Marti Friedlander: Photography Panel discussion
October 30th, 2009
Exhibition curator Leonard Bell chairs a panel discussion with photo-historian Erika Wolf, University of Otago, Ronald Brownson, Senior Curator at the Auckland Art Galelry and curator of Marti Friedlander’s 2001 survey exhibition, and photographer Edith Amituanai, finalist for the 2008 Walters Prize and the inaugural winner of the Marti Friedlander Photographic Award in 2007.
The discussion takes place during the exhibition Marti Friedlander: Looking Closely, which runs at the Gus Fisher Gallery until 21 November.
Saturday 31 October, 1pm
Gus Fisher Gallery, 74 Shortland Street, Auckland.
AIPA Meeting
October 28th, 2009
AIPA Meeting - 17th November at Russell Meek’s Studio 2/2 Haultain Street, Eden Terrace, Auckland
Featuring Paul McNamara (www.mcnamara.co.nz) and Ann Shelton (www.annshelton.com)
Paul McNamara will give some background on McNamara Gallery and its out-reach approach.
He will also discuss some aspects of collecting photographs and the history of collecting.
He encourages questions from attendees during the presentation, and hopes that such questions will inform the direction of the presentation.
Some areas we could touch on include: public galleries & photography, publishing, ethical issues, provenance of photographs, the multiple nature of photography & editioning, care and conservational matters, factors affecting pricing, the image glut & professional practice matters [for fine art students]
Ann Shelton will talk about several bodies of her recent and past work. One of which is her work titled ‘ROOM ROOM’, which explores the idea of reflection; firstly, in the act of mirroring, mimicking reality through inversion; and secondly, in the notion of interiority. Ann’s photographs explore the complex history of the Salvation Army’s former Rotoroa Island Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Centre. Referencing the 18th century Claude glass, the artist presents a new set of spaces for contemplation, investigation, and for the archive.
Please RSVP to secretary@aipa.org.nz
Door Charge is $10 for non-aipa members to cover catering and beverages
Photograph by Rineke Dijkstra
Harvey Benge, director of the Auckland University of Technology’s high level summer photography workshops, has just announced that the celebrated Dutch photographer Rineke Dijkstra, has agreed to join Paul Graham to teach the 2010 summer workshop, which will run from 15-17 January on the central Auckland campus.
Once again, this workshop series, which has previously featured Peter Bialobrzeski, Antoine d’Agata, Lewis Baltz, Slavica Perkovic, John Gossage and Alec Soth, presents a unique opportunity to study with top international figures and serious local photographers. For more information on these photographers check out http://harveybenge.blogspot.com/
Demand will be high for this workshop, with entry by portfolio, Benge says, so expressions of interest need to made in the first instance to Neil Cameron, Registrar School of Art and Design AUT University, Auckland, neil.cameron@aut.ac.nz, or to Harvey Benge at harvey@harveybenge.com
Photograph by Paul Graham
Marti Friedlander to talk about photographing the reclusive artist, Rita Angus. Auckland Art Gallery,Sunday 9 August 2009 at 1pm
July 27th, 2009
Marti Friedlander will talk about her experience of photographing Rita Angus in 1968, at the Auckland Art Gallery, on Sunday 9 August 2009 at 1pm. This free talk is part of a series of talks dealing with different aspects of the Museum of New Zealand travelling exhibition, Rita Angus: Life & Vision exhibition. 1 August to 1 November, 2009, at the Auckland Art Gallery, corner of Wellesley and Lorne Streets, Auckland.
Marti Friedlander: Rita Angus, Wellington 1968. Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa collection.
Prix Pictet 2009 Earth theme shortlist announced in Arles
July 10th, 2009
Ed Kashi (USA) nominated for Prix Pictet 2009 Prize on theme of "Earth". 'Okrika is a troubled area near Port Harcourt that has oil, refineries, pipelines and violence. Factional fighting is common here. Fishing is struggling, like in most of the delta, but was once the main source of employment.'
Christopher Anderson, Canada
Sammy Baloji, Congo
Edward Burtynsky, Canada
Andreas Gursky, Germany
Naoya Hatakeyama, Japan
Nadav Kander, UK
Ed Kashi, USA
Abbas Kowsari, Iran
Yao Lu, China
Edgar Martins, Portugal
Chris Steele-Perkins, UK
Prix Pictet 2009: Earth – Preview: Purdy Hicks Gallery, London, 5 – 7 October 2009.
Prix Pictet 2009: Earth: Passage de Retz, Paris, 23 October – 24 November 2009This year, Prix Pictet will collaborate with FIAC (22 - 25 October), Paris’ major international contemporary and modern art fair, and Paris Photo, the world’s leading event for photography (19 - 22 November) to promote the award. The Prix Pictet will then tour to further international venues between late 2009 and early 2010. Venues already confirmed for the tour include: the Thessaloniki Museum of Photography, The Empty Quarter Gallery in Dubai and the Eindhoven University of Technology.
Chris Steele-Perkins: Photograph of Garage and Mount Fuji from his portfolio nominated for Prix Pictet prize 2009.
Yao Lu (China): 'Passing spring at the ancient dock'. From the series: 'Concealment and Resructuring - Yaolu`s New Mountain and Water'. From his Prix Pictet portfolio.
“Does A Picture Say a Thousand Words?” Auckland Festival of Photography panel discussion, 21 June 2009
June 30th, 2009
Sophie Leuschke: (From left:) Ron Brownson, Jane Ussher, Stephen Braunias, Emily Perkins, Patrick Reynolds and Nicola Legat, discussion panel for “Does a Picture Say a Thousand Words?” at the Auckland Art Gallery's Art Lounge, 1pm Sunday 21st June 2009
As part of their Talking Culture series Auckland Art Gallery held a panel discussion “Does a Picture Say a Thousand Words?” at their art lounge from 1-2pm on Sunday 21 June 2009. Where the panel of creative’s including writers Stephen Braunias and Emily Perkins, curator Ron Brownson, photographers Patrick Reynolds and Jane Ussher and publisher Nicola Legat responded to this overused phrase, each drawing on their different experiences and view points to create an interesting discussion. With lots of humour and collegial banter it was a relaxed inclusive discussion where the personality of the speakers shone through keeping the audience hooked until the last word. It was a fun way to spend a Sunday afternoon and end this years Auckland Festival of Photography.
Key points made by the panellists and commentators included:
Photography is a completely different medium with its own language, so there isn’t any point trying to make it into something else, such as writing.
Photography is about seducing, not about illustrating.
With photography you see a lot of different things at the same time in one image.
With reading you can only see one thing at a time second by second and the image is created as you read layer by layer.
Photography doesn’t explain anything. It is about solving a photographic problem.
One has to learn to rely on courageous photographers (for significant photographs).
Art is not about inspiration, but should be about perspiration.
Photographs are happy accidents.
When photographs are very bad they become good.
Sometimes a photograph is worth a 1000 expletives.
Are 1000 words the same as an image?
Photographs are memories, and questions.
—Sophie Leuschke
Auckland Photo Day Competition Winners Announced
June 19th, 2009
Malcolm McNeil: 'Te Henga', 2009 Auckland Photo Day first prize winner.
The three winners and current top 30 photographs submitted to the 2009 Olympus Auckland Photo Day competion have been announced by the Auckland Festival of Photography. The judges this year were Ron Brownson, Senior Curator, Auckland Art Gallery, Kellie Blizard, Chief Photographer of ‘The Aucklander’ and Chris Traill, MNZIPP.
The first prize went to ‘Te Henga’ by by Malcolm McNeill, about which the Judge’s commented; “This is a cleverly composed and happy winter moment of fun obviously taken during a family’s beach trip. The son’s portrait is both a natural and positive image filled with genuine affection. Sometimes what seems the simplest image is the hardest to achieve”.
McNeil won an Olympus SLR E-520 with twin lens, a Fullers ferry Family trip to Waiheke and a sheet of personalised stamps from NZ Post.
The 2nd prize went to Steve Lawton for his portrait ‘Wave Goodbye to Daddy’, and the 3rd prize went to Breen Porter for his “urban landscape” titled ‘Train Waiting’. The top 30 images can be compared at www.photographyfestival.org.nz/photo-day/index.cfm
McNeil, as confirmed by his poignant other image of his son included in the top 30 selection, was a deserving winner. But as is usual for these “perfect picture” camera club-like competitions they tend to be overwhelmed by the sponsor’s vision, rather than demonstrate the individual concerns of the photographers. The prizes, however, and especially the opportunity to have one’s work presented as postage stamps, make up for the lack of more useful support for budding photographers.
Not surprising, this kind of picture contest consiousness is also a favourite of the NZ Institute of Professional Photographers, whose Epson-sponsored display, of what the NZIPP President boldly purported to be “cutting edge” (art) photography, at its opening at the Vero Centre on Shortland Street, recently. There were some fine photographers included, but like all of these competitions, they are self-serving public relations events that do little to honour significant photography by individuals with something worth saying. With a bit of luck, some of these camera users might create an equivalent body of work to that of the late West Auckland amateur photographer, Bob Raw, whose exquisite photographs of his family from several decades ago are now showing at the Corban Estate Arts Centre until 21 June, along with Brian Marsom’s ‘Exploring the Great North Road’. —John B. Turner
Malcolm McNeil: 'Devonport', among top 30 from Auckland Photo Day competition, Auckland Festival of Photography, June 2009
Steve Lawton: 'Wave goodbye to Daddy', 2nd prize winner in Auckland Photo Day competition, Auckland Festival of Photography, June 2009
Breen Porter: 'Train Waiting', 3rd prize winner, Auckland Photo Day competition, Auckland Festival of Photography, June 2009
John B. Turner: Part of the NZIPP's display of "cutting edge" photography on the Vero Centre foyer, Shortland Street, Auckland CBD, 3 June 2009
Isobel Crombie’s lecture on Australian Photography at the Art Lounge, Lorne Street, Auckland CBD, on 14 June
June 19th, 2009
John B. Turner: Dr Isobel Crombie, Senior Curator of Photography, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, discussed a photograph by Bill Henson at the Auckland Art Gallery's Art Lounge, Lorne Street, Auckland CBD, 14 June 2009
John B. Turner: Isobel Crombie, Senior Curator of Photography, National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, discussed a photograph by Julie Rrap at the Art Lounge, Lorne Street, Auckland CBD, on 14 June 2009
John B. Turner: Dr Isobel Crombie delivering her lecture on trends in contemporary Australian photography, at the Art Lounge, Auckland CBD, 14 June 2009
New Comments on ‘Photography Sell-Out..’
June 17th, 2009
An interesting conversation is emerging on the post about Photography Sell Out which was held at the Gus Fisher Gallery on the 9th of June. ..
‘Open the Shutter’ revival meeting at Art Lounge, Lorne Street, Auckland CBD on 13 June 2009
June 14th, 2009
John B. Turner: Isabella Sullivan, Auckland Festival of Photography, introduces screening of 'Open the Shutter: Auckland Photography Now' (1994) at Art Lounge, Auckland Art Gallery, Lorne Street, Auckland CBD, 13 June
John B. Turner: Stuart Sontier and Jon Carapiet introduce their 1994 video, 'Open the Shutter: Auckland Photographers Now', Art Lounge, Lorne Street, Auckland, 13 June 2009
The quality of their interviewing, with Jon Carapiet in the dual role of interviewer and interviewee (when his work was featured), however, was particularly good, as usually reticent photographers warmed to the task of talking about their work and ideas 15 years ago. The photographers interviewed, in order of their appearance, included Glenn Jowitt, Greg Semu, Lisa Ganassin, John Miller, Billy Lawry, the late Neil Trubuhovich, Mark Adams, Ann Shelton, Jennifer French, Anna Sanderson (now best known as a novellist), John Lyall, Fiona Pardington, Haruhiko Sameshima (who declined to go on camera for the video), Rhondda Bosworth, Marie Shannon, and Carapiet himself (who gave a good impression of a popular BBC art commentator).
John B. Turner: Video projection of 'Open the Shutter: Auckland Photographers Now' (1995), showing Greg Semu being interviewed by John Carapiet.
The result, despite any technical faults (exaggerated by my in situ photographs of the screening) is an invaluable historical document about a group of Auckland-based photographers of whom most are still active, and four who are exhibiting at this year’s Auckland Festival of Photography. PhotoForum is currently looking into the possibility of filming a new series of interviews, and seeing ‘Open the Shutter’ contributors articulating their concerns, prompts the notion that it would be good to include some of these photographers in any update - for the record. The original video was designed as an introduction to New Zealand photographers, for use in secondary schools. It looks to me that it should be reissued for that purpose, along with any updates. — JBT
John B. Turner: John Carapiet interviewing Fiona Pardington for the 'Open the Shutter...' video in 1994. Auckland Art Gallery's Art Lounge, 13 June 2009
John B. Turner: PhotoForum activists Jan Young and Abby Storey (visiting from Melbourne) having a devil of a reunion with the help of Stu Sontier, after the screening of 'Open the Shutter...'.Art Lounge, Lorne Street, Auckland CBD, 13 June 2009