Blog
Artomatic 2012
This year’s Artomatic is the largest ever and includes the usual mix of good, bad and ugly. But, as reviewers have noted, it also includes a surprising number of experienced gallery artists. As a photographer interested in the transformation of abandoned architectural spaces, I find Artomatic fascinating. Apart from what one thinks of the quality of the art, I’m not aware of another all volunteer art show on this scale anywhere else. I participated this year by showing a single large-scale photographic print titled La Chanca (shown above). The neighborhood of La Chanca is a historically impoverished zone made up […]
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Photography in Mexico at SF MOMA
‘Photography in Mexico’ at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art spans a century of photographic history, including Mexican photographers as well as outsiders’ visions of Mexico. Opening with the work of Tina Modotti and Edward Weston in the 1920s, the exhibit traces how photographers responded to cultural and political changes in the country. The show devotes substantial space to luminaries like Manuel Alvarez Bravo and Graciela Iturbide, but includes a number of lesser known artists as well. On a recent visit, I was especially intrigued by the final two rooms of the exhibit. As the layout follows a roughly […]
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Art of Carlos Cara
Digital artist and graphic designer Carlos Cara created some outstanding collage images for the Festival de Cortometrajes (short film festival) a couple of years ago, incorporating the title ‘Once Upon a Time in Almeria. Check out more of his work on his deviantART page.
Read MoreCarabanchel
In October 2008 I photographed the interior of the former Carabanchel prison in Madrid, one of the most infamous architectural landmarks from Spain’s decades of dictatorship. General Francisco Franco ordered construction of the complex in the 1940s to house the regime’s many political prisoners. After the prison was finally closed in 1998, the building became a haven for squatters, graffiti artists, and curious visitors. A month after my visit the entire structure was demolished to make way for a new urban development.
Read MoreOnce Upon a Time in Almería
During the 1960s and 1970s, the region of Almeria, Spain, was host to dozens of filmmakers who constructed elaborate movie sets, invoking locations from the American Southwest to Bedouin Arabia. Films shot here include Cleopatra, Lawrence of Arabia, Patton, and Sergio Leone’s spaghetti westerns starring Clint Eastwood. Film directors sought to manipulate the otherwise uninhabitable landscape in order to create a world more imaginary than real. Four decades later remnants of the old movie sets remain in the desert, providing seemingly tangible evidence of human settlements that never really existed.
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Interview on WAMU
Friday’s Metro Connection on WAMU carried a segment on my ‘Once Upon a Time in Almeria’ exhibition at the Embassy of Spain. The segment appeared, appropriately enough, on their annual Haunted DC Halloween special. I walked through the exhibit with reporter Emily Berman as we talked about the history of Almeria, about visiting deserted locations before dawn, and about the ghosts of movies past. The audio segment is available on the WAMU website . From Metro Connection’s summary: During the 1960s and ’70s, Almeria, a province on the southern coast of Spain, hosted dozens of filmmakers and movie stars. Even […]
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Artist Talk during Fotoweek DC
The Embassy of Spain will host an Artist Talk and Reception on Wednesday, November 14, 6:30 – 8:30 during Fotoweek DC. I will talk about the history of moviemaking in Almeria, Spain, the stories behind the locations shown in the photographs, and my own family connection to the region. This is also a great opportunity to see the exhibit during evening hours before it closes November 16.
Read MoreFotoweek DC Schedule
Exhibit Open: Once Upon a Time in Almeria Embassy of Spain, 2375 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC Visiting hours: M-Th 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, F 9:30 am to 2:30 pm More details here
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Press Coverage: Once Upon a Time in Almeria
My exhibit of photographs ‘Once Upon a Time in Almeria‘ is open at the Spanish Embassy in Washington, DC, through November 16. We’ve had some great press coverage of the exhibit so far, especially in Spain. I did an interview with the EFE news agency which appeared in several papers, WAMU gave a shout out via Art Beat, and La Voz de Almeria devoted a full page to the opening. Look for more coverage forthcoming from WAMU and other outlets. Upcoming events include: Thursday, October 18, 6:30-9:00PM: Film Program and discussion on landscapes of the spaghetti western Wednesday, November 14, 6:30-8:30PM: […]
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Critical Mass Finalists 2012
The Critical Mass Finalist 2012 list has been released. I was excited to be selected as one of 200 photographers whose work will go on to be reviewed and judged by a panel of luminaries in the world of contemporary fine art photography. The Top 50 will be chosen from this group in the next stage. Awards for the top photographers include a published monograph and traveling exhibitions. The full list is available here.
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