Catch opening at Artspace on Friday, September 22, 2006
The Catch series that I have been blabbering about all over this blog has finally come off the hard drive and onto gallery walls! Sam helped me install eight prints into the Frable Gallery at
Artspace, six of which premiered at the opening Friday night.
El-Co Color Lab did a stellar job with the printing and laminating, I got a lot of compliments on the prints themselves. We took some pictures after the installation and before the opening, which are posted above.
On the west wall, I put up 3 pieces having to do with actions taken to enhance (?) physical appearance:
Shrimp 30"x60" laminated c-print (hard to see the nasty blister at this size)
Thorax 30"x60" laminated c-print
Reel 30"x60" laminated c-print (hard to see the fake boob inserts at this size)
On the east wall, I put up 2 pieces related to fairy tales and mythology, which encourage some false expectations when it comes to dating:
Adam's Fly 30"x60" laminated c-print
Damselfly 30"x60" laminated c-print
And on the two short walls opposite each other, I put up two caricitures of female sexuality, both of whom wear a feminine pink and present sweets. Indeed, they couldn't be more opposite:
Sucker 30"x60" laminated c-print
Midge 30"x60" laminated c-print
While I haven't read anything from the guest book yet, I got some interesting verbal responses from viewers at the opening on Friday. I observed smiles and smirks from people passing by as they looked on or read the
artist statement. Charlie Ponticello, one of my co-exhibitors, hired Rattlemouth to play later in the evening and members of Artspace graciously volunteered to maintain food for guests as well as a cash bar. In addition to local friends and family, my parents and father-in-law came to town for the opening as well as a former student from a digital class I taught at NVCC, I felt really honored that so many important people in my life drove from near and far away to lend their support and see the finished product.
The show will be up through October 22nd and the gallery is open from 12-4 Wednesday through Sunday so I invite you to stop by and check it out if you are in the neighborhood. Feel free to sign the guest book on site or leave me a comment here, I would love to hear your thoughts to incorporate into future openings and the continuation of the series. Here are some photos from the opening:
Sam and I with Sam's dad:
My folks in the crowd:
Me and my folks:
Maybe my bro-in-law-to-be, Brian, isn't the best subject for demonstrating scale?
I want to give a special thanks to Sam here for everything he has done to assist this project and support me as an artist. Sam helps me set up the studio lights, he frames and takes the photographs, takes them AGAIN when I say we have to do it over, and over... He is my expert on fly fishing, an honest voice when I need an opinion and all around my best friend and biggest fan. I wish he needed me for his art the way I need him but he has his process completley under control. I can never thank you enough, babe...
Kellie and Steve's Wedding on September 17, 2006
Kellie and Steve's wedding brought Sam back to his college days in Fells Point, a roudy and lively port area of Baltimore, MD where sailors of old regained their land legs over a pint. Both the ceremony and reception took place at the Admiral Fell Inn at the very end of the point, just across the street from the pier. A reggae festival in progess drew crowds of tourists which flooded the many bars, restaurants and chachka shops (as Polish residents may call them) lining the streets.
The bustle below couldn't be heard on the fifth floor where an amazing red chuppah that Kellie designed and constructed herself stood before the intimate group of 40 family members and friends who witnessed their wedding as the sun set. After the ceremony we caught the very last light of dusk to take some amazing pics of Kellie and Steve on the pier.
It was a pleasure working with the Jacobs family once again and we extend a warm congratulations to Kellie and Steve, we hope that Kellie survived the plane ride and that you are both enjoying your time in Italy. We thought Sondre Lerche's "Night and Day" would be fitting tune for
your slideshow of our favorites, showcasing the transformation of the city from day to night.
To be automatically notified when all of Kellie and Steve's pictures are available for viewing,
click here.
Ryan and Lane's E-Session on September 16, 2006
We met up with Ryan and Lane on the National Mall in Washington DC on Saturday morning to take some engagement shots around the monuments. It was an overcast morning which was actually a lucky break: Ryan and Lane are really into black and white photography so flat lighting wasn't a big deal, giving us good visibility of all the Mall's attractions from the Capitol Building (where Ryan works) to the Lincoln Memorial (which Lane liked for photos).
It started to rain steadily midway through the session and our umbrella became a fortunate prop. As I said to Ryan, its actually refreshing to shoot in an unplanned or unideal circumstance sometimes because it forces you into a more creative approach. The umbrella, the tourists, the fine droplets of rain and reflections on marble surfaces made this one of our favorite e-sessions to date.
Ryan and Lane will be married at the First Baptist Church of Richmond with a reception at the Jefferson Hotel on January 27th of next year. We congratulate them again on their engagement and look forward to shooting for them very soon, it was great to get to know you both better.
Here's a slideshow with our favorites , we figure if you like Al Green you won't mind a little Bill Withers, it was a surprisingly lovely day ;)
January and Teddy's Wedding on September 10, 2006
One of my favorite moments was watching Teddy as January and her father stood at the opposite end of the aisle. When he turned to look at her, his jaw dropped and he uttered, "wow". My thoughts exactly.
January and Teddy were married in the gardens of the Blomendaal House at Lewis Ginter. It was a joyful celebration where the warmth of candlelight was reflected in everyone present. The event was infused with Ethiopian influence by way of dance and favors, which included small, messob like wicker baskets and Ethiopian currency wrapped in stylish Tiffany blue and chocolate colored boxes.
At the end of the evening J&T made their getaway in a gorgeous antique Lincoln Continental (its been a great season for sweet car shots). We followed them to the Jefferson Hotel, where we took a few pictures in the famous rotunda and on the grand staircase.
Congratulations to January and Teddy, we look forward to swapping wedding stories when you guys return!
Here's your slideshow and guests who would like to be notified by email when all the photos are available on line can
click here.
The Solecki Invitational on Friday/Sat September 8/9
Josh presents the "Solecki Invitational 2006" golf ball:
Poles pose with a pole:
Dad lines up for a drive:
Our buttons say "Give me a kiss" in Polish, mom and I must oblige:
Two goof balls amidst golf balls:
We headed up to my parents house in Maryland where they hosted the Solecki Invitational... a mini family reunion around a golf tournament. While Sam and I were unable to stay the whole weekend, we made it in time to take some pictures of the practice round and welcome dinner, as well as the golf meeting the next day. I'm hoping that family members will comment here to report winning scores/teams and other stories and adventures from Saturday.
We spend so much time documenting other people's families that I forgot how great it is to spend time with my own: we're lucky to belong to a very loveable tribe that knows how to have a good time and I appreciate them more and more with every passing year. Many thanks to my folks, the Zieziulas, and to Marie Schweitzer for all their work putting the weekend together from the food and drink to golf shirts and fun door prizes. A special thanks to the McPhersons too for housing family members, allowing all of us out-of-towners to bunk together in the same neighborhood.
So tell us what we missed! Who won?
Click here to see a slideshow of some golf and party pictures. Liz sent a link with some pictures too, to see those click
click here.
We can't wait for the next family sports event, perhaps bowling? Sto lat!
Beth and Mitch's Wedding on September 2, 2006
Ernesto may have crashed the rehearsal but was not invited to the wedding, which took place on the mild and sunny day following the storm. Beth and Mitch were married at Wren Chapel on William and Mary's campus under bright blue skies. We were lucky enough to meet Beth and Mitch through Andrea and Dan, whose wedding we shot on this exact weekend last year.
When we arrived at their reception at the Williamsburg Winery, we whisked the couple off to the vineyards to take a couple shots before they joined the cocktail hour. When Sam and I saw the evening hatch dancing in the light among the vines, we were practically giddy. Understandably, Beth and Mitch were not immediately convinced that a swarm of bugs in their picture was a GOOD thing but I promised Beth that it would look like magic. It wasn't just weather or flying insects that made Saturday magical, it was all about Beth, Mitch, and their family and friends.
To see a preview slideshow with our favorite shots of the day,
click here. If you would like to be automatically notified by email when the couple has made all of their pictures available for viewing,
click here. The pictures will be released to them by September 22nd, we lost power for a few days but we're working to get back on track!
