Pittsburgh, PA

Window, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 2008 ©jwl

I spent some time in Pittsburgh today. This town is really cool. The architecture has been maintained in some places to resemble much of what it has always been. I hope to come back and spend time here again. Maybe I will make it a destination spot for a future photography venture.

For this trip I took some time to look at the city's South side neighborhoods. I found this window in an alley near Carson Street.

Tourist Pictures

Untitled, Niagra Falls, New York 2008 ©jwl

Here's a little something to look at from the road this week. I tried and tried to get a good angle of the falls that is different from all the other tourists. I think I found one. This wall painting was pretty great, fading and forgotten, but I had to stop and have a look.

Far East | Far Out

We have been traveling for the better part of the week. Right now I am in Old Weathersfield CT to attend a wedding. We have been here for a couple of days and I feel VERY relaxed and a bit out of touch. This little berg was founded in 1634 and still has much of the original architecture, lived in and intact. We are staying at a bed and breakfast and the word 'quaint' keeps coming up.

It has been raining constantly, so the idea of making photographs seems like a chore.

On the way here we made our way through Cleveland OH, Erie PA, Buffalo & Niagra Falls NY and we traversed a 2 lane through 80% of NY state. We saw the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, Niagra Falls, beautiful scenery & had the best apples we have ever tasted. All in all, pretty awesome trip. On the way back we are gonna see some PA and Pittsburgh.

I made a couple of new photographs along the way and have been working on them today. I will post those upon my return.

I think that the best part of the trip has been the lack of expectation as far as what we would see and the utter happiness with what we have found. Truly a vacation. When I get back I feel like I will be recharged and ready to tackle a lot of work on my desk.

Walking Pictures #8

Tree @ Church Circle, Kingsport, Tennessee 2008 ©jwl

It's been a while since I have posted any of my WALKING photos. In fact, it has been a while since I have walked in Milwaukee. This is one of my many tree images that keep sprouting up lately. As frivolous as I finde these photographs, I keep doing them and I keep getting encouraged to do so.

This was actually taken while on a walk in downtown Kingsport (my hometown) when I was home for the race last month. Every trip home I have to go to Pal's for some hot dogs and this time My mother, Josef and I took a stroll downtown to eat on church circle. It was a fun lunch and I cam back with this image.

Enjoy.

Breaking Up | Breaking Down

Many of you may know, some of you may not, but I have closed the gallery on Delaware Ave. It wasn't a failure financially and it wasn't a disappointment functionally or as an artistic venture. In fact, I feel that I had a very successful run and am looking forward to the next move.

The reason I am closing is that as an independent art venue in Milwaukee some of Mike Brenner's bullshit whining about the state of art in Milwaukee might be pointed my way, and I just won't be able to take it. I have worked way too hard to provide something for the art lovers and artists in Milwaukee for his accusations about my funding and management to jeopardize my self esteem. I am kidding, I am NOT closing due to anything Mike says or thinks or says without thinking.

The reason for the change is that I simply am moving my studio. For those who don't know, my studio was located in the back of my gallery. In fact, the reason the gallery opened in the first place was because I had the space. My new studio is much more fun and spacious and I look forward to working and playing in the new location, known affectionately as the WAR ROOM.

Something that has started to happen in the last couple of weeks of packing, moving, unloading, patching, sanding, painting, building and walking up stairs is that I have become to feel a little sad. Breaking up is hard to do. My time spent taking apart something I worked so hard to build is a very odd experience. I have fondness for the past, questions about the future and wonderment about what it will all lead to.

Look forward to what I have to offer. I promise you that if you had fun at any of my gallery events, you will be taken with what I am planning for '09. Stay tuned.....

Almost Home

After a week of back and forth and up and down, I am moved into my studio. There are a lot of odds and ends to be put away as well as a great deal of clean up left over at the old space, but I am essentially done with the loading and lifting end. Thanks to Dan and Jack for the help this week and thanks to Adam for the van.

I should be up and running after the weekend, so feel free to stop by sometime and see me.