Bensonhurst, Brooklyn Houses, 2008, from Foreigners in Paradise, © Jane Tam

Just wanted to update you all on some upcoming shows and what I’ve been up to.

This Friday, November 6th, I will be in a two-person exhibition with the talented Shen Wei at Nemo Design Gallery in Portland, Oregon. I will be showing ten photographs from my “Foreigners in Paradise” project.

From the website:
Nemo Design is proud to present the work of acclaimed photographers Shen Wei and Jane Tam in Reflecting China: Gendered Visions from the Diaspora. Reflecting China combines work from Shen Wei’s Chinese Sentiment Series with Jane Tam’s Foreigners in Paradise Series. The result is a collection of work that explores issues of Chinese identity, gender, diaspora, cultural memory, imagined communities, longing and belonging. Both artists have been internationally recognized for their work. Shen is the recipient of many awards and was named as one of fifteen in the “new generation of photo pioneers” by American Photo magazine in 2007 as well as, one of the PDN’s “30 New and Emerging Photographers to Watch” in 2008. Jane Tam was awarded with the Emerging Photographer Award at the Pingyao Photography Festival in China.

Reflecting China is part of the community programming for the Portland Art Museum’s China Design Now exhibit.

At the end of this year, I’m taking a trip to Hong Kong to continue my “Asleep At Sea” series. It will be about 2.5 weeks of shooting and I’m so excited for it!

After the new year, I am also showing work at the Fotofest Biennial 2010. The show, “Whatever Was Splendid,” is curated by Aaron Schuman, of Seesaw Magazine and incorporates an amazing roster of artists that I am most humbled to be included with.

From the website:
Aaron Schuman explores the legacy and continued influence of a “thoroughly modern photographic figure,” Walker Evans. “The striking similarities between Evans’s time and our own have become all too clear,” says Mr. Schuman. “Bearing this in mind, I began to investigate his profound influence on how the United States is still responded to, regarded, recognized and represented within photography today.” The artists in Mr. Schuman’s exhibition are: Will Steacy, Michael Schmelling, Greg Stimac, Tema Stauffer, Jason Lazarus, Jane Tam, Richard Mosse, Craig Mammano, Todd Hido, Hank Willis Thomas, and RJ Shaughnessy.

Reflecting China: Gendered Visions from the Diaspora
Two-Person Exhibition with Jane Tam and Shen Wei
Nemo Design Gallery
1875 SE Belmont St.Portland, OR 97214
Nov. 6 – 23, 2009
Opening Reception: Nov. 6, 2009 from 6-10pm

Whatever Was Splendid
Fotofest Biennial 2010, curated by Aaron Schuman
Vine Street Studios
1113 Vine Street
Houston, Texas
March 12 – Apr 25, 2010

Traceryscape, © Aki Lumi

I came across Japanese born (Paris based) artist, Aki Lumi, via Lens Culture a couple of weeks ago. I have felt a bit over saturated with straight photography from the blogs, the submissions, and work. It is so refreshing to see photography transformed and used in a different way. Lumi’s images remind me of how I first grew interest in art and it was through drawing and collage. I use to cut family photographs and make collages thinking it was a good idea, before my mother found out and scolded me.¬†

I’m sorry I have not been following up with the blog and writing my usual personal banter. I’ve been feeling a bit censored photographically since my grandmother has been battling a stroke and other illnesses in the hospital. Like Richard Renaldi, I wanted to photograph her struggle but also am faced with family politics and emotional disagreement to do so. Besides wearing the hat of an artist, I am first a granddaughter and a translator for my grandfather and relatives between them and doctors. My cousins and I are often put into the translator position and it is always a struggle of he said she said.

Untitled, from the series, Angle of Repose © Toni Pepe

Sorry for the lack of posting. My day job as a retoucher has taken full swing on my mental capacity. Anyways, the current Nymphoto Conversation is with another dear friend, Toni Pepe. We met at a SPE Regional Conference last year and spent some time wandering through Woodstock, NY. Early this year, we traveled to Denver for the national SPE Conference and trekked the Rockies. Photo friends and travel, a great combination! Go check out the interview.

From the series, Fauna, © Nina Buesing

Fellow Nymphoto member, Nina Buesing updated her website which includes extraordinary work. She’s been getting buzz from fellow bloggers since the update too! Congrats!

Okay, let’s try to get back into this again.

Beaver Lake Nature Center, 2001, © Shawn Records

Economy is in the pits but art collecting is on the rise.

Shawn Records, a Syracuse University alum and amazingly talented artist, is selling prints on his blog to help fund his way to an important portfolio review with Alec Soth. Prints are only $100+shipping and they’re all large C-prints of 20×24 size! Talk about a deal! Go score a print.

Ridderkerk II, 2003, © Raimond Wouda

Onto another project; Lay Flat is a new contemporary photography and writing publication founded by Shane Lavalette. Right now, the first issue is just shy of funds needed to print and distribute the issue. Also, in order to keep submissions FREE, it needs your help. So donate a buck or 20 or more!

If you’re a photographer who has submitted or simply a lover of photography, I urge you to take this moment to consider donating to Lay Flat. As a donor, you can know that you are supporting an exciting new publication that celebrates photography in a way that is unique from other publications. There is no minimum amount accepted Рevery penny counts! Рbut donors that give more than $20 will be thanked in print and will receive an advanced e-mail regarding the release of the publication.

To donate, just head to the website and find the “donate” button.

On a side note to nothing related, I’m excited to get my 4×5 in the mail very very soon!!

Going through old negatives, 2005, © Jane Tam

Ben Alper of The Exposure Project announced the artists participating in a new project, Graphic Intersections, based on the ideas of Exquisite Corpse. I’m one of the artists participating and I have to say I feel really humble to be in a such great project with an amazing group of artists!

From The Exposure Project:

Hey Everyone! So, after spending the better part of the last week going through all of the submissions we received for Graphic Intersections, we are excited to be able to announce the selected photographers. First, I would just like to genuinely thank everybody that submitted to the project and extended encouragement and support for this venture. We had an incredibly difficult time curating Graphic Intersections due to the overwhelming diversity of great work that we received. We hope that this project continues to gain momentum and that there will be the opportunity to curate an entirely new group of artists to carry out this photographic Exquisite Corpse at some point in the future. For now, however, you’ll find the inaugural participants below:

Ben Alper
Anastasia Cazabon
Thomas Damgaard
Scott Eiden
Grant Ernhart
Jon Feinstein
Elizabeth Fleming
Alan George
Hee Jin Kang
Drew Kelly
Mike Marcelle
Chris Mottalini
Ed Panar
Bradley Peters
Cara Phillips
Noel Rodo-Vankeulen
Irina Rozovsky
Brea Souders
Jane Tam
Grant Willing

We are extremely excited about Graphic Intersections and truly can’t wait to see what unfolds. In an effort to facilitate a completely uninhibited result, however, we will not be posting the images from the project as we receive them. There will be updates when appropriate regarding the final manifestation of this endeavor. Thanks again to everyone who showed enthusiasm. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Untitled Beauty #1, 2007,  © Cara Phillips

Get your portrait taken!

Cara Phillips is setting up an outdoor photo studio in Union Square and the Meatpacking District. She’ll be using ultraviolet lights to show the sitter what lies ahead in the future of their¬†skin-care, continuing her series, “Ultraviolet Beauties”. This is part of a NYC event, Art in Odd Places.¬†

This is her schedule and location spots:

From Cara’s blog:
Union Square

Thursday October 16th: 10:30 – 4:45 pm

Friday October 17th: 9:30 – 5pm (from 11am – noon I will be on break)

I will be either by 17th and Broadway, 14th Bet. Broadway and University or Bet. 14th and 15th and Broadway and 4th Ave. Look for the giant flash’s going off.

14th St & 9th Ave

Friday October 24th: 10 – 5pm

Sat October 25th: 10 – 5pm

Across from the Apple store.

Kotama Bouabane’s Let It Go

This week I bought Kotama Bouabane’s Let It Go and Linzie Hunter’s Coney from 20×200. As broke as I am, trying to save money for a 4×5 outfit, I could not have resisted purchasing these two pieces. I have a tendency to come close to maxing out my credit card these past few months (my limit is very low..).. buying what? A few pieces every once in awhile from 20×200, a light meter, film, packing supplies, stuff that do not pertain to art, food, etc.

Tis the season to buy art, most of which are for good causes.

From the series The Human Stain by Will Steacy
Digital C-Print
Negative Made 2006, Printed 2008
Signed & Numbered
Limited Edition of 15
8”x10” Paper Size
6.5”x8.2” Image Size
$150

I received an email from the talented Will Steacy about the ridiculous, I mean insane, increase in his rent. With the hope of community helping him out, he’s started selling limited edition prints of his work.

from his email:

I am writing to ask for your support in helping me spread the word about a Limited Edition print sale I am offering through my blog (please see link below). My landlord recently raised my rent by $600 a month and I can not afford this. I have no other choice than to move. And here lies my dilemma, I do not have the money to pay for a move. So, in a last minute effort to raise money for a move I am now offering a Limited Edition sale of 5 images, each in an edition of 15, for $150 each. I would be honored and most grateful if you posted something about this on your blogs, told your friends, passed this along to any collectors you know or forwarded this email to anyone who might be interested. Anything would help. In my eyes, the power and strength of the blogs, the art world community and all of my friendships is the ability to get the word out there and to help me spread this message anyway possible. I thank you, your support means a great deal!!!

http://willsteacy.blogspot.com/2008/10/limited-edition-prints-for-sale.html

Much Obliged,

Will

Many of you have contributed to buying prints from me earlier this year for the sake of funding for my senior BFA show. I was overwhelmed by the support and hope the community can do the same for Will.

Also, there is Art for Obama (rescheduled bidding for Oct. 3rd). Big names, big money, all for a good cause.

The Storm ©Polixeni Papapetrou

There’s a new conversation up for Nymphoto this week. I conducted it with Polixeni Papapetrou (that name is amazing!) about her current series, “Games of Consequence.” Read more about her series here.