david montes

I follow Oliver Wasow (http://www.oliverwasow.com/) on Facebook. His many posts comment on contemporary photography and its evolution in the digital era. Here are some screen shots of one recent thread.

A link to the Pinterest page he cites: http://pinterest.com/antmot/silver-halides/

scavenger hunt

I enjoyed the show. However, I went in expecting a common thread to link all of the artwork together and did not find one, which was a bit confusing and perhaps a little disappointing for me. Thankfully this did not keep me from really liking some of the pieces. My favorite work John McCracken’s Black Resin Painting 1. I found it fascinating because initially, it seems like such a basic piece. However, I found it to be very interactive and complex. I thought it was very interesting how it incorporated it’s space. Part of the beauty of the piece were the shadows that fell beneath it and along its vertical sides. I also appreciated how the thick coating of black resin included the viewer in the piece. I especially liked it because it was so different from what it seemed it should be. Another favorite work was Jack Goldstein’s Untitled wooden sculptures. I absolutely loved both aesthetically but was drawn to the one in which the white beam was precariously placed between two tall and narrow stacks of natural wooden beams. I didn’t notice it until I turned from the wall and it was right there in front of me. It evoked a strong feeling of nervousness from me. I appreciate any work of art that can impact me so much. The other piece, now that I think about it in comparison, was very secure. Perhaps I didn’t notice how safe I felt around it because I normally feel secure, not unstable (like the other piece). Bas Jan Ader’s I’m Too Sad to Tell You also elicited a strong emotion from me. One of sorrow. I believe it features the artist himself and I think it’s important to note how handsome the subject in the video is (or maybe it’s just me?). Maybe it speaks to societal norms that a crying man can be considered a beautiful video piece. However, the crying seemed so genuine that possibly the looks of crier weren’t so important after all, merely the act itself provided the beauty. The last piece I want to comment on is Allen Ruppersberg 100 MPH. I found it interesting that he used toy cars (and included the hands that guided them) for the entirety of the collection and then featured a real person on fire for the last photo. The piece transitions from a humorous to a horrific spectacle in 100 mph. It left me uncomfortable. But I really liked it.