Hank, Melanie and Art Talking

Priceless #1 Lectures and artists are a funny thing. There is a lot of expectations on them. I'll hear people talk about how they liked an artists' work until they heard them speak about it. Most artists are well learned in visual and conceptual ideas but maybe because of movies or stand up comedy I think some people expect to be entertained. Others, it seems go seeking to discover if indeed the artist is sincere about what they're doing. I myself have certainly been swayed and even disappointed when someone clearly cannot discuss their own work or ideas, or wowed when a lecturer really expounded my understanding of their work. I like to tell students that the discussion of their work is the opportunity to steer and give framework to the dialogue and understanding of it. Hank Willis Thomas tonight did some of my favorite things in a lecture at the School of the Art Institute. He was candid and earnest with the audience. I've been a fan of Hank's since I first met him at Review Santa Fe a few years back. Since, I've seen his excellent work in Adbusters, artfairs and we've even shared a few group shows. So even with having some degree of knowing his character there were still surprises. Hank showed a lot of work which described his beginnings in photography and development into a concept and concern. Hank even made is look easy, even though I know what's up on the screen is the result of much work. I left wanting to experiment and stop making my work so complicated. Ultimately what was nice was Hank was not performing or even stragetizing but that his work does many of these things without his words. Having his there to give us further insight was a treat (without the popcorn!). Rainbow, 2006 Later this week Melanie Schiff gives a lunchtime talk also at the School of the Art Institute. I'm also a big fan of Melanie's work and ran up to the Whitney Biennial last week to get a closer peek at her celebrations of light, CD cases, spit rainbows and general rock history. Her prints themselves are painstakingly seductive, (I know we're always trying to find the perfect lambda print lab here in the city). Melanie also makes it look easy as I always run into her at artfairs on some street where I'm in a panic trying to get to some appointment and she's on her way to the beach. Looking forward to seeing more at her talk. Join us: Melanie Schiff, part time faculty member Wednesday, April 9th at NOON 280 South Columbus (at Jackson) School of the Art Institute of Chicago Next week is another I'm excited about, David Maisel at Columbia College on Thursday April 17th.

Food For Thought

Kenosha, WI 2006 (Jello) I finally escape the cold this week and head down to Charlotte, NC for the opening of the group exhibition Food For Thought at the Light Factory. I'll also be giving a lecture on my work as part of the festivities (though I can't guarantee streamers or cake). Food For Thought, is curated by Ariel Shanberg, Executive Director, the Center for Photography at Woodstock. Across the globe, food defines cultures and communities. It comprises and fuels entire economies. Its presentation, delivery, and subsequent consumption can express or stimulate that which words cannot. Every cycle of life within every culture, is in some way marked or symbolized through food. Food For Thought brings together artists working in photography and video whose creations explore personal and cultural connections to food. Food For Thought features artist photographers Sian Bonnell, Christine Chin, Stephanie Diamond, Lucas Foglia, Mary Magsamen and Stephan Hillerbrand, Mary Parisi, Susana Reismanand Brian Ulrich. Opens March 6th from 6-9pm My lecture is at 7:30pm The Details: March 6 - June 29, 2008 The Light Factory Spirit Square, Suite 211 345 North College St. Charlotte, NC 28202

Off to Beverly

Off again for a few lectures in conjunction with the shows at Monserrat College and the Photographic Resource Center. Come say hello. Here are the details of the talks: Thursday, November 28, [Contemporary Cocktail], 8 - 10 pm and Friday, November 29, 11:30 am Both lectures at Montserrat College of Art 23 Essex Street Beverly, MA 01915 Cornucopia: Documenting the Land of Plenty [Exhibition runs Nov 8, 1007 - Feb 2, 2008] Ad | Agency, Photographic Resource Center, Boston, MA [Exhibition runs Nov 8, 2007 - Jan 27, 2008]

Ohm is a Hologram

Returning home from Miami long enough to feed the cat, repack and head out to that other coast. I hope you west coasters can join me for a lecture at the Museum of Contemporary Art in La Jolla. I'll be giving away giggles, secrets, new pictures and lots of ums, likes, and kind of's. Thursday, March 22, 6 pm MCASD La Jolla Ohm is a Hologram from the excellent film THX 1138 viewed on route from Miami to Chicago