The View From Here

Valentine's Day Preview

2012-02-07T19:34:00.000-08:00

Richard Luby's Recital

2012-02-03T20:50:00.000-08:00

Last night, at Playmaker's Theater. The old one. Fantastic all around, the performance, the venue, the staging.

Passing Time

2012-02-01T10:32:00.000-08:00

I have always been interested in the idea of the sense of the passage of time in my work, from the first piece I made as a young artist in college through my most recent images. The piece I consider my initial artistic work (I was a printmaker at the time) is an etching that uses two photographs I knew from my childhood. Both images were taken in Europe; the first is of my grandparents and the second is of my father as a toddler. In the finished piece I combine these two photographs and add a third element, that of the landscape outside the window I worked in front of. All three images are joined, juxtaposed, entwined, with the limbs and vines of the trees outside the glass panes winding their way through bodies and turn-of-the-century hats. The result is a single image that implies many, and implies travel across ages. As a painter in the late eighties and early nineties, I worked with multiple images, building surfaces comprised of many sections, some lying one on top of another, all contributing to the sense of the passing of time. At the outset of my life with a camera I explored a sense of the ephemeral - extended moments, slowed, remembered time. I have returned to this kind of image making most recently, particularly in the grids I present here. The grid is the natural step for me in implying time passing. The construction forces one to move from frame to frame, jumping in small increments across the page or screen and making one note the eternal push forward in time and space.

Along The Way

2012-02-01T09:14:00.000-08:00

I came to photography from painting, on a road that began with drawing and printmaking. Many years ago I took my first drawing class with Michael Mazur at Brandeis University. I studied printmaking there, and in Paris, at Atelier 17. I came home to become a painter, which occupied me for almost 20 years. I still think of myself as a painter, only with a camera instead of a brush.
The images I present here reference my early work, bring to life the charcoal drawings I did as a young artist. There is the speed in them of rushing by one’s subject, the smudge and reconsideration of the charcoal stick and knead-able eraser. They were taken out the window of a moving car while also moving the camera in just such a way, developed over years of taking these kinds of images, that they contain both points of clear focus one would have as one drives, or rides, as well as the acceleration and blur of a traveler. There is, in almost all, the deep rich black of a mezzotint, the silvery grey of an erased area and the bright whites in points or trails of the exposed paper beneath the layers of marks, blankets of grey/black. And in each one a tree, or trees, stand against the light, with mighty trunks or delicate branches, their leaves seemingly dancing with the great wind of the viewer passing.

As I See It: The Self As Subject

2012-02-01T09:01:00.000-08:00

A year ago, while rushing around taking down an exhibition, being in the next moment rather than the present one, I tripped and fell. The result of my fall was that I needed surgery to place a titanium plate in my wrist to hold together my radius which was shattered. I was also instructed to be on bed rest for 3 months as I had a pelvic fracture. This is all to say that for a good long time at the start of 2011 I was unable to use my camera. I discovered, after some weeks of heavy medication that I could use my iPhone in place of my two-handed camera for image making, an endeavor I find quite necessary for my wellbeing. It, the iPhone, is light enough and flexible enough to use with one hand. I documented and riffed on the interior of the room I was living in, the flowers my husband would bring home, even the images on the walls, making pictures of pictures. I found, after some time, that I became interested in photographing myself – a willing and always present subject. This portfolio is comprised of some of the many self-portraits I have taken over the last year. I found, even as I recovered, the lure of self-portraiture is great – as I noted, first and foremost, the ease of using oneself as sitter/model as well as the chance to improvise with a subject, eventually reaching a presentation of self that corresponds to what I imagine is the best of me, my most lovely visage, or even my most unflattering but perhaps most compelling; the possibility of myself as director/producer/cinematographer of a one woman show.

Fun With PictureShow App

2012-01-27T12:45:00.000-08:00

Night Walk gallery, using Mirror function...

As I See it: The Self As Subject

2012-01-27T11:46:00.000-08:00

Some More Self Portraits

2012-01-12T08:25:00.000-08:00

Working on configuring a small show in the back room/shrine at George Lawson Gallery in L.A. for late March. Here are some things I will probably show.

New Grid

2012-01-03T13:55:00.000-08:00

I watched the last hour of Swing Time over the weekend. I'd seen the whole thing, about 30 years ago. I saw Ginger Rogers as if for the first time - gorgeous, absolutely amazing dancer. As the saying goes, she does everything Fred Astaire does, only backwards and in heels. Here's Fred, however; his shadows were cooler...

Hanukah, Walks and my Sister's Visit

2012-01-01T18:15:00.000-08:00

Let's start with a walk...

5th night...

Buche de Noel...

Coffee at Driade with Allen, Susan and Joel after a mile and then some walk...

Smoke...

Lights...

Light and shadows....

Susan's celebration at Vin Rouge...

Emily...

New Macro lens...

Apples taking shadows on Apples...

Some Images From Around the House Along With My Walks And Some Self Portraits

2011-12-17T19:14:00.000-08:00

Some self portraits...

These photos in a grid.

A Willing Sitter

2011-12-04T05:18:00.000-08:00

and some more images from my walks, and one from the car...

Noon Walk With New App

2011-12-02T11:04:00.000-08:00

More Images...

2011-12-02T08:26:00.000-08:00

using my new app. LOVE my phone.

And I can now make cyanotypes...

Single Images

2011-12-01T18:16:00.000-08:00

Some of the single images that make up the grids that follow. As always, click each image to enlarge.

Self portrait.

Play house.

Garage window.

Garage stuff.

Painting from 1980.

Evergreen Lane.

Back Hall shadows.

More Grids...

2011-12-01T07:30:00.000-08:00

This time with a new app, Old Photo Pro. And a few black and white ones with hipstamatic.

Some Single (And Blended) Images From My Walks And Around The House

2011-11-27T08:11:00.000-08:00

iPhone only these days as my camera...

From a walk at dusk.

Using "Blendcam" app.

Straight "hipstamatic".

"BAZAAR" cover with Lady Gaga.

Blendcam...

Some Black and White (With Small Amounts of Color At Times) Grids

2011-11-27T07:41:00.001-08:00

This is what I've been doing of late. Lots of walking, with my iPhone, taking photos in hipstamatic, then a screen capture, anticipating where in the grid the particular photo will lie or going with serendipity!
As always, click on image to slightly enlarge.

Playing with Blendcam and self portraits to make psychedelic flower child...

Color = small rainbow from the bathroom mirror...

From my walk IN Battle Park instead of skirting it... Nice, but constantly aware that I might trip. Since my fall I seem to prefer the flat of the street.

Starting at home, then out to the street.

2011-11-27T07:40:00.000-08:00

More than a month...

2011-11-07T08:39:00.000-08:00

... I see, since I've posted. Much has happened. But I am posting some grids I have done in the last weeks, work that has sustained me on the plane to NY, on my walks in the neighborhood and around the house during this time of preoccupation with my mom and other dear friends, starting with my take on a photo of Lady Gaga by Inez and Vinoodh.

Claire on the plane to NY.

My take on Arthur Steel's photo of George Harrison on the cover of Rolling Stone

Neighborhood walk...

and another...

Portrait of Allen's room...

And More Walking...

2011-10-02T17:41:00.000-07:00

Finally! The temperatures are in the 60's. We totally skipped the 70's; don't know what happened there. Anyway, these sandals are made for walking...

Walking

2011-09-28T19:29:00.000-07:00

The temperature is still too high for the end of September and the humidity hasn't really lessened enough for me to fully enjoy walking yet, but I have been able to do a little bit, late in the day.

Missed Opening Reception

2011-09-19T13:15:00.000-07:00

Again. Only this time it was L.A. and it wasn't on account of MY fall. It was on account of my poor mom. Suffice it to say she ended up with 4 broken ribs and a broken nose and is slowly recovering. I went to NY to see her in the hospital only a week after I'd been there for a celebratory visit. Anyway, here's a shot of the back room at George Lawson Gallery with my 16 part piece hanging (opposite Stephen Westfall). Photo thanks to Ward Schumaker.

And some other photos, just in, from George, of my piece in the background with Sara Bright and 3 friends in the foreground.

George talking to Graham Nash, who apparently really liked my piece!

And the front of the gallery from the back.

But before I saw this, ^, I saw these.... some photos from my trip to see my mom. I took the train every day from Grand Central and actually got off in New Rochelle, my childhood home, the station I used to go to every week in high school, to ride into the city and dance at the 92nd street Y or visit with Naami, or before that, with Levi, or before that, to take the D train out to Flatbush to see Myra. Loved that city when I was 15, 16, 17, 18... Still do.

Here's a grid of some buildings seen from the train.

OK, speaking of grids, here's one I worked on the weekend between trips to NY...

I've been working for years in this grid/composite realm, with the shadow of Hockney always over/around me. I am just realizing that I've finally gone and made a piece exactly like his. Time to move on.

Back to NY...

View FROM my sister's and Joel's apartment and OF my sister's and Joel's apartment...

First day up to see my mom, looking out the train window, I saw this.

Graffiti...

Crossing the Harlem River.

125th Street.

More Graffiti.

The Bronx.

And these five images of the train going through my favorite arcade...

Back to the city. More views from the train - the Bronx, again.

Crossing The Harlem River...

Arriving at 125th Street Station.

Harlem, from the train.

August of 2001

2011-09-12T06:58:00.000-07:00

Lower Manhattan from the plane and from the Staten Island Ferry.

Trip to NY

2011-09-04T15:40:00.000-07:00

With each new post I say I have been remiss, and again, I have. It's been weeks. Going to try and post here more regularly. Here are a few images from my trip to New York. Returned home today, with a day to go to sleep in before school begins in earnest for Claire and we rise regularly at 6:45. I will add more later on, once I've uploaded all to my computer. These are the ones I posted on Instagram...

From this morning's trip to Grand Central Terminal.

I found myself, yesterday, after walking 30 blocks in New York City, with my dear friend Naamah, who's name very aptly means pleasant, though she is so very much more than that, across the street from the Riverside Memorial Chapel, the building where, almost 40 years ago, my father's funeral took place. So strange for me. This is the view through the skylight in front, on West End Avenue and 75th Street.

One of the many shots from the train, Metro North to New York City...

Grand Central Station.

The lobby of the Upper West Side apartment where Naami is staying, in her old stomping grounds. This building is on 101st and Riverside; her old apartment, where she grew up, West End Ave. and 103rd. I spent much time there in high school, taking the train into the city and the subway up to that apartment, first to spend time with her brother, Levi, and then, after we'd broken up, to hang with her, my wonderful and dear friend of the late 60's and beyond...

And Another...

2011-08-06T21:30:00.000-07:00

Full body self portrait, that is...

and another way, amended/edited after meeting with Amy White this morning...

and this...

Squares are the way to go, I think...

One More Full Body Self Portrait

2011-08-03T16:43:00.000-07:00

And a Full Body Self Portrait

2011-08-01T23:30:00.000-07:00

I remember that I did self portraits five years ago, with the scanner, the last time I was interested in portraits. Then, too, I photographed the family, had them lay their faces and torsos down on the scanner bed to capture their images. Here I am, back again for more. This time, starting with myself.

Some New Self Portraits and a Moth for Kimowan

2011-07-30T21:40:00.000-07:00

I went to see Kimowan Metchewais's show at Light on Wednesday. On the way back to my car I saw this moth, momentarily grounded. Kimowan died this morning after a long illness. Sending love and peace to Antje and Kimowan's family.

Some CD Covers for Maria...

2011-07-19T18:10:00.000-07:00

though I must admit I did a rushed job of scanning, cutting off the edges of things. Still you can get an idea of some of the work I've done. You can click on the individual images to get a slightly larger version...

Some Self-Portraits and Other Things

2011-07-17T19:47:00.000-07:00

The thing about self portraits is that one is a constant and free model when one wants to photograph the figure.

Flatiron Building in NY...

Another self-portrait...

Some pics of Claire's playhouse, birthday present from grandma when she was 3...

Sidney as the Knave of Hearts...

and one last one...

Some New York Grids...

2011-07-11T19:13:00.000-07:00

and a photo of the Victorian Glass House at Golden Gate Park, filtered through PhotoForge, one of my iPhone apps. The first two are grids of the Alexander McQueen ad in the American Airlines magazine. As always, click on photo to enlarge.

Midtown...

42nd Street Library...

Bryant Park Carousel...

Grand Central Terminal...

Chrysler Building...

Court House 25th Street...

Ellis's New Rickenbacker Bass

2011-07-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

Graduation present for Ellis - 2 schools, 2 great cities, 5 1/2 years later, with a year off for travel and work in Israel, Italy and Chapel Hill and our son is now a college graduate. Bravo Ellis!

(No pictures on our walls, still; work being done upstairs, even as I write.)

Here, in California...

2011-06-21T15:14:00.000-07:00

It has been weeks since I posted. We are here in California, though it's 96º outside, 10º warmer than at home in Chapel Hill. Not what we came to California for. But we are staying in the hotel room for the day till we go to San Francisco for dinner with Ward and Vivienne. A little cooler there, always. Here are some of my iPhone pics of CA.

First, a shot of my new gallery in San Francisco; Mina Dresden Gallery (not my pic - from Mina's website!). We saw Rob Lowe filming on the street outside the gallery and I had the presence of mind to say how fantastic he was in Parks and Rec; he put his hand on my shoulder, smiled broadly, making his already incredibly chiseled face even more chiseled, and said "Thanks so much". !!

Palm fronds at the hotel...

Grid of curtain images...

Exit sign...

curtains...

roses at Mary's...

graffiti outside the gallery (we're not on Geary Street anymore...)

under the Bay Bridge...

my drawing of Claire drawing at the restaurant in S.F....

Chair at City Lights Bookstore in S. F. Scrawled on the seat "Drop Bush not bombs" with a peace sign in the middle....

City Lights chair and coffee grid...

The preparation for Allen's mother's weaving retrospective at her 90th birthday celebration...

vines and shadows...

Claire with a redwood at Shoup Park...

leaf-boat races with the cousins...

preparing the hall for the celebration

Claire all dressed for her grandma's 90th birthday party....

Susan fixing Allen's boutonnière...

Ellis....

Redwood at Mary's...

A few instagram pics...

Claire at the pool...

Slowshutter.....

My favorite shadows at Mary's...

I continue to be consumed with,

2011-05-19T10:47:00.000-07:00

nay, addicted to, Instagram. It is, for me, a wonderful site to post photos and receive immediate, or close to it, feedback from other folks who are, it appears, also in the same situation - consumed. It seems most of my followers are in Europe or Japan; not sure how it turned out that way. If any of you photographers have an iPhone, you should sign up now and join me in this most pleasurable and non-risky of addictions. Here are some recent photos, including two versions of Ellis at his gig with The Toddlers at the Cat's Cradle last Friday and a few recent ones of Claire, lolling in our new corner chair....

And These...

2011-05-06T19:50:00.000-07:00

A Few New Pics...

2011-05-05T11:42:00.000-07:00

And one not in the IG format, from this morning's drive to Friends...

I've been occupied....

2011-05-02T09:38:00.000-07:00

... with my phone. A few of the many many photos I've taken over the last month, starting with some I took this morning on the drive home...

Instagram Photos, Continued...

2011-04-01T20:19:00.000-07:00

I continue to be consumed with this new iPhone app. Here are just some of the many I've taken over the last few days.

New Instagram Photos

2011-03-27T14:44:00.000-07:00

Consumed with Instagram....

2011-03-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

Wonderful app that Mary Lois turned me onto. Posting a bit obsessively; following others, some even following me, from around the world. Twitter for pictures....

Shadows....

Morning tree.....

My wheelchair, my temporary wheelchair...

Silhouette of Claire...

Two self portraits, one in bed...

Close up of my finger.....

Glass vase...

More Instagram Pics

2011-03-25T13:41:00.000-07:00

The room where I've lived for the last two months...

This morning at Friends School...

Wisteria on the drive home...

Camelia in the front yard...

From just inside the front door...

Instagram Pics from Today

2011-03-24T18:53:00.000-07:00

Birthday Dinner

2011-03-23T18:55:00.000-07:00

Nice photo of Allen, taken by Joy...

Joy and Ken, taken by me.....

Claire by me....

Allen and me, by Claire...

Ellis by me...

And the supermoon on my birthday night...

Claire, This Morning's Light, Ride to CFS and Others

2011-03-22T18:57:00.000-07:00

On the Way to the ACC

2011-03-21T14:59:00.000-07:00

Birthday Morn, and Evening!

2011-03-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

The Out of Doors...

2011-03-18T20:08:00.000-07:00

and the indoors, where I've been, almost exclusively, lo, these 8 weeks.

New App...

2011-03-17T19:00:00.000-07:00

... for my iPhone camera.

Application...

2011-03-14T19:13:00.000-07:00

I said I wouldn't do any more shows, other than what George gives me. I just finished working on a mock up for an application for a show. Oh well, what can I say?

California in December

2011-03-12T15:07:00.000-08:00

I've been looking through the photos I took over the holidays. I've been meaning to post these for a while. I guess better late than never applies here. First Claire, then Claire and Ellis, and the Lopez girls, Elisabeth and Margaret, all at Grandma's. Christmas cousins.

As always, click on individual photos for an enlargement.

now at Half Moon Bay, where we all drove in a caravan, (11 of us) for a day trip...

Claire and Elisabeth "modeling" at the beach...

with a few of just Claire, ones that I cropped from the double shots...

Now some other photos, one of Armando and a few of Ellis and Claire...

And then the ride back to Mary's.....

Claire and Emily

2011-03-02T07:24:00.000-08:00

Palm reading at the kitchen table; modeling by the kitchen window, some afternoon light. And one still life.

Stormy Weather

2011-03-01T10:47:00.000-08:00

Lightening flash...

And again, lightening...

Irises and Roses

2011-02-28T00:21:00.000-08:00