"Looking Through the Fence" from Winter in America -- the Photographs
2005
Lightjet Print
Made in Collaboration with Kambui Olujimi
"Lawrence Watching" from Winter in America -- the Photographs
2005
Lightjet Print
Made in Collaboration with Kambui Olujimi
"Bleach and Glow 1975/2008" from Unbranded
Digital C-Print
Variable
"The Mandingo of Sandwiches 1977/2007" from Unbranded
Digital C-Print
Variable
"Absolute Power" from B(r)anded
2003
Light Box
30" x 40"
also: Inkjet on Canvas
"Branded Head" from B(r)anded
2003
Lightjet Print
Variable
Something I need to try to do more often is not look forward to things, because I am often very surprised when I am unexcited for something (at least as far as these artist talks go). As a pre-lecture ritual, I look up the artist's work and try to "get it" on my own first, and in this case I didn't "get it". To an extent I suppose I did, but overall I was a little confused. How was this any different than what I've seen on this subject before? After the lecture I can say this, it's clever. Also, I was thrilled that he began with his roots as an artist. Ashleigh and I have discussed on several occasions how unfortunate it is that our visiting artists often pass over their early works. Great artists don't just happen, they have to come from somewhere. How did you get from point A to point B? Thomas did this, and it was very interesting to see how his ideas flowed into each other and grew off of each other naturally, almost effortlessly it seemed.
The work that resonated most with me was that of the frames and framing. The "indecisive moment" that he spoke of is something that I very much believe in and is something that I have always wanted to play with. The first artist that I can think of with that in mind is Rineke Dijkstra with her deadpan portraits, waiting until the subject is completely disarmed before snapping the picture. Thomas also mentioned how the frame as a physical object can alter how we see a person -- a guilded frame for glory, unfinished wood for salt-of-the earth.
I took a lot away from this lecture, and it may have been one of the most beneficial lectures that I have attended in my college career. I hope that I'll be able to see him lecture again sometime.
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