MELISSALAND

(Geosans Light - my new favorite font and the most kick-ass Q ever.)

I am exhausted, but really thrilled about the show. Hope to see everyone tomorrow night!

Show opens next Saturday…..hope you can make it!

————–

Through the ages, the Horse has remained inseparable from man as a symbolic element of the sublime within the spirit of humanity. As representations of strength, devotion, wisdom, divination and freedom, the equine form projects not its own beauty; it reflects instead the beauty – or horror – of man’s unconscious power. Equus, opening January 22, 2009, at Carrie Haddad Photographs in Hudson, New York, spotlights the multi-layered relationship between people and horses. The exhibit will include the work of local and international photographers Tim Flach, David Seiler, Ida Weygandt, Juliet Harrison, Paul Solberg and Christopher Makos.

More info here

I happened upon the website of a new hotel in London called Rough Luxe via the 2009 consumer trends listed on trendwatching. The hotel’s website states:

“So this is Rough Luxe. Half rough, half luxury. A little bit of luxury in a rough part of London. A little bit of rough in a luxurious London. Our philosophy is simple; you are staying with us in our home, so just ask.”

After wandering through their site, I found my way to the ‘Rough Luxe Network’ - their philosophy really resonated with me….

Rough-Luxe is a new way of looking at luxury as a moment in time and not only part of an object of consumption. Luxury is an enriching personal experience and not only an ownership of an expensive object. Therefore, the Rough-Luxe definition of Luxury is: time for reflection, personal encounters with people, nature, architecture and environment as well as food and social and cultural experiences linked to geographic locations. It is also, the intellectual solicitation, listening to ones own feelings as well as comparing objects and time and thinking of their hierarchy.

Rough-Luxe is about the experience, the surrounding, the intrinsic value of objects, art, culture and the people surrounding us as well as the ‘‘consumable’’ items, that you come across in a Rough-Luxe hotel or affiliated business or event.

…this philosophy reminds me of the reasons why Hudson, New York became the destination that it did for many New Yorkers. Hardly a manicured or polished city, Hudson is certainly rough around the edges - but it has a tremendous amount of soul.  Many creative types have flocked here over the years because you can feel that soul pour out of every shop and building lining the street. A simple place, yet at the same time, full of such inspiring detail. How can you not love it here?

If you want to explore Hudson a bit more, check out this Flickr group

(Photo by Peter Spear)

(photo by Sam Pratt)

I want this photo by Anna Nordquist Andersson

Central Park, April 2008. A favorite photo of mine.

Interesting series by photographer Tim Davis (Mr. Davis teaches photography at Bard College)

Bedford Avenue

Antlers

Earth Day

see more photographs from the series here

(that is a real photo by the way)…..more cool shots here on David J. Slater’s website

A photo I took of my sister during Christmas two years ago. Can’t wait to see her in a few days…..

Johannes Courtens is a young aspiring photographer who has been graciously interning at the gallery. This is a photo he took during the ice storm which recently hit the area (and left his, and many other homes without power for days) - I think it is a beautiful graphic image - reminds me a bit of the romanticism behind old etchings and book illustrations.

Check out more of Johannes’ photographs on his deviant art page

I went and visited David Lebe’s studio last week and all I can say is: impressed. I made the visit specifically to pick up some older hand-coloured photographs of his (the dates from these photos span from 1980-1987) - they are absolutely gorgeous. I sincerely wish I had the money to purchase one right now.

I spent the better part of a day going through and photographing the work for the website and color correcting each file (I only had my little point and shoot). Visiting David’s studio made me wish everyone could have an opportunity to do so. You really come to appreciate an artist much more when you get to witness how they work, see what is important to them, and how this informs what they create.

There is a great interview online between David and another photographer, Richard Kagan, and Richard asks David if vulnerability is important in his work:

“I think artists have to be vulnerable. There are artists who put up armor and they are great artists, and they do wonderful work, but in some way they don’t even realize they’re being vulnerable. They’re letting us in, even if they think they’re not. You have to be out there–if not consciously, then unconsciously. For art to happen, somehow you have to put yourself out there and open yourself up. You have to let others look inside.” - David Lebe

I’ve thought about this before, and it is of course, a very hard thing for most people to do, myself included. If I take a look at all of the writers & artists I’ve admired (Paul Monette, Miranda July, Peter Gabriel, just to name a few) - they are all extremely genuine, authentic and original individuals who created highly personal work. I’ve always respected people who could do this.

David and I discussed possibly recording some video of him in the studio and the idea of shooting and compiling video of many of the artists the gallery works with. I really love the possibilities of a project like this.

Promise to keep you updated

—————

Image above:

David Lebe, Self-Portrait 11:38, 1981, hand-coloured light drawing, 16 x 20 inches

View more work by David Lebe