Black History Month

February 28, 2017 lisa fox

To celebrate Black History Month, I've put together a list of fantastic contemporary photographers for you to check out. The images and perspectives of these photographers have contributed to the future of the art form and have helped strengthen the field of photography as a whole. I hope you enjoy taking some time to look at their impressive bodies of work.

I would also encourage you to subscribe to my blog at the bottom of this list to make sure not to miss any future posts.

My next installment will be about the relationship between art and politics, especially during our current administration and it will include a comprehensive guide on what we can all do to be heard and make a difference, especially artists. So, don't miss out!

Melissa Bunni Elian is a Haitian-American journalist using words, photos and video to tell multimedia stories.

Portrait by Melissa Bunni Elian, from *afropunk x ferguson*

Latoya Ruby Frazier creates work addressing industrialism, rustbelt revitalization, environmental justice, healthcare inequity, family and communal history.

Latoya Ruby Frazier, from *The Notion of Family*

Latoya Ruby Frazier, from *Pier 54: A Human Right to Passage*

Hank Willis Thomas is a photo conceptual artist working primarily with themes related to identity, history and popular culture.

Hank Willis Thomas, *Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Us Around*

Ruddy Roye is a Brooklyn based documentary photographer specializing in editorial and environmental portraits and photo-journalism photography.

Ruddy Roye, from *The Common Treads Project*

Ruddy Roye, from *Dancehall: In the Wake of Daggering*

Khalik Allah is a street photographer and filmmaker whose work has been described as "street opera."

Tarji Smedley is a commercial, fashion, lifestyle photographer, and photojournalist.

Russell Frederick is a photographer whose global world view and keen understanding of the human condition informs his compelling photography.

Ivan Forde is a Guyanese born Harlem raised photographer with interests in new media.

Kwesi Abbensetts looks for beauty and something compelling through his photography to make you see yourself a different way.

Lebohang Kganye is a photographer whose work often incorporates her interest in sculpture and performance of the archive and memory.

Omar Victor Diop looks at his photography as a means to capture the diversity of modern African societies and lifestyles.

Omar Victor Diop, from *Project Diaspora*

ROBERT MAPPLETHORPE FOCUS: PERFECTION and SHE PHOTOGRAPHS at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA)

January 17, 2017 lisa fox

Hi, All.

The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts - Musée des beaux-arts de Montréal is presenting a retrospective on Robert Mapplethorpe's photography and other artistic works. Mapplethorpe was one of the most significant artists of his time. His work has been characterized as controvertial and polarizing. It was seen as particularly challenging when it first came out during the period of conflict between conservatives and reformers in the United States called the Culture Wars in the 1980s and 1990s. This retrospective shows an array of his subjects, including celebrity portraits, male and female nudes, self-portraits, and still-life images of flowers. His highly stylized black and white photographs blurred the lines between life and art. Robert Mapplethorpe Focus: Perfection will be open for visitors until January 22nd.

"He was demonic but not evil, only as demonic as a small deity, mischievous but not without compassion. He was a ray where darkness fell." - Patti Smith describing Robert Mapplethorpe

from *Robert Mapplethorpe Focus: Perfection* at the MMFA

Robert Mapplethorpe, *Untitled (Terry),* Dye diffusion transfer print, 1974.

Robert Mapplethorpe, *Lisa Lyon,* Gelatin silver print, 1980.

Mapplethorpe met Lisa Lyon, a world women's bodybuilding champion, at a party in New York City in 1979. They collaborated as photographer and muse for six years following their encounter and created more than 200 photographs depicting Lyons in various guises, ranging from ingenue to dominatrix.

A selection of works from Robert Mapplethorpe's *X Portfolios,* 1978.

Mapplethorpe thought of the X, Y, and Z Portfolios as his most important works. X in 1978 explored homosexuality and sado-masochism. Y in 1978 depicted flower still lifes. And, Z in 1981 was a collection of portraits of African-American men. The artist's obsession with formal perfection unified the three collections.

SHE PHOTOGRAPHS

Also, currently showing at the MMFA is and exhibition of thirty Canadian and American women photographers called SHE PHOTOGRAPHS. These photographs encompass a varied array of contemporary photographic styles and genres: Conceptual art, auteur photography, tableau form, intimate impressions, the reinvention of the documentary approach, etc. The pieces span the range from straight photography to abstract and covers subjects such as love, death, work, and the sublime. Styles, techniques, emotion, and meaning may differ, however the commonality of a woman's perspective and voice brings this show its collective artistic strength and impact. It will be on display until February 19.

Raymonde April, *Mais qui donc pourrait me faire mal?* from the series "Autoportraits avec textes" Gelatin silver print, 1979.

From the *SHE PHOTOGRAPHS* exhibition at the MMFA

Éliane Excoffier, *Kiev (VII),* Gelatin silver print, 2008.

Sorel Cohen, from *es blessures de l'expérience,* 9 chromogenic prints and etched glass, 1995-1996.

Alix Cléo Roubaud, *Si quelque chose noir* series, 7 gelatin silver prints, 1980.

Maryse Goudreau, *Demonstration in Memory of the Wharves (2)*, Ink-jet print, 2011.

Laura Letinsky, *Untitled No. 48* from the series "I did not remember I had forgotten", Chromogenic print, 2002, print 2007.

Marnie Weber, From the series "Graveyard", Collage of magazine illustrations on a color photograph, 2001.

Gallery Hopping in NYC & Upcoming Shows

May 18, 2016 lisa fox

This past weekend, I spent my time hiking on Long Island's North Shore, touring the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory campus where DNA was discovered, catching up with old friends and gallery hopping in Manhattan. It was action packed and my legs are still recovering from all the mileage.

If you're ever in need for a restaurant that offers gluten free options while gallery hopping in Chelsea, I recommend Friedmans Lunch in Chelsea Market. Their fish tacos hit the spot. (Thanks for a great lunch date, Dana!)

*Aditya Pande, RING ROAD DRAWINGS, Mixed media on paper, 2014*

The first exhibit at Aicon Gallery was selected works of Aditya Pande, a contemporary artist from India who works with painting, sculpture, installation art and video. His pop-artish works tend to include overlaying shapes, many incorporating paint, ink and glitter.

*Aditya Pande, HALF LIFE FORM VII & IX (DIPTYCH), Mixed media on archival paper, 2012*

*Aditya Pande, Half Life Form III, Mixed media on archival paper, 2012*

*Aditya Pande, PORTRAIT OF A DOG AS A YOUNG ARTIST, Mixed media on paper, 2015*

*Aditya Pande,* *A:H&M and C:H&M*, *Mixed media on paper, 2014*

The second artist represented at Aicon Gallery was Promotesh Das Pulak of Bangladesh whose work deals with social crisis, war and pollution. His exhibition, Betrayal of Innocence and Beauty, incorporated sculpture, video and photography.

Yossi Milo Gallery is currently showing the large scale photographs of John Chiara. These pieces were created in a van that the artist converted into a camera obscura that he enters to expose photographic paper directly to light, eliminating the darkroom steps. Chiara dodges, burns and filters the light to create these boldly colorful works that make us slow down and see familiar subjects in a new way.

*John Chiara, E14th Street at Avenue A*, *Two Negative Chromogenic Photographs, 2015*

*John Chiara, work from WEST SIDE AT TIORONDA exhibition,* *Negative Chromogenic Photograph*

*John Chiara, works from WEST SIDE AT TIORONDA exhibition,* *Negative Chromogenic Photographs*

Praxis International Art is showing the photography of Argentinian Lucia Fainzilber. In her exhibition, Wild Flowers, Fainzilber uses large scale portraits to explore women and their obsessions.

*Lucia Fainzilber, work from Wild Flowers, photography*

The exhibit, Malkovich, Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters, at Yancey Richardson Gallery is the result of the creative and collaborative efforts of Sandro Miller and John Malkovich. Miller photographed the actor slipping into the "roles" of some of the most iconic images of the history of photography. This show depicts Malkovich as Marilyn Monroe, Einstein, Che Guevara, and Hemingway to name only a few.

*Sandro Miller at Yancey Richardson Gallery*

*Sandro Miller, photographs from Malkovich,* *Malkovich, Malkovich: Homage to Photographic Masters*

Also showing at Yancey Richardson was the work of Italian photographer Olivo Barbieri whose overhead images of landscapes are carefully manipulated to create the illusion that they are collages.

*Olivo Barbieri, Capri #8, photograph, 2013*

Israeli artist Lee Yanor uses photographic c-prints and and overlay of voile fabric which has also been printed on to create seemingly holographic images. The results are full of movement and they dance beautifully as the viewer changes location. Her work is on display at Onishi Gallery.

*Lee Yanor, works from Draw the Line, c-print & print on voile*

*Lee Yanor, work from Draw the Line, c-print & print on voile, 2015*

News

I will be taking part in this year's Art Walk & Street Fest in Kingston Road Village. Come down to support local artists and musicians along with the unique businesses in the area. It should be a load of fun. Hope to see you there!

Find more information click here and on Facebook. You can link and hashtag #kingstonroadvillage, as well.

My work can also still be found at Veloute Bistro in the Beaches. Come check it out and enjoy a glass of wine or a romantic dinner.

I will also be part of a group show in July at the Yellow House Gallery. Make sure to subscribe to this blog below so you'll be sure to get more information about that.

And, tomorrow, I'll be off to Boston to attend my reunion at Tufts University. I look forward to sharing what Boston's museums and galleries have to offer in my next post. Stay tuned.