fewer words.

I've been shooting a lot, but I can't get my head screwed on straight enough right now to express myself in words.
I've been taking in a lot of amazing art, and I think I just need some more time for reflection before I even attempt to explain anything.

The Canaletto exhibit at the National Gallery of Art blew me away, and I am so excited that I saw Venice captured in it's true essence of mystery, romance, contrast, and light unlike anywhere else in the world.

I also had the privilege of going to the Barnes Collection, in Lower Merion, a suburb of Philly, which was unlike any experience I have ever had, and probably will ever have with art. Seeing the way Albert Barnes grouped and displayed his masterpieces was so fascinating, and truly is a work of creation and artistic expression itself.
The collection is composed of countless masterpieces by Renoir, Cezanne, Matisse, Seurat, and Picasso, to name a few. I was most impressed with seeing Van Gogh's 'Postman' Seurat's 'Models,' and Monet's 'Le Bateau-atelier' in person.
I encourage everyone to go see it the way it was intended to be viewed, before the city of Philadelphia moves it downtown at the end of this year. (There is also a movie on the collection as well as the controversy that I highly recommend, called, 'The Art of the Steal').

I'll have another post up this week with more substance, but for now I'll share these pictures primarily from my trip to Philly and the surrounding areas.

where art is.

I took a trip to the Baltimore Museum of Art (BMA) about a week ago to see a photography exhibit, and it turned out to be a much more fulfilling and thought provoking trip than I had planned for. First off, I had never been to this museum before, and was very pleasantly surprised at how fantastic the whole collection was, and I really liked the overall layout and organization of the museum. The sculpture garden is also quite beautiful, and the landscaping plays along and adds to the works in a way that I have not often seen. The carefully maintained trees, bushes, and flowers seemed to compliment each work perfectly, while providing a sense of calm and peacefulness.

The BMA is full of a lot of Matisse, Monet, Picasso, etc., but the main reason I went there, was to see the exhibit, “Seeing Now: Photography Since 1960.” The show included works from Diane Arbus, Cindy Sherman, and Lewis Baltz, among others. One of my favorite pieces in the show was, “Black Supper” by photographer Andres Serrano. He is often a controversial artist who deals with much of his childhood and comments on his catholic upbringing in much of his work. This series in particular is incredibly creative and thought provoking—if you haven’t seen it, I urge you to look it up. The process is just as interesting as the image itself.

The other artwork that really caught my attention was called, “Misunderstandings (At Theory of Photography)” by Mel Bochner. This was essentially a series of quotations by various people about what photography is and what its role is in the art world, as well as society in general. I found myself reflecting on both Serrano and Bochner’s work throughout the rest of the exhibit, and felt that the show was grouped in such a way that allowed for the artists to make strong statements individually, as well as be a part of a group statement by the entire show. The photographers all fell under the theme of “Seeing Now,” yet, each photographer portrayed the present quite differently, which provided a connection between all the work, as well as a platform for dialogue and creativity.


This visit to the museum was later juxtaposed with a spontaneous exploration of some street art and graffiti in the city. I stumbled upon some cool and interesting things, and then somehow discovered something called ‘graffiti warehouse’ where I shot a lot of photographs. The location is basically composed of two perpendicular alleys that connect next to an abandoned warehouse, and the whole area is being transformed into a place where graffiti can legally be created and displayed. A photographer who is associated with the project gave us an impromtu tour of the interior of the warehouse, and we were able to check out the really amazing studio spaces with all types of works in progress. The backdrop of exposed piping, old wooden floors, and an antique piano contrasted with stencils, tags and bright photographs was visually stunning. The whole concept of this project, which allows for photographers and graffiti artists to collaborate as well as rent studio space inside the warehouse, is amazing to me, and I found myself really wishing it was in DC so I could be an active part of this community.

Having viewed works in a museum just before encountering such a large display of public art, my mind was filled with ideas on everything I had just seen, and how I was reacting to it all. As many of you know, I am a huge fan of street art, and making art public and attainable to everyone who wants to see it or create it, and even for those who don’t even realize yet they want to be around art at all. People who may find museums and foreign and distant from their lives and the art inside of the buildings unable to represent or talk to the experiences they live out, may find public art much more relatable and they are more likely to come in contact with it. Simply by using the integration of the city itself, the asphalt, the concrete, the bricks, of the shared location between the artist and the audience, public art can bridge gaps that the museum cannot.

On the other side of the spectrum, museums are vitally important in the preservation of history and culture, as well as a necessary part of education in showing how humans over time have used art to express themselves. Museums and galleries have come a long way since the days where ancient artifacts, and the most prized and beautiful works of art were only reserved for the homes of the people who could afford to own them, or display them in a cabinet of wonders. These buildings provide people with the ability to see, over time, how and why artists chose to paint, draw, etc. in specific styles, as well as why they chose particular subject matters. Additionally, museums and galleries are full of information on what was happening historically at the time the artworks were created, in addition to what other artists before and after were doing. All of these particulars in the way in which artwork is displayed and the information that is kept with them allows audiences to gain a greater appreciation for the artists’ statements, as well as view first hand the advances in technique and creativity over time.

The BMA is a beautiful building that holds incredible works by world renowned artists, and displays them delicately in a controlled, neutral environment. Graffiti in the city does the polar opposite, using the city as the framework for displaying an artist’s work, taking into account the city noise, the weather, and all environmental factors. The museum provides the security of the art to not be defaced or made to say something that was not originally intended, under the protection of security guards and a building to house it, whereas street art can be painted over in moments, vandalized, or overlooked by many, blending in and becoming part of the city’s facade. On the other hand, museums require people to have enough interest take time out of their day and to walk inside a building for the purpose of viewing artwork; whereas public art, such as ‘graffiti alley’, can be seen by anyone who passes by the street. In this case, both art locations were free, both inside the same city, and both held inspiring and thought provoking art, yet they seemingly spoke about what art is, and who art is for, completely differently.

I enjoyed and was affected by both encounters with art, which shows the importance of both, while at the same time, recognizing their differences.

Art is not limited to displays in a sparse, quiet building, nor can it be fully encompassed through bright paint on a busy street.

Art can and does effect people anywhere, so long as the onlookers allow for themselves to be affected by it.

fresh to death.

hope you guys like the new look of the blog-- i updated the template to look cleaner, and more organized.
thanks again for all of your support.

The things.

(Blogger has been down for most of the week, so apologies for the delay in this post.)


Most of this week’s photos are shot in a certain style and focus on subject matter that my camera and I are quite familiar with. A common theme through much of my photography is documentation and story telling through cities and the objects within them. I certainly love taking portraits and doing a lot of street photography as well, but there is something so fascinating to me about capturing the history of a place, and the stories that can be told or imagined, solely through its present state of architecture.

I find myself continually searching for signs of human life through industrial scenes.
Many of the rough and strong structures were constructed long ago by the hands of men who are no longer here and now seen as broken or outdated, and are abandoned or knocked down by new men and machines. The worn surroundings speak of all the humans over time that have interacted with this concrete, steel, and wood - a relationship that is vital in forming the structure and foundation upon which all cities are based.

The people: their needs, their culture, their entertainment, their money, their dreams.
The places: their service, their appearance, their purpose, their materials, their message.

The people, the places, the things.

nothing is ever as good as it was.

Lately I have been feeling quite nostalgic- particularly when certain moments, experiences, or photographs trigger a memory, and with that reflection comes a certain yearning for the past. Whether it is a longing for a particular person, place, thing, or all three, it is a small piece of myself that desires to have some part of the past back.

These thoughts come and go, but if you know me at all, you know I am a very passionate, sentimental, and yes, emotional person. I form great attachment to all types of nouns, most of which are just passing through my life for brief moments, yet once an connection is built with a certain human or city, I can’t let go without constantly looking back.

Anyways, this reflection has made me realize and ponder more about just how important photography and writing are in my life, and how they are much more than a creative outlet or mode of expression for me. They also help me connect my thoughts and feelings about the past, present, and future. My camera helps me understand and work through my own feelings, and aids in conveying these emotions and experiences to others when my limited vocabulary fails.

Since I’m on the topic of nostalgia, and this is an all too familiar topic that I discuss and photograph, I thought I’d do something a little different. Instead of doing the usual, go-to, old architecture shots or portraits, I photographed this weekend the apple blossom festival in Winchester, Virginia. This experience produced a lot of interesting and new situations for me to explore, yet it all simultaneously felt so familiar. Perhaps these contrasting emotions were based upon some innate understanding of what it’s like to have a cliché American moment, combined with memories and examples I’ve seen in movies and old photos, but it was something that I haven’t felt often, and obviously have trouble communicating in words. So I'll attempt to share what happened in words, but in the end, i have to turn to my camera to explain the rest.

The whole weekend I felt strangely connected to all the new people around me, as if we were simultaneously sharing in the experience of participating in the present, and creating new memories, while also preserving an ideal and an old tradition. With the entire town shutting down for fireworks, a grand parade, a carnival, and a peek at Debbie Reynolds, the whole thing seemed so novel and unreal to me, and it was amazing to watch it unfold. While watching the crowds get so excited and wave at all of the floats passing by, and the ‘little miss grand supreme’ princesses and aging celebrities proudly waving back, I couldn’t help but feel like I was taking a glimpse at moments that had been lived and felt by so many other people across the country. Taking in all of the sights and events, and even watching a DeLorean drive by in the parade, I kept forgetting that it was in fact present day, and I was only an hour and a half away from home. It seemed like I was living inside of a perfect memory and example of idealized America, where everyone says hello as they pass you on the street, children wave American flags in the air, and there is plenty of funnel cake to go around.


And now I'll let the photos do the talking,

even stranger now.

HEY (STRANGER) INTERNET!
it's been a really long time.
i decided i'd give this blogging thing a try again, except this time, actually make it less of a 'i have so many feelings' forum and more of a 'wow, the internet can be used as an awesome tool when you use it for more than stalking people on facebook' kind of deal (not that facebook stalking isn't awesome)....
i'm in the process of launching a lot of new creative projects for myself and i'm going to use this as a platform to gather and share a lot of my thoughts and current work with the world wide web... and hopefully some human beings too.

the main idea right now is that i will be posting a lot of my photographs on here, in addition to text, and that i will actually create a weekly or bi-weekly system of updating based on certain criteria or themes i create .... which i will share with you on a later date. i know it is obvious that i am very much in the 'yet to be determined' phase of this idea, but that is also where i currently am in life, and i strongly believe that this is a place where some great creative energy and progress can be made. this is why i feel it is important to work a lot of this out for myself through my photographing and writing in an interactive and public way, so that i can instantly share with others, while also feeling productive through the process of completing each post on here.

alright, so, this is just a brief run down of how i envision this blog, but it really just feels good for me to just start some sort of outlet for myself again, and i really hope that other people enjoy it, and add to it, and critique it, and simply react to it along the way.


finally, since spring is (kind of) here, i'll leave you with these photos i shot of the cherry blossoms in the district, which i had actually hadn't seen since i was really young, even though i've lived in this area pretty much my whole life.
we went around sunset, when there was a slight breeze in the air, and there was something quite extraordinary about the light, the quantity of trees, and the temporary, fleeting beauty of these flowers in full bloom.







it's safe to say that i now understand for the first time why so many tourists come to see these lovely flowers... so i'll have to try to stop cursing at them as i drive behind them/ almost hit them as they dart out in front of my car.

until next time.
-a

unemployed or underemployed?

it's been awhile.
i graduated in may and have been basking in the rays of unemployment for about 2 months now. this was fantastic to begin with, but i'm getting to the point where i'm realizing i forgot to put sunblock on and am going to pay for this later.

this is such a strange time in life, and i am so frustrated at our country and culture for not understanding and nurturing that. twenty somethings everywhere who just finished undergrad and are wondering where the hell they fit in the world are being met not only with countless boxes of expectations, these boxes have fixed boundaries and sharp corners that easily break the skin. additionally, many of these boxes have doors that are closed, and no one is going to answer the door to some confused, scared kid with a shrived resume in hand and countless 'rejection' signs on their forehead. and this isn't just the corporate world, non-profits, entry level internships, and even restaurants are giving off such a 'holier than thou' attitude that you would think these people actually liked their jobs!

this can't just be the economy.
this can't just be the times.

this 'dog eat dog' mentality has taken over our minds. our country has embraced competition so much that none of us have time to even listen to what anyone else has to offer anymore. we are fish on dry land too stupid to open our eyes and see that our neighbor has found a way to jump back in the water and take a deep breath.
and this is happening on so many levels that we can't even take it all in. be it over-emphasized, structured corporate rules, incompetent co-workers, and pretentious art and music critics, there is so much negativity and rejection that we are forgetting as a society how to allow new thoughts and people into our lives...unless, of course, this comes in the form of a perez hilton approved trend or a fad turned reality show. the process of creativity is being forgotten and 'unique' is a word being muffled out by starbucks steaming milk for your non-fat, no foam, vanilla latte with an extra shot. when the rock and rollers, indie-rockers, free loving hippies and conscious hip-hoppers are even turning up their noses to the sight of me bobbing my head to a band they like, where the hell am i supposed to dance?

do i sell my soul to the nine to five's or do take a giant step back and color outside the lines in hopes of pissing off the teacher, and letting the other kids know there are hundreds of other colors they could be drawing with?

i did always want to take the crayola challenge as a kid....