[Not] Everything's Been Done

Robert Wright Paul Reas As a photographer this blog, website and my general openess about technique are an attempt to keep me on my toes. I'm well aware that although some are amazed by the fact that little has been explored photographically in malls, shopping centers, etc... in fact much has been done. It was influences from Robert Adams, Martin Parr, Andreas Gursky, Paul Graham and Robert Frank among others that planted some of the seeds for my 'shopping for pictures' excursions. With that in mind I would hope that it is not simply what exists in front of the camera that makes the pictures interesting but more photographic concerns such as moments, form, light etc. I love coming across other photographers who have also braved the fluorescents lighting and made pictures in stores using a diverse array of techniques. A few recent (and old) discoveries include: Paul Reas photographed in 1980's Thatcher era Britain and little is available about him. A book exists with some of his pictures called I Can Help....Consumer Culture, I have no idea if this is a photo book or otherwise but I'd love to find out more. Robert Wright has been making beautiful quiet and smart pictures in malls since 1991. Alec Soth recently pointed many of us to the incredible work by Stephen DiRado. His 80's portaits in malls done with a 8x10 camera make me drool. When not editing Pavillion Magazine, Ravzvan Ion makes art using photographs, video and other media in Romania. His Anonymous Ideology series is made up of cnadid style photographs in european shopping centers. Thomas Meyer isn't like all the other german photographers but does favor a high sweeping vantage point which gives his Coop interior pictures a catherdral-esqe feel. Others?

Merry Holidays

Time to relax and soak it all in. What's nice about holidays is in most cases we can't work. You're forced to slow down, reflect and generally get New Agey.

Chicago Tribune Review

Jon Gitelson once told me he checks my blog daily for posts and to see if his name has been mentioned. I also have this bad habit of scouring the web to see where my name or pictures may pop up, especially after an exhibition. Today my anxieties were fruitfull with a review of Thrift in the Chicago Tribune. Take a look.

Spenderella

Joerg Colberg points me to this deja-vue-esqe call to arms. Today, President Bush held a news conference where he discussed the “way forward” for the economy in 2007... Bush’s solution? “Go shopping more.” Link and Video at Think Progress:

The Girl's Room

Much of my work this past year would not have been possible without the help of one dedicated assistant, Ms. Alice Wells. Sadly Alice took off for the bright ights big city of NY this past fall and since has graced her talents and friendship with another talented Ms. Jen Bekman. Alice will have work in a show at Jen's gallery which opens Wed. night called the girl's room. So go. Say hello to Alice. Buy lots and lots of art from Jen. Opening Reception: Wed Dec 20 | 6pm-8pm Exhibition on view through Jan 13, 2006 jen bekman 6 Spring St (between Elizabeth + Bowery) NYC 10012 Featuring the work of: Aiyana Udesen | Alice Wells | Alika Cooper | Amy Rice | Amy Ross | Bianca Buchanan | Candace Gottschalk |Caroline Hwang | Carol Tessitore | Chloé Derderian | Christa Donner |Dana Miller | Dee Dee Cheriel | Elizabeth Huey | Esther Pearl Watson |Esther Sanchez | Jacqueline Bovit | Jacqueline Di Milia | Kate and Camilla | Katrin Reifeiss | Kelly Ording | Lily Gilbert | Mara Bodis-Wollner |Mari Dogami | Maya Hayuk | Misaki Kawai | Monica Canilao | Pearl C Hsiung | Rachel Salomon | Robin Cameron | Stephanie Davidson | Swoon | Tema Stauffer | Ye Rin Mok | Youngna Park

Kay Westhues

Had the pleasure of finally meeting up with photographer Kay Westhues who was up from Indiana for a visit. She's been running the Fourteen Places to Eat blog for some time now. We had a good talk discussing why the midwest is such a rich place for making photographs. Kay's got northern Indiana covered in her many photographs there plus a hoosier link section.

One BIG QUESTION

Email: December 17, 2006 12:42:03 AM CST Hello! I am familiar with the last name Ulrich and familiar with some of the names-not the actual people or anything about them- on your web site.. One BIG QUESTION HOWEVER...why would those affiliated with you and your web site want to photo graph myself , write about, stalk and watch me haha I am not a celebrity....never have been...do not socialize with any celebrities and never really have....do not travel in the "big Buck circle" that yourself and your associates apparently are a part of...have never been to NY, San Fransico, or Chicago...nor do I have any interest ever in going there..not "into" big cities h aha Have never been to any of the BIG fancy Nighclubs that I see are affiliated with your group of associates....and have no interest in such ....its not my "thing" Not fashion "model" material...although perfectly content with who/what I am haha Not affiliated with any groups or organizations .... Not dying as falsely reported by some for many years haha so no obituary required hahaha Do not frequent art gallaries and never have...not even once..never got around to it or took the time to..Do not have any abilities by way of drawing at all or painting and thus not at all in your circle of artists and photographers.. So whats up with the apparent obsession of someone like myself...that would bring alleged top artists to have any interest in photo graphing me ....and all the obsession obsession that apparently exists ....on the end of your photo crew etc. hahaha I just find it very very odd.....and to be honest....a pain in the butt haha Considering there are certainly other objects - people etc worth your photo talents and all that ..and worthy of your apparent art gallaries etc. I know others have been photo'ed too and all that...and they also had no interest in such....from your "artsy associates" -artists designers etc. I am also aware that many many young people and others exist-that do in fact inspire to be famous models...famous people etc. And do love to be in the limelight--get lots of attention-travel in "Big fancy circles" etc. I suggest that the photo interest and talents or whatever of yourself and your art gallary and magazine and college professors etc...should be redirected in that direction... This obsession of spying on others and photo graphing them that exists with your circle of associates...magazines etc. really must stop...or at least be directed to those of some news interest or those as I stated that wish to become "stars" Myself..never in either group. haha As stated, I do not know anything about yourself ...and please do not take this as a threatening email or anything of that nature. Its more one of "curiousity" of who you are and why the showering of photo attention from artists etc. Also- just for the record...I am one of those few people who never took the time to learn the name of movie actors...do not know the name of most musicians and groups out there except for the very top ones in my particular music interest..do not read magazines..do not really read newspapers and never watch the news and do not intent to start haha Do not follow politics in any way and dont intend to haha So again, I request that your group of photo people..liberal art interest people..kind of move along to someone more in "tune" with the goals and interests of whatever your group is about...those who can appreciate your goals and your gallery work etc Regards Sue

Sunny and 68 degrees, MCASD

If you're on the west coast and in the San Diego area i'm jealous. For one it's warmer, there is no salt on the cars and streets, people are wearing sunglasses and you have a lot more access to In and Out burger than I do. Moreso you'll be able to see my show at the Museum of Contemporary Art at their new building in La Jolla a long time before I do. This is the biggest showing of work from the Copia series to date (14 pictures from the Retail section). Very exciting. It opens today: Museum of Contemporary Art 700 Prospect Street La Jolla, CA Dec 16, 2006 - May 13, 2007 So go, be glad at the nice weather and tell me how it looks. I'll be out in March for a lecture and hopefully it'll be an escape from the wintery Northwest.

Margulies Collection

Thurs. - Friday

Miami. Hammocks. 80 degrees. Shopping for art. Nada. Melanie Schiff. Tony Tasset. Pulse. Julie Saul. Martin Margulies. Photo Miami. Film. Photographing. Famous people. Famous artists. Visual stimuli. VIP events. Ropes. Jon. Matt. Greg. Nate. Nicole Stanner. George. Galerie f5.6. Edmar. Eric Graf. Elisa Harkins. Melanie. Buzz Ruttenberg. Michal Russo. Zev. Gin and Tonics. Singing in german. Keanu Reeves. Chuck Close. Dominic Molon. Galleries. Independence. Centurion. Rubell Family Collection. Paul McCarthy. Catherine Sulivan. Margulies Warehouse. Scale. Traffic. Espresso. Soth. Helen Levitt. Evans. Julian Montague. Copia. Rena Sternberg. Ursula. Winogrand. Women are beautiful. All of them. Editing. Videos. Cartoon OJ Verdict. Mitch Epstein. Subs on the run. Soliders. Cops. Bicycle cabs. No more irony. Orlan. Michael Bühler-Rose. Michael Thompson. Burt Michals. New City. Reviews. Mickalene Thomas. VIP. Manicures. Toenails. Sequins. White carpet. Pens. Matti Bunzl. Billy Vaughn. Howard Greenberg. Drizzle. Free rides. Financial aid. Spoons. Career. Scratchers. Vaughn Von Vonne. Miami Dade. Construction. Real estate. Interviews. Margarine. p.s. the best thing ever, Doug Aikten, the Diamond Sea

15 hours in...

Long day already and am just at a break. Jon, Matt and I got up at 4:00 am to fly down to the Miami Fairs. After a 3 hour flight and some lunch, we met up with Nate Baker and Greg Stimac and headed off to the so many fairs. I've been to a few of these things but woah, this Miami thing seems out of hand. • At Nada, I was most impressed with the greetings of hammocks at the entrance (I love hammocks). • Tried making some photographs at the fairs but btwn jetlag and running into to friends, putting the camera aside for the moment. • Chicagoan Melanie Schiff photograph's at Kavi Gupta gallery look amazing. Not much photo at Nada though. • Over to the Pulse fair things were looking much better in general. Much good work. Our oh so kind friend Michal Russo introduced us to collectors Buzz Ruttenberg, and Marty Margulies. Marty had bought several prints of mine earlier this year and informed me he has them on view at his public warehouse during the fair...woah. Have to plug Julie Saul's booth as well which looked great. • Photo Miami has a lot of strong work. Ran into old friend Nicole Stanner from Galerie f5.6 from Munich and some other Santa Fe peeps. Photographer Hank Willis Thomas, Joslin at Photoeye, etc. Brian Clamp's booth was standout, and Brian is a super nice guy. I can't imagine 3 more days of this....surreal. More soon.

Miami or Bust #2

Heading down to Miami for the annual Art Basel Artfair insanity. It's my first time down for this and thankfully there are a host of friends coming along from here in Chicago. Matt Siber, Jon Gitelson, Mary Farmilant, Greg Stimac, Nathan Baker, Anne Lass, and many more from Chicago via the Bridge Artfair etc.. Rhona Hoffman Gallery will be bringing some of my work from the Thrift show and Copia to the Main Art Basel Miami fair. If you're at the fair please come by, say hello or track us down to meet. Art Basel Miami Beach, Rhona Hoffman Gallery, Booth A8 [Dec 7 - 10, 2006]

Wow

Finally peeling off the smile from my face after the amazing turnout and support from the Thrift opening on Friday (despite a snowstorm!). Thanks so much to the very many who showed up. Was a great time. Dealer Paul Klein already wrote a nice review in his excellent artletter series. I finally made some updates to the main website which include: • a return to simple faster html, no more flash. • a press section which will have full pdf's • added thrift pictures and a few of backrooms • you'll notice Copia now has 3 categories retail, thrift and backrooms to reflect it being an ongoing project with, at the moment, these three chapters • clicking on the left/right of images will forward you ahead or back, will eventually get numbers up as well • the blog (what you are reading) is now accessable from the main website and simply opens in it's own frame There will be more additions, streamlining etc with eventually a move to possibly something php based. In time...