« Supper | Main | More Dynamics »
April 15, 2007
How It Starts
You know, everyone is always asking me, "Nick, how do you go about putting together one of those amazing shows over at Square America?" Actually, nobody has ever asked me that but I thought I'd let you in on my thought process anyway. Usually a show idea will start with just one photo. A few days ago I loaded up my slide projector with a bunch of stuff I'd never projected before and one of the first shots was this.
Now some photos make an instant impression on you and some you have to live with for awhile before you really appreciate them- this was one of the former. I love just about everything about this photo- the incredibly saturated reds, the beautiful light, and of course the psychologically potent image of the woman, her expression impossible to read, on the telephone (to see a bigger, better scan of this photo click here). The focus is a little soft but I think it gives it an almost painterly quality. Instantly I wanted to stop my little slide show and build a new show around this photo- Untitled Film Stills was the title that came to mind though the photo reminds me more of Gregory Crewdson or Vermeer even than Cindy Sherman. It just seems cinematic- unlike many snapshots it feels decidedly narrative. Unfortunately, I wasn't really sure what else I had that would fit with it. Before I really get started putting a show together I like to have at least 5-6 really strong photos (10 or 15 for larger shows) that will serve as the basic structure of the show. From there I'll fill it in with photos that might not be quite as strong but that might play well off one another or serve as transition points between those initial images. As nothing was coming immediately to mind I continued looking at the slides.
A few slides later I found another keeper.
Again, this photo just kicks my ass- beautiful color, great framing, and a great inter-generational thing happening with the young pregnant wife and her barely present husband in the foreground and the girl's father or father-in-law in the background but linked to her via color (both wearing pink). Again another title popped into my head- Family Dynamics (though if the show is ever finished I doubt that will be the title). Anyway, I instantly thought of another of my photos- this one already on Square America.
As I don't mind re-using (or re-purposing if you will) photos from other shows as long as 90% of the photos are new I thought I had the start of something. As I continued through the slides I came across this one which I thought might make the cut.
While I like the slightly blurry kid in the foreground and the harried looking mother in the back I'm not sure it would be strong enough for me to use. I came across a more likely candidate later on- I'm a sucker for angry women with cigarettes.
Even more likely was this photo.
The resemblance between the father and son immediately brought this photo to mind.
I've always wanted to do a show based on family resemblance but every time I've tried to put it together I've been a bit disappointed- after 10 photos or so it seems to lose steam. As part of a larger family show however, I could use them as a nice recurring structural element to help tie the show together. Here's another which I posted here on the blog in the past that I'll probably use in the show.
Once the show begins to take shape I'll start looking through the rest of my collection to see what else might fit. Here are two photos I came across in the first box I looked in. The first one's a possibility, the second a sure thing.
From here, I'll keep digging and keep my eyes peeled at the flea market and in a few weeks (or months) I should have a new show finished (if I don't get side-tracked by the polaroid show I've been wanting to put together for years, or that Adventures in Amateur Ethnography show I promised at the beginning of the year, or that show This is How the World Ends: A show of fires, floods, and wars- the end of world and what was left behind that I promised way back in January of 2006, etc...).
Posted by nick at April 15, 2007 09:23 PM
Comments
Hey Nick. Thanks a lot for sharing--I've really enjoyed reading this post.
I always love to hear about the thought process that goes into the creation of a work of art. To be honest, sometimes I find it much more interesting than the finished piece itself (though, when the piece and the process hold my fascination equally--POW!! THAT'S GOOD ART!!)
I do something very similar with my sculptures--lots of seemingly disparate elements that just seem to come together cohesively once that connective theme is stumbled upon (or otherwise languish helter skelter for years for lack of the right 'glue'.)
A few years ago I was talking with my friend Brian (a fellow sculptor) about the thought process behind one of my pieces and he said, "I love the way your brain works." It's one of the best compliments I've ever gotten.
I'd now like to pass that same compliment onto you.
Posted by: Laura at April 16, 2007 10:08 AM
I must agree, I love the way your brain works. I also love looking at old black and white photos. I have a bunch of my grandparents that are just amazing. When I look at them I find myself just wondering what they may be thinking.Thanks for sharing your photos and thoughts.
Linda C.
Posted by: Linda C. at April 19, 2007 02:00 PM