Syracuse Studio Visit

Photo courtesy Sonja Thomsen

Last Saturday I had the pleasure of hosting a studio visit at LMCC for Syracuse students. Doug Dubois, Yasser Aggour and Laura Heyman brought their bright and talented juniors, seniors and grad students to tour the studios. Myself and fellow SU alum, Latoya Ruby Frazier talked about our work and process along with fellow residents, Michael Paul Britto, Kenya (Robinson), Deana Lawson, Paul Sepuya, Elia Alba and Becca Albee. Thanks to all the artists who opened up their studios and shared their work and insight.

Summer Reading List

Haven't had a chance to sit and read by the pool or the beach this summer because of all the rain but I have bought a lot of great photography books recently. I drove up to the Center for Photography at Woodstock last month to hear Linda Connor speak and get my book signed. Her beautiful monograph Odyssey is published by Chronicle books. I haven't seen Linda since graduating from SFAI. Its always a pleasure to listen to her talk about work and it reminded me how much I miss those "double slide" lectures on the "Sacred and Profane".

Aperture's put out some amazing books lately. All the Days and Nights by Doug Dubois is beautiful and touching. Its an inspiration to me. I've been photographing my family now for the past 7 years, but Doug's been doing it since the 80's! The end result is a rich, powerful and wonderfully edited monograph. Sawdust Mountain is also a recent release from Aperture. I was lucky enough to get a sneak peak when i ran into Eirik in Syracuse in April. The finished product is stunning. Always a big fan of his work but still waiting for an exhibition/book of the Animal Holes?
And last but not least is Night/Shift by Lynn Saville. I love the way she captures light and color and the filmic quality of the images.
So maybe I haven't been reading a lot this summer but I have been looking at a lot of pictures and getting inspired.

SUrreal

Crashed Laura Heyman's Grad Critique Seminar, work by Colin Todd

                                                          Studio visit with Chris Gianunzio
Went up to Syracuse University last week to give a lecture and do studio visits. It was my first time back since i graduated in 2000.  I kept having so many weird flashbacks of my undergrad days. It was a surreal experience to be lecturing there and remembering all of the visiting artist's that I heard speak as a young art student and the profound effect it had on my development. I was really honored to be able to come back to campus in this capacity and meet with the students and talk about their work. I met so many talented and intelligent individuals whose work and process is a reflection of the quality of the photography department and program at Syracuse. It was great to catch up with my old professor Doug Dubois and spend some time getting to know Yasser Aggour, both of whom are an inspiration both artistically and for their dedicated teaching style.  Also got a chance to spend some time with my old friend Eirik Johnson, who was by chance, also doing studio visits and crits with Laura Heyman's class.

 

"To teach is to learn again" - H.J. Brown

Big thanks to Doug, Yasser and Syracuse University for giving me this opportunity!