Mayumi Terada’s work usually doesn’t do much for me, but I did like the sink that doubles as a kleenex box (above). Mayumi Terada, Kitchen Sink, 2004, gelatin silver print 29 x 39 3/4 inches, Robert Miller Gallery
Let’s face it, row upon row of flat, representational images becomes really tedious quickly. Which is to say, you have to be a huge photo nerd to enjoy the AiPAD fair (The Association of International Photography Art Dealers), now open at the Park Armory through Sunday. I spent most of my time at yesterday’s press preview circling the space, hoping this AiPAD’s “story” would reveal itself at some point. To be perfectly honest, I’m not sure it ever did, but I did come up with a few observations so I’ll run through them below.
Massimo Vitali, Benicassim Beach, Spain, 2007, at Bonni Benrubi Gallery, photograph AFC
I’d gladly see a Polaroid or two over art fair staple, Massimo Vitali. There’s a limit to the number of aerial shots of beaches we need to see, and this artist exceeded them a while ago. Notably, I saw no Polaroids at AiPAD (though apparently there were tons), which saddened me, since they would have at the very least, provided a break from the monotony of framed objects.
Detail from Gary Edwards Gallery’s collection of approximately 70 American salt print portraits titled “The Face of America”, 1850. 1840-1860
Gary Edwards Gallery offers a diverse range of poorly composed and cheesy vintage photographs, the piece above, uncharacteristically sophisticated relative to the rest of the booth. Part of a larger series of mostly forgettable works, this piece charmingly places the cut out heads of people on top tiny doll clothes. It’s nothing we haven’t seen before of course — I just like knowing that this practice began as early as 1840.
Alec Soth, Weinstein Gallery
Clearly the best booth at the fair, Weinstein Gallery presents a cohesive show of Soth’s latest work. Unlike many other booths, it wasn’t grossly over hung, nor was I busy asking myself questions about how his subjects might have been directed. They aren’t. (Related)
Laura Letinsky at Yancey Richardson.
I can’t say I haven’t seen better from Laura Letinsky. I guess this is why people say good collectors have patience; they wait until the better work becomes available.
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I’m going to miss the show unfortunately, thanks for posting some highlights although I really only like the Letinskey.
I’m going to miss the show unfortunately, thanks for posting some highlights although I really only like the Letinskey.
Lets be honest, it was really only ever about the Letinsky and the Soth to begin with. I guess Soth too has shot better, but I still think this is a really nice group. The head shot on the left maybe a bit too fashion magazine for my tastes, but it does balance out the photography of mid-west life, which is, well, ubiquitous.
Lets be honest, it was really only ever about the Letinsky and the Soth to begin with. I guess Soth too has shot better, but I still think this is a really nice group. The head shot on the left maybe a bit too fashion magazine for my tastes, but it does balance out the photography of mid-west life, which is, well, ubiquitous.
I dig the faceofamerica1 piece. Not so much the rest. However, the great blog title makes up for it. Cheers!
I dig the faceofamerica1 piece. Not so much the rest. However, the great blog title makes up for it. Cheers!
You saw no polaroids??? How did you miss the 2 entire walls of Andre Kertesz polaroids??
Silverstein had a huge wall of Kertesz Polaroids..actually it was right next to the Bonni Benrubi gallery booth!!
Plus there were a few Large Chuck Close polaroids around as well.
Sadly.. I thought the new Soth magazine work was his “lightest” to date…Alec is super nice & was a great blogger, but I just wonder if his 5 minutes of fame have past already?
You saw no polaroids??? How did you miss the 2 entire walls of Andre Kertesz polaroids??
Silverstein had a huge wall of Kertesz Polaroids..actually it was right next to the Bonni Benrubi gallery booth!!
Plus there were a few Large Chuck Close polaroids around as well.
Sadly.. I thought the new Soth magazine work was his “lightest” to date…Alec is super nice & was a great blogger, but I just wonder if his 5 minutes of fame have past already?
You saw no polaroids??? How did you miss the 2 entire walls of Andre Kertesz polaroids??
Silverstein had a huge wall of Kertesz Polaroids..actually it was right next to the Bonni Benrubi gallery booth!!
Plus there were a few Large Chuck Close polaroids around as well.
Sadly.. I thought the new Soth magazine work was his “lightest” to date…Alec is super nice & was a great blogger, but I just wonder if his 5 minutes of fame have past already?
You saw no polaroids??? How did you miss the 2 entire walls of Andre Kertesz polaroids??
Silverstein had a huge wall of Kertesz Polaroids..actually it was right next to the Bonni Benrubi gallery booth!!
Plus there were a few Large Chuck Close polaroids around as well.
Sadly.. I thought the new Soth magazine work was his “lightest” to date…Alec is super nice & was a great blogger, but I just wonder if his 5 minutes of fame have past already?
You saw no polaroids??? How did you miss the 2 entire walls of Andre Kertesz polaroids??
Silverstein had a huge wall of Kertesz Polaroids..actually it was right next to the Bonni Benrubi gallery booth!!
Plus there were a few Large Chuck Close polaroids around as well.
Sadly.. I thought the new Soth magazine work was his “lightest” to date…Alec is super nice & was a great blogger, but I just wonder if his 5 minutes of fame have past already?
You saw no polaroids??? How did you miss the 2 entire walls of Andre Kertesz polaroids??
Silverstein had a huge wall of Kertesz Polaroids..actually it was right next to the Bonni Benrubi gallery booth!!
Plus there were a few Large Chuck Close polaroids around as well.
Sadly.. I thought the new Soth magazine work was his “lightest” to date…Alec is super nice & was a great blogger, but I just wonder if his 5 minutes of fame have past already?
By the way.. all the Polaroids I saw at AIPAD were framed!!
You know.. when you’re charging $2,000+ for a tiny Polaroid.. they may actually throw the frame in for free!!
By the way.. all the Polaroids I saw at AIPAD were framed!!
You know.. when you’re charging $2,000+ for a tiny Polaroid.. they may actually throw the frame in for free!!
By the way.. all the Polaroids I saw at AIPAD were framed!!
You know.. when you’re charging $2,000+ for a tiny Polaroid.. they may actually throw the frame in for free!!
By the way.. all the Polaroids I saw at AIPAD were framed!!
You know.. when you’re charging $2,000+ for a tiny Polaroid.. they may actually throw the frame in for free!!
You know I circled that fair like five times, and I’m embarrassed to say I still missed all of that! I really have a hard time picking anything out of that fair. It all looks the same to me – so much more so than at fairs like Pulse or the Armory.
Re Soth: It is weak compared to other series, but I liked the booth as a show space. Also, as far as the magazine series goes, as I recall there’s far weaker work in that group than what was showed, so at least some editing went on. I missed the high school girls, and say, Moujik IV, but most of the shots he took of people who were used to being shot seemed like throw aways to me. As a disclaimer I should say that I do my best to keep up with photography and am learning a lot in an effort to get caught up, but it’s not my area of expertise.
You know I circled that fair like five times, and I’m embarrassed to say I still missed all of that! I really have a hard time picking anything out of that fair. It all looks the same to me – so much more so than at fairs like Pulse or the Armory.
Re Soth: It is weak compared to other series, but I liked the booth as a show space. Also, as far as the magazine series goes, as I recall there’s far weaker work in that group than what was showed, so at least some editing went on. I missed the high school girls, and say, Moujik IV, but most of the shots he took of people who were used to being shot seemed like throw aways to me. As a disclaimer I should say that I do my best to keep up with photography and am learning a lot in an effort to get caught up, but it’s not my area of expertise.
You know I circled that fair like five times, and I’m embarrassed to say I still missed all of that! I really have a hard time picking anything out of that fair. It all looks the same to me – so much more so than at fairs like Pulse or the Armory.
Re Soth: It is weak compared to other series, but I liked the booth as a show space. Also, as far as the magazine series goes, as I recall there’s far weaker work in that group than what was showed, so at least some editing went on. I missed the high school girls, and say, Moujik IV, but most of the shots he took of people who were used to being shot seemed like throw aways to me. As a disclaimer I should say that I do my best to keep up with photography and am learning a lot in an effort to get caught up, but it’s not my area of expertise.
“…Alec is super nice & was a great blogger, but I just wonder if his 5 minutes of fame have past already?”
-mike @ MAO
You’re kidding us, right? Alec Soth is just getting started ; )
“…Alec is super nice & was a great blogger, but I just wonder if his 5 minutes of fame have past already?”
-mike @ MAO
You’re kidding us, right? Alec Soth is just getting started ; )
“…Alec is super nice & was a great blogger, but I just wonder if his 5 minutes of fame have past already?”
-mike @ MAO
You’re kidding us, right? Alec Soth is just getting started ; )
“…Alec is super nice & was a great blogger, but I just wonder if his 5 minutes of fame have past already?”
-mike @ MAO
You’re kidding us, right? Alec Soth is just getting started ; )
What a disappointment this show was. There were so few foreign galleries and the work was so conservative. 75% black & white from the usual suspects that are all dead and buried.
Most the color work were from contemporary super conceptual photographers like the Julie Blackmon’s and Lottie Davies’ of the world, which I personally can’t stand. And don’t ever get me started on Alec Soth.
Photo Miami during Art Basel blew this show away! Save your $25 for something better.
A Fan
What a disappointment this show was. There were so few foreign galleries and the work was so conservative. 75% black & white from the usual suspects that are all dead and buried.
Most the color work were from contemporary super conceptual photographers like the Julie Blackmon’s and Lottie Davies’ of the world, which I personally can’t stand. And don’t ever get me started on Alec Soth.
Photo Miami during Art Basel blew this show away! Save your $25 for something better.
A Fan
I think the polaroids were the best part of this.. I think there is something so special about polaroid photos because they are so innocent and blunt. One of my favorite pieces of art!
-Sylvia
Art Gallery Scottsdale
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