Things that come in the mail: l'art du livre origami

I am so excited to see this wonderful book, which just arrived on my doorstep a few days ago. Enormous appreciation to Jean-Charles Trebbi for including me in his beautiful how-to book on the art of origami, specifically in book-making. So perfectly illustrated and with such inventive and creative ideas.

I am truly honored to have one of my cyanotype origami books included, and I love that it’s all in French. English and Spanish versions will become available soon.

The Award of Excellence, Light Sensitive 2021

I’m extremely happy to have three of my gum bichromate prints/images currently hanging on the walls of Art Intersection’s Light Sensitive Exhibition, which celebrates the art of the handcrafted print. The exhibition opened in Gilbert, Arizona on October 9 and continues through November 20. And I am thrilled and truly honored to learn that one of my images, ‘MilkWeed Pod,’ was given The Award of Excellence. Enormous thank you to the very talented Brian Taylor who juried this show, and to Alan Fitzgerald and his tireless team at AI. Wish I could be there to see it all!

Rfotofolio 2021 Denis Roussel Award

I am incredibly honored and thrilled to receive Rfotofolio’s 2021 Denis Roussel Award, which was juried by Christopher James.

The Denis Roussel Award was started in 2018 to help continue the legacy of photographer and educator, Denis Roussel and to highlight work done by photographers whose work is based on the historical/alternative photographic processes . . .

And to the founders of Rfotofolio, Jerry and Connie Rosenthal, and to this year’s esteemed juror, Christopher James— and especially his thoughtful writing— and to all the sponsors of this incredible Award, I extend enormous gratitude. This is such an honor. Denis was a true creative force whose unique art continues to inspire, and I am so proud to be connected to him in this way. A huge thank you to his family as well.

And you can read more about all the 2021 recognized artists here.

Winter Garden, Japanese Stab-Binding Book, 2020 Interior Pages (Cyanotype on Japanese Gampi paper)

Such accomplished and beautiful work… precise, playful, clearly loved in the process of making. What I truly enjoyed was how many ways this work might be experienced in person especially if given the permission to hold and move the pages and complex elements that make up each piece. In the time-honored treasure and marriage of nature collected and archived, the work clearly demonstrates the artist’s love of the subject, the concept and the physical act of creating wonder as in the trompe l’oeil stacked pages (referencing the leaves in Whitman’s Leaves of Grass) A pleasure to look at look and experience.

- Christopher James, 2021

Timeless Light: Solo Exhibition at Adele Kassab Gallery, Francis Marion University

I am pleased that my solo exhibition, Timeless Light, is now on view at Francis Marion University’s lovely Adele Kassab Gallery, located on Francis Marion’s campus, in Florence, South Carolina. If you are in the area, do check it out. Framed tricolor gum bichromate prints from various series, and one-of-a-kind handmade artist books, are all on display now through mid -August, 2021. A big thank you to Uschi Jeffcoat for the invitation to exhibit, and to both Uschi and Charles Jeffcoat for the beautiful installation- and to Julie Mixon for helping to make this all happen.

Picturing the Avant Garde: A Celebration of Alternative & Experimental Processes, SE Museum of Photography

I'm very happy to have images from my series, The Old Garden, and a few of my handmade artist books included in the Southeast Museum of Photography's current exhibition, which opened April 6, entitled "Picturing the Avant Garde: A Celebration of Alternative and Experimental Processes." This beautiful Museum is located on the campus of Daytona State College, in Daytona Beach, Florida. I'm equally excited to be showing alongside some good friends and outstanding artists.

An enormous thank you goes to Christina Katsolis for the invitation to exhibit, for curating, and for all her help and work in pulling this together. I am always thrilled when someone conceives of and arranges for an exhibition of 'alternative and experimental processes,' and this one looks incredible. The exhibit runs through June 12. I hope to get down there to see it myself! (And a beautiful installation picture of two of my books, below, taken by Christina.)

You can read more about the exhibition and participating artists here.

Spent Roses 2019, Multi-Maze Accordion Book (L) & Ginkgos in Blue, 2021 Flag Book (R)

Layered Light: Contemporary Pinhole & Zone Plate Photography, in Silver City, NM

I am delighted to have one of my pinhole images, 'At Surf's Edge' (printed in platinum/palladium over pigment), included in Light Art Space’s Layered Light: Contemporary Pinhole & Zone Plate Photography. This exhibition, dedicated to the late Eric Renner, runs from April 23 to June 26th, with an all-day reception on April 24, at Light Art Space, located in Silver City, New Mexico. A big thank you to Gallery Director/owner, Karen L. Hymer, and especially to jurors, Nancy Dize Spencer and Scott McMahon.

'The Old Garden' at Gold Street Studios & Gallery, Australia

I am thrilled and so honored to have images from 'The Old Garden' series currently on view (opened February 3!) at Ellie Young’s Gold Street Studios Workshop & Gallery, locatd in Trentham East, Victoria, Australia. I have known about Ellie for years, because she and Gold Street Studios & Gallery have been a continuing international force in and proponent of handmade alternative photographic printing processes. So to have a solo exhibition there of my tricolor gum bichromate prints-- in this lovely inviting space-- is truly a dream come true for me! So I extend an enormous thank you to Ellie Young-- for all she does-- and for matting, framing, and that lighting-- and making my work look so good! I love this space. Here are a few installation images Ellie sent me. The exhibition opens today (February 3) and runs through May 9, 2021. I so wish I could be there!

Spent Roses, Tricolor gum bichromate print

The Blue Dream Written by Light, in Nanjing, China

I am honored to be included in this upcoming photographic exhibition, all about the cyanotype, to be held at the Hengli Image Center, in Nanjing, China, opening December 26. A huge thank you to Curator, Nai Kong, for including my work, and to Art Director, Hans P. Kraus, Jr.; Academic Advisor, Zhong Jianming; and to the Hengli Image Center. The Blue Dream Written by Light: From Anna Atkins to the Contemporary Practice of Cyanotype includes prints and images by some amazing artists, and I am honored and thrilled to be showing my work alongside theirs. And I am so proud that the poster here features “Bound Roses,” from The Old Garden series, a tricolor gum print of mine, with a cyanotype base. Click on poster for enlargement.

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Rfotofolio 2020 Merit Award

I am so honored that my portfolio of handmade artist books was selected for Merit Award recognition (3D category) in the Rfotofolio Selections for 2020. Thank you so much to Connie Rosenthal and Jerry Rosenthal, of Rfotofolio -and their sponsors- and also to jurors, Paula Tognarelli, Executive Director and Curator of The Griffin Museum of Photography, located in Winchester, Massachusetts, and Jennifer Schlesinger, Owner/Director of Obscura Gallery, located in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A big congratulations to all! You can read more about the artworks and artists selected here.

“I chose this portfolio because of the many examples of books this artist has made. The books are all presented as objects. And sometimes there are objects within objects. The subjects of these books are images of moments that provide respite like birds on a wire or a murmuration of starlings that fill the sky or images of the natural world made from alternative processes. ” Paula Tognarelli

Murmuration of Starlings (Bird Box), Handmade Artist Book 1/1