My first portrait show was open to the public at the Round House Cafe on Monday, I went there with Maria, the curator of the show, to get to some coffee. One man looked at the photos and came up to me and said “who took these photos.” I did, I said.
“You?,” he said, astonished. “The dog guy.” I have to confess, that is not my favorite term of identification, but I’ve learned to be gracious about it. “Yes,” I said, “that’s me.” He then read the artist statement and turned to me again, “what, the politicians have abandoned rural life? Is that true?” I smiled once more, and said yes, I believe that is true.
A woman carrying a woven shoulder bag came up to me next, and she gave me a big hug. “I love these photos,” she said, “they are wonderful. I am an artist and I know some of these people, it is wonderful to see them hanging up on the cafe wall.”
I will be especially interested to see and hear how the subjects react to their portraits, people are already asking me if I will do it again. Not soon, this show cost $1,000 to mount. My wish for photography is that we find an inexpensive way to show it to people.
These photographs are all priced at $150, that is as low as we could get it, and if someone really wants a photograph and has no money, I’ve suggested that they contact me and we will try and figure out a way. My photographs are all free on the blog, and I love the idea of their accessibility.
I was in New York City last month and saw a portrait show where the cheapest photos were $1,200. Only for the rich.
When I got home, a reporter for the Post-Star, our regional newspaper called and interviewed me about the show in advance of the reception this coming Sunday at the Round House (2 to 4 p.m.). A photographer is coming to the show to photograph me Thursday morning.
The first responses have been heartwarming and enthusiastic, I am happy about it. I am especially grateful to Maria for working so hard on this, for encouraging me, and for hanging the show, for getting the frames and framing and matting the photographs. She is so good at so many things. She is so good, period. She even came with me on some of the shoots to help with the equipment, I could not possibly have had this show without her.
The portrait show is a convergence of many things and beliefs for me – my creativity, my love, my community, my photography. Writing is in so many ways about finding one’s voice, it is not about grammar and structure. This show is about photographing the unseen, it represents a step forward for me and for my idea that one can grow and change at any point in life.
It will run for at least six weeks. The reception is Sunday, September 18, 2 to 4 p.m.