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September, 2007 Archive

SOLO — Alain Astruc
Davin — September 26th, 2007

thumbWe’re starting a new series of single image artist features on MakingRoom called SOLO. These micro-features will be hand-selected images from artists we admire and respect and will be updated on a frequent basis — weekly to start and possibly more frequently as we progress.

The first image in the SOLO series is from Alain Astruc, “Melissa swimming in the lake.” Alain, to me, is a photographer who strikes a distinct emotional chord and whose images have a tenderness that I welcome.

Posted in SOLO — 2 Comments
The Blow Up
Davin — September 19th, 2007

Dear Photographers of the Internet,
Your site does not – I repeat, DOES NOT – need to expand to the full size of my screen for me to appreciate your photos. Kind Regards — Davin

Posted in Rant — 3 Comments
Kickass Young Photographers
Davin — September 16th, 2007

This week, Fjord, a new organization aiming to promote the work of young emerging photographers launched online. The project’s stated goal is to aid photographers who currently have some presence on the web by curating their work into book form.

Each of Fjord’s current roster of over 60 photographers is featured with brief set of images and contact information. No more details are provided about the book project at this point. The list includes quite a few photographers who’s work I know either from their blogs or from Flickr. Michelle Arcila, Shane Lavalette, Ye Rin Mok, Justin James Reed, Bryan Schutmaat, Shen Wei, and Davin Youngs are just a few of the names that jumped out at me.

At least some of the artists listed are also members of the Young Photographers Unlimited foundation whose similar aim is to promote and foster the work of emerging photographers.

What’s interesting even beyond the variety of great work these two projects promote is that it seems like the majority of these young photographers are entering their careers (commercial, fine art, or both) using the web quite naturally as a promotional and communications tools. While the art world (read as commercial interests) continues to focus on printed works as the defacto art ‘product’ of photography, a generation of artists who are comfortable with their work being functioning across a variety of media may produce an alternate effect.

Posted in Websites — Comment
20×200 Launch
Davin — September 16th, 2007

I received an announcement email that Jen Bekman’s 20×200 project is officially open today after launching earlier this month in ’sneak-peek’ mode. Jen Bekman is well-known as a New York gallerist and the curatorial force behind the Hey, Hot Shot emerging artist juried profile series.

20×200 is a new concept in providing low-cost, small run art editions from a growing pool of hand-picked artists. Editions of 200 are offered at $20 a piece with other smaller numbered editions offered of larger versions at equally approachable prices.

The pre-launch buzz around the launch of the 20×200 project has prompted some artists like Tim Atherton to market their own affordable editions.

The 20×200 concept will only grow in interest as the project’s team adds new work weekly which promises to build a vast and varied selection of work in no time. Watch the 20×200 blog or mailing list for announcements of new work each week.

Posted in Websites — Comment