Blog

Idylls  

May 29 – July 3, 2009Organized by the Washington Project for the Arts and the World Bank Art Program Juried by Andrea Pollan, Director of Curator’s OfficeOpening Reception: Friday, May 29 6-8pm The World Bank Main Complex, Front Lobby Gallery 1818 H Street, NW Washington, DC Four photographs of mine from abandoned sites in Spain, including the Carabanchel prison, will be included in this exhibition. The theme of the exhibition is focused on artists interpretations of or responses to the idea of an idyll or utopian environment. More details about the show and its theme are available on the WPA […]

Temporary Constructions  

Thanks to all who came out to see Temporary Constructions at Nevin Kelly Gallery as part of Fotoweek DC. We were delighted to have such a great crowd at the opening reception. The show was also named one of the Top 10 Must Attend Exhibits on the Fotoweek blog. The show ended November 23rd, but if you are interested in seeing these or other works feel free to contact me or the gallery directly.

Cárcel de Carabanchel  2 

The Carabanchel prison in Madrid is one of the most infamous architectural landmarks from Spain’s decades of dictatorship. General Francisco Franco ordered construction of the prison in the 1940s to house the regime’s many political prisoners. The complex is designed on the panopticon model, with the cell blocks extending outwards from a round central tower. This arrangement, first proposed by 17th century philosopher Jeremy Bentham, allowed guards to easily observe all areas of the prison and was intended to amplify the prisoners’ sensations of powerlessness.   Carabanchel was finally closed in 1998 and its few remaining inhabitants moved to other […]

Art for a Cause  

Donating artwork to a fundraising auction can help artists to increase exposure for their work while also benefiting a good cause. This fall I am donating framed prints to two events that raise money for important causes while also focusing on art — both events are coming up soon and tickets are still available. Art for Life, now in its 15th year and a highlight on the art calendar, supports the Whitman Walker Clinic’s HIV/AIDS prevention services for communities of color. The event includes a beautiful color catalog, a gallery-style exhibition, and the excitement of a live auction (as an […]

Constitutional Crisis  

Artomatic Picks  

 During my volunteer hours and other visits to Artomatic over the past few weeks I’ve tried to see as much of the show as possible. With 9 floors filled with art, it’s impossible to absorb it all in one visit. Here are a few of my favorite photographers (and other artists) i’d recommend checking out before the exhibit closes this Sunday June 15: Erin AntognoliUsing a Holga camera, Antognoli captures intriguing multiple exposure black and white images. Ghostly human figures juxtaposed with city scenes and architectural details. The prints are small, the size of the actual negative, but this serves […]

Strangers in a Strange Land  

In my space at Artomatic I decided to show a series of images from two very different subjects, the monumental titanium constructions of Frank Gehry and abandoned houses along the coast in Almeria, in southern Spain. In a recent trip to Spain I stopped in Bilbao to photograph the Guggenheim museum before heading south to Almeria. I found both settings to be fascinating but also austere. Gehry’s organic forms take on a more sinister air at night, as the artificial lights impose gold and brown hues on the metal plates and Louise Bourgeois’ spider sculpture appears less playful. The abandoned […]

Ghost Houses of Cabo de Gata  

                      The landscape of Cabo de Gata, along the coast of Almeria, is dotted with architectural remains — eighteenth century fortifications, abandoned mining operations, and empty cortijos. These vacant structures, fixed in the arid desert landscape for decades or centuries, seem timeless. They could have been abandoned fifteen years ago, or 150 years ago. It’s often hard to tell, as the stillness of the desert masks any signs of life. However, these architectural relics are, in fact, products of human history and have some intriguing stories to tell. The Cortijo […]

Castellon Opening  

  On Friday March 14, over 300 people filled the marble-lined foyer of the Museo de Almería for the opening of the exhibit “Federico Castellón: de Almería a Nueva York.” Along with dozens of original prints and drawings and several paintings, the exhibit includes illustrated books, personal letters and family photos, and a recorded interview with the artist. The setting is outstanding, a well-designed exhibit space within a light-filled modern building. In fact, the museum was recently nominated for the European Museum of the Year award, which has previously been awarded to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and […]

Guggenheim Bilbao  

                          Even for an art museum, location is key. The industrial city of Bilbao was an unlikely place to locate an international art museum and architestural landmark, but in retrospect it was a very forward-looking decision. What makes the Guggenheim in Bilbao so inviting is not so much what is inside as the building itself and the grounds that surround it. It was given a prominent place alongside the river at one end of the city center, where one of the main entrypoints to the city passes right […]