side but this experiment could be quite interesting and telling if the right people find it and start posting constructive comments. With enough support it could turn into a Epinions for the art world.

Labels: art notes, blogs, gallery, General Art, New York

Twenty Twenty Projects - "Gallery owner clicks by keeping it real"

Nice article on local Gallery and friend TwentyTwenty Projects in the Miami Herald last weekendGallery owner clicks by keeping it real

Labels: gallery, Miami

Free Gilbert & George artwork from The Guardian (UK)

From now until Thursday May 10th The Guardian (a UK Newspaper) is offering a free download of the Gilbert and George piece pictured above. There is a full article about the piece on The Guardian's web site here. Also, there is a bunch of videos about the art duo on the Tate website.

Labels: Artist, gallery, London

New Andreas Gursky work

Looks like Andreas Gursky is getting talked a lot about lately. He is showing his new work and I can't wait to see it up close. Here is a nice pdf of his work. I found a good article and exhibition images in a Wallpaper Portfolio. Here is a good blog post with nice detail shots of the new images.

Also check out a haus der kunst translated page
via jm Colberg

If you happen to be in London tonight looks like there is a show up for another few days in London at Sprueth Magers London Gallery and also at White Cube.

He opened a show in New York yesterday. Anyone go? if you did how was it? I need to get up there soon. If you didn't go the show is at:

Matthew Marks
522 West 22nd Street
New York

Andreas Gursky
May 4-June 30, 2007

Labels: Artist, events, gallery, London, New York, Photographer

New York Gallery go-round

© Jeff Wall.

A few weeks ago I was up in New York for the weekend and there is a lot of great work being shown. I couldn't get to all of it but here is the photography shows I was digging in no particular order.

Jeff Wall at
MoMA

Thomas Struth at
Marian Goodman

Mitch Epstein
Sikkema Jenkins

Elger Esser at
Sonnabend Gallery

Andreas Gefeller at
Hasted Hunt

Lisa Kereszi at
Yancey Richardson Gallery

I also lucked out and made it to a lecture at the Aperture Gallery by Taryn Simon,
more on that later.

Labels: events, gallery, New York

Miami Art Museum: The Machine, the Body and the City

Ted Croner, Taxi, New York Night 1949, gelatin silver print, 15 3/8 x 15 1/8 inches
Collection Miami Art Museum , fractional and promised gift of Charles Cowles
© Ted Croner Estate Courtesy Howard Greenberg Gallery, NYC

I am excited to announce, although already a week overdue, that I have been included in an exhibition at the Miami Art Museum entitled: Miami Art Museum: The Machine, the Body and the City. It's a great show and even if I were not in it, I would recommend it to any fan of photography.

There isn't too much about it online at this point but there is a write up in the Miami Herald and V Magazine.

I would like to thank guest curator, Andy Grundberg, Peter Boswell Senior Curator at MAM and Charles Cowles for his contributions to the Miami Art Museum.

The exhibition will be up until April 15, 2007 in MAM's Plaza Level Gallery.

Labels: Art Basel, events, gallery, Miami, my pictures

TRUDI, Los Angeles, CA 90012

© 2006 Harlan Erskine. All rights reserved.

My last Day in Los Angeles a few weeks ago I fought LA traffic for nearly 2 hours, Santa Monica to Chinatown. What a mission. After the stopping and starting I arrived to meet up with Matt Chambers an old friend from School in Miami. He has a very tight gallery, TRUDI (click here for current show) See below for rest of the documentation of the space and the other gallery space next door.

Labels: gallery, Los Angeles, my pictures

Locust Projects annual fundraiser 2006

Tomorrow is the annual fundraiser for Miami cutting edge space Locust Projects. I participated last year and the show was very fun with people racing around to get their favorite artwork after their names are drawn at random. See flyer below.

I have donated one of the pieces from my series "ten convenient stores" that was shown at Art Basel Miami Beach 2005. Please see below for web reference. I hope to see you there tomorrow night.

All enquires please contact Ambrosino Gallery.

Labels: events, gallery, Miami, my pictures

OPTIC NERVE, Tonight MOCA Miami

I few weeks ago I was asked to Judge the prestigious Optic Nerve experimental film festival and tonight is the opening screening. I hope to see you there.

The Artists include:
Clifton Childree
Lou Anne Colodny
Studio El Condor
Matthew Cox
FG
Liz Haley
Jiae Hwang
Storyteller
Duda Leite
Alejandra Leibovich
Ali Prosch
Nicholas Raftis
Geoffrey Thomas
TM Sisters
Friends With You
David Rohn

Schedule:
Friday, August 18 at MOCA
Joan Lehman Building, 770 NE 125th St., North Miami
7 pm First Screening
8 pm Artist Roundtable with Starbucks
9 pm Second Screening

Saturday, August 26 at MOCA at Goldman Warehouse
404 NW 26th St., Wynwood Arts District
7 pm Screening

See the press release here.

Labels: events, gallery, Miami

Cloud City by Friends With You - Art Basel Miami Beach 2006

Yes, believe it or not I haven't finished posting about Basel. I wanted to post more while it was going on but work and art sometimes don't mix. Below is my documentation of The Cloud City by Miami Collective Friends With You that was showing from December 1, 2005 until January 29, 2006 at the Museum Of Contemporary Art Miami at the Goldman Warehouse
I hope they het a chance to product this show in a more permanent way. So, kids (of any age) can come an play in the Cloud City another day.

Links:
New York Times Article
Mami Chan & Norman Bambi (PonPoko)