Curto Interviewed for American Airlines Mag

Photo Program faculty member Jeff Curto was recently interviewed as an authoritative source for an article about current trends in photo gear for Celebrated Living  magazine. Celebrated Living is  American Airlines’ publication for their first-class passengers on all domestic and international flights.

“It was fun to think about the most interesting current developments in photography from the point of view of how it might interest the anyone at any level of photo interest.

A quote from the article: “The most exciting new cameras these days aren’t the biggest or the tiniest. Photography right now is focused on a new format — mirrorless cameras (also called compact systems and Micro Four Thirds designs). They are smaller and less costly than conventional digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras and they take much better pictures than pocket cameras.

“You get the size advantage of a point-and-shoot camera and the quality advantage of a DSLR,” explains Jeff Curto, a photography professor at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, Illinois.”

See the whole article here: Celebrated Living Magazine

Frank Jackowiak Hits The Big Apple

Adjunct Photo Program Faculty Member Frank Jackowiak went to New York City recently to attend an opening reception for photographer Vivian Maier. Regular Silcon & Silver readers will remember that Frank and a group of his students have been involved in helping to resurrect Maier’s legacy.

A story about Maier’s New York show ran in the New York Times Magazine and the NYT’s Lens blog published a post that quotes Frank extensively.

The article’s lead reads:

Frank Jackowiak proudly sported a badge when he arrived at the opening for Jeff Goldstein’s Vivian Maier exhibition at Russell Bowman Art Advisory in Chicago last April.

“I saw what Vivian never did,” the badge proudly read. “I processed her film.”

Mr. Jackowiak was leading about a dozen people from the College of DuPage who had been spending their Saturday afternoons processing undeveloped rolls from Mr. Goldstein’s Maier collection — the smaller of two major collections (the other belongs to John Maloof).

Student Photo Exhibit Benefits Graue Mill

© Bill Guest 2011

College of Du Page photography students supported Oak Brook’s Graue Mill  with unique style as contributors to “At the Mill: A Photographic Fine-Arts Exhibition” which was held from July 15-Aug. 6.

“At the Mill” was the fourth juried photography exhibition fundraiser set up by C.O.D. instructor Mary Dew’s Photographic Exhibition course students. The students organized and made all the important decisions regarding the show – everything from establishing its name, to marketing, to setting up the show, and all the details in between.

“The students are always highly motivated and very eager to learn, to get their work out there, to get feedback about their work, to learn about how to market, and just the whole aspect of the fine arts world,” said Dew.

This year, 12 students were involved and over 40 fine art photographs were on display. Fred Drury, a College of Du Page photography faculty member, served as juror for the show. Additionally, each photographer contributed one photograph of the mill. Photographs of the mill were featured separately from the rest of the portfolio pieces, mounted on easels.

Twenty percent of the show’s proceeds went to support Graue Mill’s programs.

To read more about the exhibit go to:  http://oakbrook.suntimes.com/entertainment/6535783-421/student-photo-exhibit-benefits-graue-mill.html

COD PHOTO EX CLUB – SPRING SEMESTER EVENTS

The College of DuPage Photo Ex(hibition) Club wrapped up its first successful semester of activities last week. Their first gallery show, “Saturation,” held its opening reception Friday, May 6^th in the Wings Student Gallery in the SRC Building.

The show featured the work of members JoAnn Barnes, Tim Benson, Melissa Bitter, Christine Carroll, Sheridan Carroll, Patsy Davis, Jeffrey Edwards, Juli Gauthier, Aichen Ho, Denis Hagen, Judy Kinal, Karen Knecht, Laurie Panico, Christina Racibozynski, Natalie Ramey and Robert Szerlong.

"Saturation" Opening Reception May 6th. Photo by Natalie Ramey.

The Photo Ex Club has provided a variety of interesting meetings for all levels of photography students. Last fall the club held a nature photography outing to the Morton Arboretum, had an informative meeting on purchasing photographic equipment at Calumet Photo in Oak Brook, and a hands-on Cyanotype Workshop led by Instructor Gayle Stevens.

Gayle Stevens gives directions to Photo Ex Club members at the Cyanotype demonstration. Photos by Laurie Panico.

About 30 students attended this meeting, where she gave a brief history about the process then explained how it is currently used in her Alternative Photographic Processes class.

For ideas and inspiration, Gayle showed many examples of the process from her past classes. The samples revealed that cyanotypes could be created on fine art paper and other materials, including silk.

She created a contact print by using either a negative (film or digital) or flattened objects for a photogram.  Then she used an ultraviolet light box along with a contact printing frame to expose the cyanotype. Members received handouts that gave directions for the process, how to tone the images, and links to pertinent articles and suppliers.

On a small piece of Stonehenge fine art paper, Gayle showed how to apply and properly coat the chemicals.  Then she provided a 4×5 piece of cotton cloth that was pre-coated with the cyanotype solution so everyone could create their own photogram. The photogram quilt creation was hung in the Photo Lounge.

The Photo Ex Club’s next meeting will be on Sunday, July 17 from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. The Club will meet at the DuPage Framing Center for a workshop/demo with Bob Greene.

He will be demonstrating matting and framing, and members will learn to cut mats. Greene will give one free double mat to everyone that comes in with their favorite photograph with no size limitation. Due to space constraints, this meeting can only accommodate 20 people, so if you are interested in going, please contact Laurie Panico at lkpanico@comcast.net.

Faculty Member Buitron Featured in Article

Pancho Asks Tonto If He's mas indio que espanol - photograph by Robert Buitron

COD Photography Program faculty member Rob Buitron and his photographic work have been featured in an article in the online magazine Latina Voices.

The article centers around Rob’s use of  Mexican folklore in his photographs.

From the article:

“Aztec icons Popcapetl and Princess Ixtaccihuatl are remnants of a culture destroyed by Spanish conquistadors during the early 16th century (and paintings of these figures are) as ubiquitous in Mexican-American homes all over the United States as crucifixes and figures of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

But for Chicagoland photographer Robert C. Buitrón, they became an opportunity to speak to larger issues of identity and political disfranchisement.  Buitrón, 57, created his own series of calendars from 1990-1992 turning the image on its head.”

To read the full article, see:
Robert C. Buitrón: In Focus

MAC-On-Campus Featured Educator: Jeff Curto

Featured Educator: Jeff Curto

From the MAC-On-Campus website, a story about COD Photography Program faculty member Jeff Curto.

From the article:
“The veteran photography educator talks with MAC-On-Campus about how he uses new technologies in the classroom; his long-term large-format project, The Italian Portfolio; and what he learned from Ansel Adams about being a mentor to the next generation of photographers.”

Chance meeting brings obscure photographer Vivian Maier into the light and to the College of DuPage

Guest Blog Post by Frank M. Jackowiak

Vivian Maier worked as a nanny for many years for several Chicago area North Shore families. In her spare time she photographed and she photographed a lot. Capturing all sorts of things in the art of “street photography” I think before anyone really knew what exactly street photography was. Candid portraits, people holding demonstration signs, newspapers, children and adults, all sorts of things. All the while her talent was hidden – until now.

Meet Jeff Goldstein, artist, carpenter, appreciator of art and flea marketer. While having acquired a large portion of Vivian’s work using his flea market connections, he began to try and work through the collection. He has more than 12,000 negatives, 700 prints, movies, slides and audio tape, plus 218 rolls of unprocessed film with cryptic writing on the outside paper sometimes in French.

While being able to appreciate the work, the volume of it was daunting, plus what to do with the unprocessed film. While again at a flea market he began talking with friends and as it turns out one of them says, hey my brother is a photographer, maybe he can help. That person being Paul Natkin, world renowned music and entertainment photographer. (www.natkin.net – toured with the Rolling Stones etc. etc.) Paul says sure he can help and opens his darkroom to began the 1000 + contact sheet work of the existing negatives.

So, Paul is a longtime friend of mine and I happen to be meeting him for lunch and he starts telling me about this cool project he’s working on and sits me down at his mac to watch the Chicago Tonight video about Vivian.

http://vodpod.com/watch/5195815-december-22-2010-vivian-maier-chicago-tonight-video-wttw

Jeff Goldstein with some of the 700 prints

I watch the video and am impressed, but the video is actually about another person who has acquired some of Vivian’s work, John Maloof. He is the person who is running the current show at the Chicago Cultural Center. Paul says the person he is helping (Jeff Goldstein) is also working on a ton of projects and one them is the trying to get 218 rolls of her 40 year old black and white film processed. Great minds think alike and the light bulb came on for both of us almost saying simultaneously – How about the school ? –

So the chance meeting was that Jeff Goldstein was headed to Paul’s place that afternoon. We met and the plan was made for me to see if we could use the school’s facilities to help with the project. I was excited at the prospect and even more so after seeing some of Vivian’s work that Paul had been scanning.

Next was the call to Jeff’s – Burk and Curto who both give their blessing to the noble cause of helping Vivian Maier get some long due recognition.

I went to Jeff Goldstein’s house for a meeting to try and coordinate things and was able to see a little more of the collection.

The Rolls of Film

Jeff turned the film over to me and on the walk to my car Jeff said “ How does it feel to have the film ? “ Actually I was just thinking, ahh priceless film, maybe I won’t make the 3 stops I had planned on the way home.

The call went out to the C.O.D. photo list for help, Joanne Barsanti, Jerry Cargill, David Koch and Denise Poncher answered up and the plan was made to try and meet at the school to tackle the film on January 2^nd. A few other listers including Helena Kaminski offered help as well as Gayle Stevens who offered her 120 processing equipment.

I went into the lab to the lab to mix chemicals early on New Years Eve and couldn’t resist, I wound up processing 2 rolls of 35mm.

Two rolls of Maier's 35mm film

So, for the first time ever …

The processed film

I have said it before that it is a bit surreal when you get to the point of peeling the film off the reel and seeing the images. I don’t think there is a way of explaining that feeling accurately, way cool is close though.

We ( Team Vivian ) continue to process the film and have finished about 50 rolls so far. It is a bit challenging as some rolls are fogged due to age and storage. We have adjusted development time to what we think is the best and are working toward getting contact sheets printed.

Courtesy of Jeff Goldstein, here are 3 of Vivian’s images, never seen before. Processed at the C.O.D. Lab.

Photograph by Vivian Maier

Photograph by Vivian Maier

Photograph by Vivian Maier

If you would like to check out Jeff Goldsteins web site here:
http://vivianmaierphotography.com/

Jeff is a great guy and his prime focus is to get his portion of the collection organized and archived working toward recognition for Vivian’s art. Once I talked to him for a few minutes I could easily tell that above all, the credit goes to Vivian, he is just the facilitator which itself is also way cool.

Also, be sure to check out the show organized by John Maloof at the Chicago Cultural Center:
http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en/things_see_do/event_landing/events/dca_tourism/FindingVivianMaier_ChicagoStreetPhotographer.html

John’s site is here:
http://www.vivianmaier.blogspot.com/

Chicago Magazine article here:
http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/January-2011/Vivian-Maier-Street-Photographer/

Chicago Sun Times article here:
http://www.suntimes.com/entertainment/2973223-421/maier-maloof-vivian-chicago-negatives.html

If you’d like to help or have questions feel free to contact me, Frank J: frank@itpphoto.com

Faculty Member Stevens Hangs Solo Show

Adjunct faculty member (and COD Photo Program alum) Gayle Stevens  is January’s featured artist in the Wright Art Center Gallery at Delta State University in Mississippi in an exhibition entitled “Small Plates.”

Called the “Alt Process Queen” by her students, Gayle has taught alternative processes for nine years in COD’s Photo Program, along with other classes. Her photographs are produced using wet plate collodion, a 19th century photographic process that involves complex chemistry and produces images of subtle individuality and beauty.

Gayle has been exhibited widely across the United States, most recently in “Alternative Processes Competition” at Soho Photo Gallery in New York and “Self-Searching: The Art of Self-Portaiture” at PhotoPlace Gallery in Middlebury, Vermont. She was awarded a spot in “Critical Mass Top 50” in 2010 as well as being awarded First Place in Light Leaks Magazine for “Holgascapes.” Other awards abound as well as being a published presence in Diffusion Magazine, The Center for Alternative Photography’s Online Journal, Shots Magazine, and The Holga Darkroom.

An opening reception will be held from 5-7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 20, in the Gallery. The exhibit will be available for viewing through Feb. 18.

For more information, please call the Delta State Art Department at 662-846-4720.

Burk’s Monograph “Quiet Places” published

Photography Program adjunct instructor and lab manager Jeff Burk has published a monograph of his work, entitled “Quiet Places.”

From the forward:

To offset information overload in this fast-paced era, slowing down to really assess the world we live in has become more important than ever. Photography is the perfect tool for deliberate observation – an attitude that has been at the core of photographic practice from its beginning – and is exemplified by photographer James Mudd’s 1856 remark about “counting the bricks” in a daguerreotype. With that stance in mind, my first objective is to portray the visual delights I find in overlooked or forgotten places.

View and purchase “Quiet Places” here.

Burk and Phillips show at Nelson-Atkins Museum in K.C.

Adjunct Instructor Russell Phillips and Photo Lab Manager/Adjunct Instructor Jeff Burk have work on exhibit at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri from July 24, 2010 – January 2, 2011. The exhibition, entitled “Thinking Photography: Five Decades at the Kansas City Art Institute,” features photographic works by twenty-seven notable alumni, acknowledging the rich and diverse history of the KCAI photography program from the 1960s to the present.

From the brochure:

“One aspect of the KCAI program remained consistent over these decades: an emphasis on artistic freedom to explore the full range of photography’s expressive potential. As a means to record or critique the world around us – or a way of creating new visual worlds – “thinking photography” means appreciating the multivalent aspects of the medium as image, object, idea and process. The quality and variety of works on view clearly suggest the importance of KCAI’s photography program. These artists have significantly helped shape our collective understanding of the medium.”

The exhibit coincides with KCAI’s 125th anniversary celebration.

Other details can be found at the Nelson-Atkins Museum website.

The College of DuPage television program “Images” also highlighted Burk and Phillips in their November, 2010 show.

Watch the video here: