Walking Pictures #22

Alcala's Sign, Chicago IL 2009 © jwl

I spent the day in Chicago yesterday. We wandered to some fun spots. A little shopping, some snacking and a dinner party with fiends. This horse is outside of one of the best western apparel stores on the planet.

Walking Pictures #21

Back Gate, Milwaukee 2000 © jwl

I found a box of 10 year old 4x6 proofs and negatives recently. As I have gone through them to see what I need to keep or toss I have found some interesting images. I may have been working on my WALKING series for a lot longer than I thought. Seems that I have taken little observation photographs on all my walks, only recently did I make a specific category forthese images. Whatever it means, I like the idea of using old images in a new way.

CaseWorks #1

Owl Bank, Mlwaukee 2009 © jwl

I made this photo a couple of weeks ago as a beginning of what will be my CaseWorks installation in Memphis. I saved this little owl from his glass cage and now he lives in my studio.

(Accidental) Portrait #10

Kevin Miyazaki (Self-portrait), Milwaukee 2009 © KJM

Kevin Miyazaki stopped by the studio to pick up a copy of Southeastern View this week. While chatting over coffee, he decided to make some self-portraits with my new camera. I found the image striing and thought I'd share.

Kevin is a great guy to have on my team and I'm glad he took some time to visit.

New Look @ NIGHT

NIGHT 051, 2000/2009 © jwl

Now that the Southeastern View book is finished and in the ether, I have decided to get gung-ho on book 2. I have had some older work on the shelf for a few years and I think that producing a book of the material will be a good way to bookend the project.

Interestingly, as I have been scanning the NIGHT work, I have been finding forgotten images and stances in the work. The pieces that I had previously finished have a very formal and quiet look to them with a very straight on and minimal stance. As I go further upriver, into the source of that material, I am finding a very different kind of image.

I am pretty excited to get this work out there.

Portrait #9

Francisco Ramierez, Milwaukee 2009 © jwl

Francisco came by the WAR ROOM this weekend to employ my help on a project he was working on. While I had him, I employed his help for my portrait project.

Fran is a super-good dude. We have become friends rather quickly in the recent months and I can tell you I am glad for it. You can see what Fran is up to by looking at his blog. Fran and I have planned some future printmaking project as well as some curatorial endeavors down the road.

Walking Pictures #20

U S A, 2009 © jwl

I walked through the alley behind my studio on my way to get a haircut yesterday. I found this.

I love the pride of the patriotic and the fanatic. I find all of it fascinating. It also puts me in mind of a recent post by Kevin Miyazaki that I adore.

Walking Pictures #19

Crosswalk, Greenfield WI 2009 © jwl

I found this peculiar while I was walking into the pet store today.

Gallery Talk @ MIAD | Books On The Way

Installation view of Southeastern View @ the MIAD Perspectives Gallery

I had the pleasure, sort of, of giving a gallery talk @ MIAD yesterday. I say 'sort of' because I get a bit nervous when it comes to speaking in groups. That aside, it was a wonderful time. Students and members of the faculty came by for an informal quid pro quo about my Southeastern View work on view @ their Perspectives Gallery. I would like to thank Sonja, Larry, Robert, Aryn, John and everyone else who came out for the talk. I had a wonderful day.

When I returned to the studio, I found the proof of my Southeastern View book. Unfortunately I didn't get it in time to pass around the talk. Whatever the case. I ordered the first printing batch of the book today. Gimme a holler if you would like to lay your hands on one.