you can flood the city, fill the path tunnels with water, ruin almost everyones weekend without power but art walks go on. mary and i will be showing our work at the hoboken nj art walk and studio tour at the Monroe Center, 720 Monroe Street, Hoboken NJ on Sunday November 18, 2012 from noon to 6pm.
if you’re in the neighborhood do stop by and say hello.
be there or be square
jene
Blue Dancer
along with it’s partner
Orange Dancer
sometimes in these types of events not everything goes according to plans but i hope this one does. if you’re in New York City and want to see some of the local artist do download the map, i hope there is a map, and stop by to meet the us.
Press release:
The 4th Annual Hell’s Kitchen Artists in Studio Tours Friday May 18 – Sunday May 20, 2012.
Fourth time’s the charm…
Is it the fourth year already? Call it tradition, call it grass-roots social movement, call it a permeating underground murmur waiting to erupt but it is a undeniably a standout fact – the independent & FREE Hell’s Kitchen arts festival has established itself as one of New York’s prominent art and social events and is here to stay.
Last year, for three frivolous entrancing days at 95 venues thousands of artists, performers and revelers opened their studios, businesses, clubs and have taken to the streets; With the support of gutsy local venues and a few visionary and generous finance and realty staples the vision thrived and gotten stronger and bigger.
A new audacious voice has been presented: At The Edge – A sprightly magazine pulsating and overflowing with vivaciously blunt, refreshingly outspoken, scorchingly authentic artistic and literary expression in all forms and colors, giving a stage to dozens of the neighborhood’s (and the city’s) diverse bubbly creative forces & leading art establishments.
This year’s event will celebrate a second issue – printed and circulated in over 10,000 copies to avid readers around Hell’s Kitchen, midtown, downtown, & selected hot Brooklyn ‘art-hoods’, it is a communal exclamation to be reckoned with.
We’re Gonna Set the Streets on Fire! (Not literally, except perhaps our stunning alumni fire and belly dancer….)
Smack in the heart of Manhattan, right beside the indulgent Chelsea, the fizzy debauched theater district and the financial dynamo of midtown, another juicy slice of the city dares you to take an outrageous bite.
The Fourth Annual Hell’s Kitchen Artist Studio Tour is a free event taking place May 18th – 20th where scores of artists and performers open their homes, galleries, theaters, businesses and studios (their hearts also) for a self-guided and mapped tour. Participating artists consist of individuals with well-established and honored careers, as well as emerging artists striving to get their voice out there and make their mark.
At this three day unruly, insatiable Art Bacchanalia all art forms and mediums will be represented, including fine art, sculpture, music, fashion, photography, theater, dance, comedy, body painting, public spectacle and much more.
With no less than six Parties featuring continual entertainment of all genres! For 30 hours over 3 nights, major & informal after parties each evening, exhibiting some raw and refined local vibrant talent at venues from classy lounges to murky speakeasies to intimate Art salons, patrons and visitors are sure to be tickled with just the right thing to satisfy their taste and fancy.
Wealth of artists to tantalize your senses.
Batteries of blazing artists, from raging social commentators to crisp impressionists to sly, depraved surrealists – a singled out individual from this Armada of talent candy will undoubtedly hit your sweet spot.
We know you get it; give us a call for more sizzling inside details (galleries and venues maps, artists’ profiles), spread the word, pick up an issue, come impulsively knocking by – we’re here for this city and its people, we know you won’t leave us hanging.
it’s always interesting to look back through my archives, this look back instigated by contact with a model i had worked with in 2006 where i had asked her if she wanted copies of stuff we had done together. i had sent her lo-rez copies then but she never added them to her portfolio. i guess i was a little miffed that someone wouldn’t use my images, big ego talking here. but she was paid for her work and a couple of images from the session i loved.
sunrise
this is one of our favs. but as each moment of our lives is different, looking back i found other images i had never selected for one reason or the other. she and i did two session, this image is from the first session done in my studio as is the one below.
loving you
while the other images were done in a bigger studio along with a male modern dancer. mia isn’t a dancer per-say but moves very well and really gets what i am trying to do. she’s an experienced model, mostly fashion then, she was working at FIT then so working with me was something different, at least i like to think so. but models are models and work is work every penny helps. as i’ve been trained over the years is, do the work never refuse a job as long as you’re not being exploited it all goes into supporting me in my art.
now when i am shooting dancers i always try to keep the whole body in frame and in focus, they seem to prefer that so when viewing the shoot i’ll pass over images that don’t quite make that grade. tis a shame because there are a lot of fine images that i don’t pull out into daylight. so with that i’ll post a couple here that i passed up the first time. some are outstanding i think some……………..well i’ll let you decide if you like them or not.
screaming angel
woman in red veil
both of these images have made my portfolio and this one looks spectacular in print. now i’ll post the overlooked images, well maybe they are not overlooked but as a second or third looking at seem more interesting.
red dress
i didn’t really like her hair here but it works with the image
graceful line
so now these worked as a dance image so on to the not so perfect images.at least i managed to keep everything in frame.
veiled nude dancer
this images works as a dancer and as a nude having a nice body line along with the veil. the next image is footless but also a good line
a bit overexposed on the veil but love her line. the next one not sure i like the pubic hair but can always fix that in PS.
female nude jumping
i thought i had cropped it too close on top but when working with dancers it’s better to be too wide then too narrow but there is something i really like about this image. so there you have it the overlooked images but wait there is more of my favs.
double exposure
but it’s not really what i did
ghost
so this week i had the pleasure to enjoy working while i recover from a flu shot a week ago that i am just getting over, had some vick’s vapor rub put on my chest last night and feel much better this morning. so i’ll close with this image
snow white
if anyone would like to contact this model her portfolio is at http://www.modelmayhem.com/84543 but please respect her as she’s a wonderful person living in San Francisco Ca.
well that is all i have the energy to with about now, until next time
last week i met a dancer/choreographer Laura Ward/Octavia Cup Dance Theatre
through Linked-in about taking some pictures of her company. she replied that she was in rehearsals with a new piece ‘The Dreaming’ for The 15th Annual Fringenyc so we agreed to meet downtown at the rehearsal studio. it’s always interested to meet new people and begin working with them especially if none of us have expectations. this suits me fine as i never know what i’d be interested in either.
laura ward, octavia cup
as you can see i start off pretty normal just trying to get a feel of what laura’s work is all about. well today it’s not going to happen because only a few of the dancers are there and they are rehearsing only parts of. why not?
laura ward, octavia cup
as you can see this is a large space with mixed lighting sources which of me is always interesting. hey what are those funny shoes? ballet dancers………….. holy smokes i don’t usually run into these types of dancers.
laura ward, octavia cup
but i always like to see what would happen if i try this, so i turn towards the mirrors
laura ward & dancers
then back towards the window
dancer
lets try something different as the dance pieces are all different
so i attached my 580 flash with a grid attached for a couple of shots, sometimes the magic works sometimes it doesn’t.
laura and dancers
i am not sure i like this effect either or maybe i am just sick of using it. it really depends on the composition i guess.
another abstract experiment
laura ward
of all the images i took that day this is one of my favs and looking at the order i took them in it was one of the first so maybe i just need to take a fewer images in the beginning then go home.
most of the dancers i’ve worked with like my abstracts best yet i continue my people pleasing ways in trying to get good representational dance pictures. duh it’s not like i am being paid for this work, i do it because i love the art of dance and the ability of creating my own work.
laura’s octavia cup performances of ‘The Dreaming’are at the 4th Street Theater, 83 East 4th street on 8/13 again on 8/18-8/19, 8/21-8/22 and last performance 8/24. do check the fringe web site for specific time and place.
jene
this past saturday we were invited down to Dance Theater Workshop space to see this company by an old friend and collaborator who was performing as part of the company. it’s also nice to keep in touch with special people, to know they think of you and want to share their life/work.
Juan Michael Porter II 'BLUE' © jene youtt
what we found is a dance company who’s vision statement says
The vision of BalaSole Dance Company is to promote a balance in the field of concert dance where the general public can experience a dance concert filled with diversity and where artists are able to fully demonstrate their individual artistry.
balasole-dance-company
By building the general public’s sensitivity to the imbalances that exist in the field of concert dance, BalaSole Dance Company hopes to:
– Expand dance artists’ creative freedom and growth
– Improve multiethnic representation in dance companies
– Foster artistic and career mentorship of dance artists
– Engender artistic collaboration in dance companies
– Increase visibility for dance artists of all ages, shapes, and sizes
– Promote versatility of dance artists in varied dance styles
– Elevate compensation of many dance artists to an appropriate level
– Increase outlets for emerging dance artists to learn from
professional dance artists
– Provide dance artists a vehicle by which to showcase their full
artistic talents and identity to other companies for potential
employment
– Make the art of dance accessible to everyone
– Broaden opportunities for male and female dance artists to become
soloists
– Encourage greater male viewership, interest, and participation in
concert dance
http://www.balasoledance.org/
if you’re a modern dancer who is looking for a company to join i would suggest this one. they come in all sizes, shapes, colors and sexes. go to their web site and click on auditions for the next opportunity to join.
the program we saw was a series of short solo pieces very well done with technical virtuosity, creativity and humor. here is a link to one reviewers blog highlighting each dancer http://oberon481.typepad.com/oberons_grove/2011/07/balasole-dance-company-dtw.html and an additional page at http://oberon481.typepad.com/oberons_grove/2011/07/balasole-gallery.html
so i’d suggest keeping an eye out for this highly creative dance company. living here in this city it’s so hard keeping on top of interesting things to do as we are almost overloaded. i know i am. but we are a social group of living organisms so what better place to socialize than in a cool theater watching young talent grow.
can life be better than that?
jene
Looking for artists to rent subsidized space in Long Island City!
Long and short term rental opportunities now available.
25 – 25 44th Drive: 5,000 sq. ft. bank building with tile floors, lots of large windows, an outdoor performance area and possible gallery, event, and studio spaces.
26 – 09 Jackson Ave: 4,500 sq. ft., 3 levels. Top floor with great natural light and wood flooring; ground floor with high ceilings, wood floors and a garage door entrance; basement studio space.
26 – 19 Jackson Ave: 4,500 sq ft. of unobstructed space with high ceilings, garage door and concrete floors – ideal for film shoots and rehearsals.
Highlights of chashama blocka:
# Plans for future growth from 3 to 10 spaces
# Spaces available through 2014
# On-Site Parking
If you are interested in finding out more about chashama’s new
LIC spaces, please contact: janusz@chashama.org
Chashama, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, adopts temporarily vacant commercial properties that are donated by their owners and converts them into spaces available for artists to work and/or present their art. Chashama then re-grants these spaces to artists of all stripes, and cultural organizations at free or heavily subsidized rates. In a city of exorbitant rents and voracious gentrification, chashama is committed to literally opening doors for artists by providing them with the rarest commodity in New York City: affordable space. www.chashama.org
and it doesn’t help that i find people to help me. last week i met admiral and interviewed her for an upcoming project of mine and we agreed to explore a session to see what happens, that’s one of the ways i work not really having a vision of where i’ll wind up at the end of the day, well since it’s art and most of art is a failure but it’s in the trying and failing that the real art is created. i am really not sure what’s going on here but we started doing some dance images and worked our way in or out, depending on ones outlook into some of the other images.
a simple dance image
with costume changes
nude dancer in dressing grown
i am using mixed lighting sources with strobes as the main light but adding some mr 16’s 50w units which add an awfully lot of light, i threw some color on them just of fun.
nude female dancer in dressing grown
and another costume change, well since she’s almost nude to begin with it doesn’t take long to slip from one thing to another.
female nude
odd color on that mr 16 very green and it’s a 3200 kelvin color temp, don’t remember what color it was but if you’re interested i’ll try and look it up.
female nude
what i liked about admiral during our interview was her,’ yes lets try that.’ she saw a couple of my gold face female images and was really up for trying that.
christmas past
don’t you just love the color of her hair?
we have a friend and gallery owner who’s always said he is looking for ‘edgy’ work. define edgy was always our reaction, but what he means is work that’s a bit different but sells. i look at this session and wonder what kind of person would want to look at this image everyday or this one?
bound female nude with gold face
now if you look closely, well you can because your eyes are open and not like the model whom i seem to have caught with her eyes closed all day. i remember shoot with a young japanese model doing some fashion, yea i know didn’t think i had it in me did you, neither did i, but she was always looking down. when i mentioned this to her she said,’ gee my teacher tells me the same thing.’ duh……….. but here it sort of works
this is all part of my non – communication series i am trying to find people to work on. interested ? contact me.
if you’re interested in working with me on any project of mine or have a suggestion of your own drop me a line as i am always interested in meeting interesting people
jene
another review of a photographic book i bought when we saw the Graham company in their last New York season this past year. Acts of light, Martha Graham in the 21st Century shows a completely different side to Martha’s work. the photography is excellent done by John Deane and text by Nan Deane Cano. I do recommend this book to anyone who loves dance. it’s a worthy one to have laying around on your coffee table, actually both books are wonderful.
book cover
what separates this book from Barbara Morgans lovely B&W book on almost the same subject is color for obvious but the sharing from the dancers point of character. what they are thinking about the different roles they are asked to perform some directly from Martha herself and some maybe from other dancers. this is what i loved about the book, it gave me another dimension on Martha’s work.
book cover
what is so exciting to me about this book are the pictures of dancers i knew or have worked on their creations. Valerie Bettis, Anna Sokolow, Jose Limon then Merc Cunningham, Doris Humphrey, Charles Weidman and Martha Graham herself but also included are pictures of Dr. Daietz Teitaro Suzuki along with other personal work.
now my images of Martha were more like the cover on Barbara’s book but what i see in Acts of Light are costumes much different than the fully covered ones in Morgan’s book. while there is nothing outrageous in either book, also no nude female forms while the men have much less clothing on. i’ve often wondered how female dancers have seen themselves over the years even now.
i love the well toned human form but cringe looking at how my body has develpoed a mind of it’s own these days. who is that person looking back from the mirror at me. but then again i don’t spend hours in dance class nor wrestling with a bare, more like a bag of potato chips.
this has been a busy week for us getting out of the house of memories, i guess soon we’ll stop looking down for shadow whom we called ‘fur trap’, as she would be waiting outside any closed-door for us to reappear. she would stick her nose in the opening and sniff to check if we were in there. it will take some time for us to adjust to being a single couple.
of course what we are doing could be done with shadow here, going to movies, gallery openings, plays and dinners. to say nothing of making travel plans which we haven’t really begun, panama is weighing heavily on me getting back to my book project and mary is going off to europe in april. but we haven’t made any travel plans yet other than getting the xr 7 on the road and driving cross-country.
1970 xr 7 restore
it’s so nice to have someone in my life who just by being there adds another dimension, making my life so much fuller. a positive force to negate my negative vibes.
so catching up with our social life we saw ‘Black Swan‘ the only current movie up for an academy award. friends have said it was so cool but i like my dance films closer to reality. maybe its a reflection of the times that things need to be blown up larger than life, needing more twist and turns,complications in order to hold this gen x generation’s attention.
i wasn’t thrilled with the movie, while i did connect with parts of the characters it never connected with the whole. reading Alstair Macauly ‘many faces of Black Swan deconstructed‘ in the NYTimes article on the movie didn’t help me any.
but hey i’ve aways thought Robert Altman’s movie Company the best dance company movie i’ve even seen, yes i know the hooky dance performance in thunder & lighting was a bit over the top but lovely anyways. A scene of a Lar Lubovitch pas de deux “My Funny Valentine” in a thunderstorm is no doubt meant to evoke deep, elegiac emotion with sturm-und-drang. The dancers forge on as rain and storm-detritus blow onto the stage. says dance magazine review. but whats a movie without some drama?
then we move on to an actual live dance performance at city center february 16 thru 20 called Flamingo Hoy which i urge you to see. now if i actually understood the moves and language of this dance form i might have gotten more than an evening’s entertainment but it’s director Carlos Saura, one of Spain’s most prominent filmmakers who made one of my favorite dance movies Carmen see the utube excerpt or NYTimes review. maybe i really need to learn spanish. but having toured in the 70’s with maria alba dance company, i did learn something about the passion involved in the art form of flamingo.
Maria’s name is remembered with reverence here in new york. i remember talking to one of the flamingo dancers at ‘N’ a small tapas bar down in soho where on wednesday night you can catch a wonderful show in their small space, a real intimate experience. come on down and enjoy the show sit at the bar or one of the tables and watch the performance.
flamenco dancers at N
talk about intimate
flamenco dancer
flamenco dancers at N
last night we when down to a Adorama’s presentation by flash guru Joe McNally before heading out to dinner at Wallse located on the past site of Mother Courage, the first feminist restaurant in new york. i had a friend who managed the place who loved my son, when ever she saw him coming home from school she would give him a big hug. old neighborhood full of memories. after all it was my birthday and i decided to go to Joe’s presentation maybe even learn something while trying something new to eat.
yes we did learn something, buy more equipment, get three assistants, and buy more equipment. well we do have each other, a big help on our shoots, if we could only get the right numbers to appear on our lottery tickets we could get more equipment. there’s an idea for another Adorama workshop ” how to pick a winning lottery number for fun and profit.” are you listening helen?
tonight we are in for a sensual experience going to Knickerbocker bar & grill for dinner and jazz, my all time favorite steak house. one never knows how long we ‘ll walk on this earth, nor be buried underneath it, and to give up a lovely experience shared with someone who loves you seems to be a shame. there may never come tomorrow so why wait? biting down on their steak is almost as good as biting on mary’s ………………………opps.
but i’ve got to get back to work, what is writing this? yes it to is a lot of work for me to communicate with people by writing actual words on almost paper is something that’s taken me awhile to feel comfortable with. that’s where journaling has helped. so here are some non edited images from the other day.
woman on couch in black lingerie
and for the shoe fetish people
black Patten leather pumps
this is some job i’ve got, now if i could only parlay this into a money-making effort it might be more fun, oh well
mauve bra and panties with black stockings
oh it’s not too late to visit the George Segal Gallery at Montclair University as this is the last weekend to see mary’s and my prints during Art Connections 7 finally week. why don’t you stop by, hey maybe even buy something.
more of my adventures latter
jene
the George Segal Gallery at The Montclair State University once again along with, Mary Durante Wehrhahn and i Jene Youtt cordially invites you and your guest to our special art exhibition and sale. Opening reception Sunday January 23, 2011, 2:00pm -5:00pm, 1 Normal Ave, Montclair, NJ 07043
* Access from the 4th floor of the Red Hawk Deck parking area adjacent to the Alexander Kasser Theater
Exhibition dates: January 18 – February 19, 2011. Gallery hours: tue,wed,fri & sat 10a to 5pm, thru 12:30p to 7:30p.
973 655 3382 / montclair.edu/segalgallery
we, mary & i, both have work showing this year. we would be more than happy to chat about our artistic styles and philosophy over a glass or two of wine. in the past we’ve met some interesting artist and photographers from all over here and they have met us.
i know this is during the green bay packer / chicago bears playoff game, and i’ve no idea what these college people are thinking when they plan these events, but hey maybe you don’t follow football and want to meet us. cool
Golden
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