BLOG about SEEING, surfing the paradigm shift

2008-08-23T13:20:00.000-07:00

It's been years since I posted on this blog--a lot has transpired. I'm now living in LA.

2004-05-25T18:21:00.000-07:00

Photographs of people basking in the sun in front of the New York Public Library--it was a great day...

2004-05-10T09:42:00.000-07:00

Saturday, in El Paso, Texas, I attended the Tumblewords Writing Series at the Armijo Center in South El Paso. Nancy Green was the featured writer--there were about 10 participants in the workshop. Nancy played a series of woodwind instruments, as she read her poetry. As she played her instruments, she encouraged us to write spontaneously, giving us about five minutes to write. Afterwards, we went around the room and shared what we wrote with each other.

This is the first poem I wrote:

What used to be open
Wide open spaces
The sky with no end

What used to be endless
Time with friends
The flow of conversation

What used to be expansive
Our minds wrapped around ideas
We were going to change the world

What used to be timeless
Readings transcending the bull
Everyone was there

Now we are all scattered
Spaces measured, bounded
We are here, there and inbetween

Nancy then played a short video on Mercedes Sosa, an Argentinian singer. Sosa spoke about people's needs to be true artists and to be free to create art and music that no one else but you can create. Afterwards we wrote some more, this is what I wrote:

You don't own anyone explanations
but to your work
You don't have to please anyone
but yourself
You decide when and how to create
on your own timeline
You have the right to rewrite, rethink, reword
as many times as you like
Your thoughts, your ideas
your dreams, your desires
Put down on paper, on canvas
on a computer screen, on napkins
Your words and your images are all yours
no one else's
Your voice, your vision
your irreverance, your passion
Your secrets, your lusts
you must write what no one dares to speak
Your being, your existance
you, here, your bravery

Everyone read their work quickly. Nancy encouraged us to write one more poem as she played her flute...

Driving by Reid Park
the golf concourse
mounds reminded me
of an indigenous playground
that, or a teletubbies set
golf balls looked
like sugar sprinkles on a sensuous landscape
the widdening bossom of mother nature
green, seductive, luring
but we were driving by
no sooner was it there, exposed
like a smile on a stranger's lips
no sooner was it gone
a memory, a whisper

After the Tumblewords Workshop, we met at Cafe Lumiere in Downtown El Paso for coffee. Outside the Cafe, I ran into Diane W. from EP Times and Kent P. from Albuquerque and we talked about Tucson...

2004-04-25T00:02:00.000-07:00

I attended the panel: "Documenting 9/11 Approaches and Challenges" moderated by Joy Kestenbaum and Claudia Hill. It was an awesome panel! Afterwards, I had dinner with Joy at the little deli next to the Roosevelt Hotel and suggested she and Claudia publish a book on the topic--it needs to be shared with the world. She told me they intended to publish a bibliography--a bibliography, I asked? What for, so a future doctoral student can write a book with it? I also suggested they at least write an article for Arts Documentation.

2004-04-21T19:45:00.000-07:00

My first blog post ever. Thank you, Miguel. You have really stimulated all kinds of creative thinking in the past week. I have learned a lot from you, and I regret that all the deafening activities of the past week encroached on my opportunity to show you more of "New York at Play," since you have been advertised as a photographer of people "at play!"

Everyone wants to get in touch with you - Fernando from the ICP and visionary of creating Philippines photography center, and Ben, Detroit devastation of downtown artist, and Mao, Mexican heart throb. You made the channels of communication with all of them somehow flower.

Ben and Johan want to do slide-slams in the loft by the Navy Yard every couple of months - next one is in June. Can you make it back, Miguel? If you cannot be here physically, you will be obliged to send data - 30 jpgs, sir, if you please.

Today, the very scholar-curator-artist you mentioned in your Friday post, Bernard "Bernie" Y., taught his first class of the third consecutive term of his photography/art/history performance extravaganza. His students have no idea how fortunate they are. Today he covered William Klein, Andy Warhol and Ray Johnson - an introduction to the "modern era," as it were. Transcendent...yeah, we do know these guys, but all of these elusive notions bubble up to the surface. Like the blink of an eye. The reading was from "Society of the Spectacle."

Thank goodness for the class, for Bernie Y., for picture books and people who peer into cameras, and Miguel, maverick blog-birthing librarian, and society-surfer.

Check out the neat photos from Photography Party I attended at Benjamin Hoy's loft in Brooklyn, New York during the ARLIS/NA Conference--thanks D. for taking me there...

2004-04-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is my first post from New York City. I'm on an computer terminal at the International Center for Photography, 1114 Ave of the Americas in Midtown Manhattan. Last night I was here for an opening of a photography exhibit titled "The Image-World," curated by Benard Yenelouis, April 16-June 11, 2004. Bernie teaches at ICP--he's a really bright guy--knows his photo history. It's an great exhibit. D. gave me a tour of the facilities (Library, darkrooms, digitization area, education area, etc.) -- nice. Earlier, I talked with Buzz H., ICP Director. I took his photograph in his office with a disposable camera.

Hmm, how am I enjoying New York. It's nice, different, interesting, a lot of people walking the streets. I'm staying at the Vanderbilt Y--all I can say is sparse conditions, many students, people from around the world but it's inexpensive. It will do for a few nights. Unfortunately, last evening after I arrived, I hoofed it from the Vanderbilt to ICP--the person at the desk told it was a few blocks away--in NYC, a few blocks could literally mean a mile or so. Right now it hurts, something awful, but hey--that's life. Last night I wanted to go out and get a sense of the NY nightlife but I was worn out and decided to sleep instead.

Spent my morning attending a workshop on Early Christian and Medieval Resources at the New York Public Library. Good introduction to the Index of Christian Art. Had hoped to go to several museums this afternoon but maybe it may be better to go back to the Y and rest before tonight's cocktail reception from 6-8 p.m. at the Roosevelt.

Checked my e-mail. Photographer Joseph R. sent me his cell number--I'd like to interview him--I'm writing an article on a Tucson-based photographer--I'd like to compare it to Joseph R.'s work. Joseph has a new book out--he's doing a signing at ICP on Saturday. D. also told me about a party in Brooklyn at 9 p.m. on Saturday. Rodriguez may be there--maybe I can interview him there--it not, later via phone, will work.

2004-04-07T14:52:00.000-07:00

This week, a student designer visiting from New Mexico State University, was engaged in research on photographers who use "low tech" in creating their work. I invited him and his wife to my office to show him where and how he could search for information on his topic.

I then posted the question on PHOTO-LIBS and asked list members whether they knew of other photographers who have created works using "low tech" means. I received a fine response from Bernard Yenelouis, photographer and scholar from the International Center for Photography. Bernard sent me a rich analysis of photographers throughout history who have used "low tech" techniques to create their work. Deirdre Donohue, the Librarian at ICP, forwarded the question to him and I'm glad she did. Dierdre is another person whom I have not met in person but we have worked together to organize a tour of the ICP for Photography Librarians and other interested individuals attending this year's conference. She's great!

I've sent the responses I received to the student and he was very thankful. He also wants to interview me for his paper. :-)

I'm reading an interesting article titled: "The Weariness of the Flesh, Reflections on the Life of the Mind in an Era of Abundance," by Paul B. Gandel, Richard N. Katz, and Susan E. Metros in the EDUCAUSE Review (March/Aprl 2004, pp. 40-51). The article describes how information has gone from a stage of scarcity to now an era of abundance and in the future it stands to go to a state of "nearly unimaginable abundance" and how the work of librarians needs to change to accommodate these changes. It includes some fascinating comments on "encouraging the development of personal digital repositories" that "would require a change in our strategic focus."