What’s happening in George’s Client’s world
Dan Nauman delivered his new sculpture, Diversion, to Edgewood Orchard Gallery in Door County last week. Before loading it into the truck we photographed the work at his shop. The work stands 88″ tall, 48″ wide, and 6″ deep.
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Leica R8/DMR, 60 mm Macro Elmarit
This morning Dan Nauman, of Bighorn Forge, picked up three prints to represent his Lynden Sculpture Garden Gate in a competition. I’d photographed the main west Gate for Dan back in early August of last year. Below – you can see the photographs Dan chose for the competition. You can see the rest of the shoot as well, including the east, exit gate here.
We had a wonderful conversation about art and artists, craft and craftspersons. The last couple times Dan and I have been together we talked about the importance of exchanging ideas; talking to other artists in other mediums; critiques; etc. I’m currently reading Patti Smith’s Just Kids. I’m at the point in the book where she and Robert Mapplethorpe are living in the Chelsea Hotel – one of the artistic salons of the 50s, 60s, 70s – reminiscent of the Left Bank of Paris in the 20s – and reminding me of my own experiences in the 60s and 70s on the east side of Milwaukee.
Some many years ago I managed to get a couple salons together. A small group – a novelist, a poet, a couple singer-songwriters, a photographer – got together to sing, read, look at photographs. It was good fun. I’d like to do more like that. How about you?
As Dan walked out the door I asked him, “When, where and whom should we invite to the first artist’s salon of 2013?” And now I throw it out to you all – Want to get together with other “creatives?” Show and tell? Challenge one another? Let me know when and where you may like to do so. Let’s make 2013 a creative year of sharing.
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Leica R8/DMR, Various lenses
Ivanovic Law Offices will soon launch their new web site and I had the honor of providing some new photographs for the site. I’ll return when the finished signage is installed.
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Inspired by the Arts and Crafts movement, Dan Nauman created this, 43″ tall, Fireplace Tool Set using mild steel, copper and mica. Additional photographs of this piece can be seen here.
You can see more of Dan’s work here; and follow his blog here.
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Leica R8/DMR, 60 mm Macro Elmarit
Working with the Balzac Restaurant, Milwaukee, WI
Great food and spirits served in a casual, intimate setting.
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Leica R8/DMR, 100 mm Apo Macro Elmarit
Consider this: Men mine iron ore; smelt it; turn it into steel; form the steel into sheets; transform the sheets into heavy equipment. At each stage labor and resources add value to the ore. People then use the heavy equipment to transform the earth; plant and harvest food; process that food; transport that food to super markets where we pick it up and drive it back to our kitchens in our steel vehicles. When the heavy equipment is used up and no longer functions as intended it goes to the scrap yard; where men cut it up and smash it into manageable chunks. This steel, now reduced to $100 per ton raw material (or $.10 – .20 per lb in small quantities) had a full life. It sits in the yards for decades; oxidizing, pitting and developing altogether new properties. The steel waits. Last week’s wabi-sabi wednesday photograph was just that — scrap steel in the yard of Tyler Studios, ltd; waiting.
In the hands of a creative talent this scrap becomes raw material to create a beautiful “new” object.
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With each heat and hammer blow the craftsman adds new value to the old material. Additional photographs of this process can be found here.
The artist, Seth Tyler, has drawn the plans and made the prototype model as the first steps toward creating the full scale range hood.
Within a few months the completed range hood will hang in a fine kitchen. It will absorb the cooking aromas, heat, laughter, anger and tears of the family cooking and dining there. From morning coffee to celebrations it will continue to evolve with an ever changing patina; unique to its new environment; full of wabi-sabi to be sure.
Leica R8, 35 mm Summilux (15 mm Super Elmar)
This past Saturday I had the opportunity to photograph the beautiufl fireplace surround, hand forged by Nathaniel Reinartz; and installed in an equally gorgeous arts and crafts style home located on Milwaukee’s East side. Nathaniel brought many of the formal details of the original woodwork, as well as the masonry, into his metal work. Additional details of this piece (as well as some of Nathaniel’s railings).
Leica R8/DMR, 21 mm Super Angulon
Leica R8/DMR, 35 mm Summilux
Some years ago I produced a video, in cooperation with the Center for Creative Learning, and Taking It Lightly, which has, after some time without a video streaming server, found a new home at the Light Development Video Blog.
On September 7th Dan Nauman installed the final terminus section of his bronze railing at Lynden Sculpture Garden. However we had to wait for the patina to even out across all the sections before attempting to photograph the completed railing. Last week I gave the afternoon light an opportunity to charm the railing; and this week I gave the morning light an equal opportunity. These bronze forms stretch the the photographic limits in terms controlling highlights, contrast and complex color. To capture the movement, rhythms, forms and details of this intriguing metal work I used 15, 35, 50, 80, 100 and 180 mm lenses; lay on the ground; and climbed a ladder to find where the background, the piece and th light made the most visual sense together. To more fully comprehend the intricacies of the railing, the rather difficult environment surrounding it, along with the ever changing light — you can view the slide show of additional views and details.
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Leica R8/DMR, (numerous lenses were used)
This morning my friend, Kevin Meyers, competed in the Double Bong 40k, ABR Wisconsin State Time Trial Championship, Kansasville, WI. Kevin lost his sight in 1987 when his racing boat hit a wake at 60 mph, threw him into the water, where he was hit by another boat. Lucky to be alive; and living to the max; he now races bicycles (with a tandem pilot). A couple weeks ago, at the Wisconsin State Track Championship, he and his pilot, Bob Springer, took the Gold Medal in Kilo and Pursuit, in the Tandem category. Kevin said, “My bike, Chariot of Fire, almost literally caught fire!” This morning he worked on his record times to qualify and participate in the 2012 Paralympics. Over the years I’ve worked with Kevin on a promotional video and designed the logo for his web site, stationery and motivational speaking work. Kevin’s simply an amazing human being. His web site is well worth taking a look at to discover just how amazing.
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Kevin’s “warm up”
Setting up the “Chariot of Fire”
At the line.
And they’re off to the races.
Coming around the fourth turn, completing the first of two laps.
Leica M8, 50 and 35 mm Summilux asph
