BRIAN DAVID STEVENS : Those Who Survive

" THEY THAT ARE LEFT... "
  Remembrance Portraits : by Brian David Stevens

All pictures taken on Armistice Day 2002 - 2012 in the United Kingdom a ten year project by Brian David Stevens

I saw this quote in The NYT today " The past is never dead. It's not even past." William Faulkner. These words reflect so well how memory keeps old friends, family and comrades alive.

I had to correct , Sorry about getting your name wrong again Brian,for me your images are hard to forget. Someone wrote that there is something in the eyes, stories are being told.

" They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them..."

from Laurence Binyon's 'The Fallen' (first published in The Times, 21st September 1914)

Jim Naughten : Re-enactors

JIM NAUGHTEN : RE-ENACTORS    

                                       

U.S. Master Sargent

  Evacuee with Mickey Mouse Gas Mask (2008) 

                       

Norland Panzer Grenadier (2008)

Evacuee Girl in Blue Coat (2008)

Red Cross Nurse (2008)

Civilian with Black Fox Fur (2008)

Soviet Cossack (2008)

Corporal, German Navy (2008

                          

Young Solider (2008)

Red Cross Panzer Grenadier Medic

The idea about people who reenact famous periods in time intrigue me .Maybe it  explains my fascination with costume dramas. Anderson Scott Civil War images with their irony and tweaking of expectation is one way to deal with the power of recreating the moment.Then there is Jim Naughten's portraits " In this body of    work, Naughten has photographed some of the thousands of people, who step out of their daily lives to transform into historical characters from the First and  Second World Wars and re-enact battles and drills. "                                    

These images stand in direct contrast to the work of Mr Scott who behind the scene images creates a wry smile . Naughten's 2008-2010 images Inspired by Richard Avedon’s In The American West, has stripped away the context of the participants, heightening the sense of artifice and, through photographic technique, sublimated his subjects.These prints that include tanks and battle scenes—chromatically echo photographs of the past, yet are undoubtedly contemporary. 

At the moment I am fascinated about the idea of cataloging types of faces and people.Do the eyes reveal the soul or is it a small undetectable gesture that give these assorted characters their humanity.  

  

WHISTLING DIXIE

Go+See
Anderson Scott : Whistling Dixie
a new book
published by Columbia College Chicago Press
available nation wide and Amazon.com

     all Images ©Anderson Scott, Columbia Press


I first became aware of Whistling Dixie in late 2007.When Anderson Scott showed me a portfolio that he had been working on and asked  my opinion, much to my surprise and maybe his too, I loved the images and kept up with the project over the years it took to get this interesting and timely body of work published.

A note to artists/photographers if you believe,in your project, then see it through.

I learned a lot about re-enactors.but what I found compelling is the tension of capturing history, spectacle and the  ritual of a war long past. The Civil War is considered to be the rebirth of America. We benefited from the technological advances in photography which were all made within 50 years  and recorded this great event.I sometime think, this war, photography and the Industrial Revolutions were part of the catalyst for the 20th century

I am southern so I can understand the struggle some may have with this book.In fact what these photographs represent is just an essay about a period of history and trying to  remember it. What fascinates me are the young who are trying to remember their ancestors reality and find their own
in the digital age.

I am not adding captions until later.I will ask that you look at and read these images there are many details that you should discover for yourself

One or two notes when  I was art director and editor of SXSE magazine the first 9 issues, Andersen Scott and I spoke and this was one of the first artists chosen for the publication in the premier issue in 2011.

There will be a book signing and artist talk at
A Novel Experience March 23 at 6:30pm
426 Thomaston Street, Zebulon, GA.
(770) 567-1103

In Brooklyn New York : Go + See

Go+See

Jim Naughten : Conflict and Costume
March 14 - May 4 2013
KLOMPCHING  Gallery
111 Front Street 
New York, New York

Woman in Yellow Dress (2012) 

Herero Woman in Pattern Dress (2012) 

Herero Woman in Patchwork Dress (2012)

Herero Cavalry Cadets (2012) 

Herero Soldier in Khaki (2012)

Herero Man with Cow's Head (2012

Herero Woman in Blue Dress (2012)

Herero Cadet in Kilt (2012)

     Herero Woman in Orange Dress (2012)     

All Images ©Jim Naughten / courtesy of Klompching Gallery, New York City

Lately, I have thought a lot about one of the most useful aspects of photography .It is so basic we sometime take it for granted ,photography shows us worlds we do not know and catalog them for future generations to see.These elegant images by Jim Naughten does just that. in a manner that brought to my mind two diverse cultural markers the Gee's Bend Alabama quilt makers and the Bechers. The vast plain of Namibia with it bright white light might as well be seamless paper in a studio with specimens placed front and center,yet these photographs and the accompanying   book tells us a story about traditions and survival.                                                                                                                         

All I can say is be brave like I was this past weekend.Go to Brooklyn and see what is at  Klompching Gallery  

So it has started again

What a strange and good feeling.this morning I decide to come back to my blog page after six months.It has never been far from my mind ,but I needed a break and also for the past year I felt I would have used it for a sad purpose.That being said I am ready to start again

There is this funny quote" If I  am traveling for more than 30 minutes,I should be in Paris "
I have sometimes used those words as an excuse not to leave home for many years or to avoid
the outer-boros Today I found out I could be in Brooklyn in less than 25.I t was a task to walk over
to 111 Front Street and climb stairs which to be honest made me feel that there was a good reason that the quote exists.

Why did I leave my home without a valise and iPod ?

To buy a book, Conflict and Costume and to see an exhibition of Jim Naughten's new work
Conflict and Costume at the Klompching Gallery.

Herero Woman in Pattern Dress 2012

more to come

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