Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Artist Statement Anyone?


Always puzzling is the desire by those in creative arts academia to possess a photographer's ARTIST STATEMENT. The danger being that much of what makes an image powerful is neatly defused in the explanatory prose. And some of the fun, the mystical, is removed from the equation. I love the feeling when an image stirs up questions; when it taps into some great internal resonant current of wonder. How disappointing it is to read an over-worded statement of creative intention that reduces a potentially magic property into a thesaurus of junior college art school ho-hum. In this day and age too many things are over-explained. Look into why any of the great photographers why they did what they did and chances are they'll say that they just wanted to see what a particular scene looked like on film. (Of course, you are free to completely ignore my OWN artist statement, ahem.)

Friday, March 21, 2008

Taqueria Munoz

West Michigan. I got gasoline here years ago and now, caught in the cold of the lake effect snow belt, it is hot and spicy with tacos. (There's a little food/snack shop down the road from this place that serves the migrant worker community. In the back is a cool case of small-bottle Cokes that are made with cane sugar.)

Sometimes...

Sometimes, you just have to give in. And when you do it's like fine wine. Memories flood back, colors look brighter, music is everywhere. The sun shines. Then you shake hands with the clown, excuse yourself and say you'll be seeing him again someday. Far down the road. Another time. Maybe we'll have something to laugh about. Then. Down the road.

Saturday, March 1, 2008

Frozen Food Month

Did you know that March is National Frozen Food Month? Who knew? But it is. And to celebrate a local frozen food aisle pulled out all the stops and went tropical. From end cap to end cap it was fringe, hula girls and exotic animals. Some a little less lively than others. Picked up a box of frozen chicken patties in their honor.