Kevin J. Miyazaki | 38

I just got my hands on this fantastic little book(let) by my man Kevin Miyazaki. It is a very wonderful little thing. 38 images of distinct and thoughtful observation. Kevin is one of my favorite people, photographers and all around inspiration. A true hero.

You can get one of these limited publications by clicking here, while you are at it have a look at Kevin's blog.

What I Did Today

I woke up earlier than usual
I got some coffee, first thing
I checked my email, etc
I rode in a race car, happy birthday to me
I covered my shift at work
I listened to some records
I had dinner with friends
I bought some beers
I listened to records
I drank some beer
I listened to records
I went to the bar and said hello to some folks
I had some drinks
I came home and listened to some records
I blogged before bed

Walking Pictures #3

Mailbox | Parking Lot | Stone Wall | Windmill, Milwaukee WI 2008 © jwl

I recently got some film processed from my recent walks around the neighborhood. Here are 4 of the newly found images.

Playing With My Toys

Neon, Interstate 94 (Oasis), Wisconsin 2008 © jwl

I keep a few small fixed lens 35mm cameras loaded and lying around. I love the little guys. I take one on every trip I go on, there's one on my desk, I keep one at the house and so on and so forth. With so many rolls going at once in these smaller cameras, I don't finish the rolls very quickly. I usually process a 35mm roll every 2-3 months and they are full of thoughtful visual moments. I enjoy seeing the images out of context from what I am looking at lately. It is like I am looking into my own mind, last month.

Walking Pictures #2

100,000 Parts, Milwaukee, WI 2008 © jwl

Today's walk was quite fruitful. The sun was a bit brighter that I had hoped for, but I worked through it and shot the better part of 2 rolls. Something that I have noticed about these working walks is that they become quite a social event. Strangers are engaging, possibly due to the curiosity about my camera. Friends are equally curious, but more understanding as to why I have the equipment with me. All in all, it becomes enlightening for me as a neighbor on top of the internal energy created by making art.

Walking Pictures #1

Garage, Milwaukee, WI 2008 © jwl

I've decided to take walks & make photographs. I don't spend much time photographing Milwaukee, so I thought it was time. Yesterday I walked for a couple of hours, tripod on shoulder, eyes a scanning. It was nice to see some neighbors and look carefully at my surroundings. I made this image on my block, literally 3 houses down. I don't know how I never took it before.

Can You See Me?

I was just sent an email from a friend describing my inability to blog well. So I thought I would go full on and blog raw. This is a photo of my bookshelf in my office. It is packed with things. I am going to describe these things and maybe you will get a clue about my mind right now.

Up on top are a couple of books that I have here in the office to read once in a while, during lunch or whenever.

Under those books is a pile of CoPA exhibition catalogs from last year, I was using them to send to possible jurors for this years show when I was Exhibitions Co Chair. I am no longer in that position, I should give the remaining books back.

Those black books are my journals, I buy a new one every year and start a new one every 18 months, sometimes less.

Various catalogue from shows that I have had work in, Nikon handbooks (probably outdated, but fun), A hardbound journal that a girl bought me 14 years ago that I haven't written in too much. I wonder how she is.

There's also a Dobyns-Bennett Student Directory that I bought, don't ask me why. Oh Yeah, DB was my high school in Tennessee. I see a box of stuff that I am saving for Bobby Spillman, whenever I see him again.

There are a few years worth of Photographer's Markets from the last couple years, sometimes I think I should try harder and be a "pro". There is also an ArtChicago 2004 catalogue up there, its good for gallery names etc.

I will be quick about the lower shelf, Robert Adams, Art & Fear, JB Jackson, Berger's Ways of Seeing, Joel Garreau, Bresson, Walker Evans biography, box of 8x10 sample prints for those galleries I talked about, Geography of Nowhere (awesome), a Lewis Mumford book that I adore, Writings about photography by photographers, badass skull votive candle, Terry Evans catalogue from the Field Museum (I love it), my favorite little clock that lost it's click, did I mention JB Jackson? He's the man.

Dead center you will find a Kodak Guide to 35mm Photography, I found that on the school bus in 7th grade. I took my mom's camera and the seed was sewn.

If nothing else, looking this hard and trying to describe it helps me see myself a little. Maybe you see me too.

To the left is a Tennessee flag to remind me and anyone else.

SHIFT | Lewis Koch

Drawing upon photography, sculpture and text, Koch calls attention to the often unspoken elements of everyday life. With SHIFT, he presents new color photography and assemblage weaving a subtle visual narrative that critiques the post-9/11 globalization of violence and endless war.

GALLERY NIGHT RECEPTION for SHIFT
APRIL 18, 2008 5P - 9P