High in the Middle and Round on Both Ends

I've been enjoying tons of time away from computers and looking into cameras working on a few new projects. Tomorrow I head off to Ohio to make some landscapes. Landscapes are tricky. I've been spoiled all these years staying indoors and away from wind, rain, fool weather, cars, cops and security people. It can be a real feat to get even one exposure sometimes but when it works it's rather cathartic. Either way it is nice to be outdoors and under stars and sky. In other news, the Git challenges you to a Staring Contest. Jason wins a Dreihaus award. Paul shows up in the NY Times Magazine. More Chicagraphers leap across the pond to Germany. (plus I keep adding links to the right)

I Can't Believe I'm Even Alive

How in the world could anyone stand for this fear mongering propaganda? Full story here:

It's Spending Time (Again) ....

Times are getting tough, the stock market is looking like a yo-yo, the housing market plummets, job losses and general fear mongering in every media venue. But...do not fear! In a few months millions of Americans will be headed to the malls armed with $600 of crisp new USDA dollars with the mission to spend beyond their means. Dear Mr. President, Why do the pockets of the wealthy rest in the spending of the poor and middle class? Is a recession the new evil-doer?

Katy Grannan

Katy Grannan is one of the most amazing photographers ever. Her portrait in todays NY Times is so good it makes me jealous. Full article here.

Budget Cuts for Artists in Illinois

Backroom, 2007 I just received this email from the Illinois Arts Council. On August 23, 2007, the Governor (Rod Blagojevich) issued a reduction veto that cut funding for all Illinois Arts Council programs by nearly $7,000,000. The Illinois Arts Council funds individual artists in medium specific grants every 2 years. 7 fellowships of $7000.00 are awarded and 7 runners up get $700. This year I was fortunate enough to receive one in the photography category. Though I am perplexed that in a state that houses a major US city this is the only state-awarded grant for artists. And now just got 7-mil cut from its budget. A few weeks ago Ryan Granzow interviewed me for a paper he is writing on the state of Arts funding in the United States. Ryan and I had a great discussion about the fact that less grants, fellowships and arts funding ends up putting more emphasis on art as a commercial venture. I can recall Larry Sultan's telling us in his fantastic lecture last fall that the National Endowment of the Arts made so much of his early work possible. The book Evidence that Larry did with Mike Mandel was made possible by the fact that they were funded by the NEA (back when they were still funding individual artists). Larry is one of a long line of artists whose work was made possible by federal state and local grants. Today as budgets dwindle, the emphasis for young artists is selling work to survive. Illinois offers the biannual IAC grants; the biannual Artadia grant; and the City of Chicago CAAP grant. Apparently Minnesota is the state to live if you are an artist, with the McKnight, the Bush Foundation Grant and the Jerome Foundation (in addition to State Art Board fellowships). Should I be surprised that a country with so much wealth continues to value the arts so little? (except for Minnesota)

I'm Emerging...

Minneapolis, MN 2007 Honored to be listed in this months issue of Photo District News as one of the 2007 30 Emerging Photographers. I was nominated a few years back and got a big fat no, this time a big fat yes...persistence is my best friend (and a nomination by Martin Parr). You also may have seen my pictures accompanying a Bill McKibben story in this month's Mother Jones magazine. Pick one up, draw on my picture and send it to me. xo