Talking Creativity
Last Thursday I presented to Fine Art Photography Association of South Australia (FAASA). They have come from the camera club system forming as a want for something less competition focussed, keen to explore art.
I am a big fan of such ideas. I’ve been around photography competitions all my career, and still support them, but I prefer the discussion and open critique that often comes with them. Spending a few hours discussing photos, everyone contributing to analysing and improvinng is great sport.
FAASA wanted me to speak about creativity, collaboration and art, and boy did I. Almost two hours of yacking. Those poor people.
The talk wandered here and there, but I wanted them to consider set an annual objective for a group show based on a theme. I want them to create an exhibition for SALA or Fringe that can involve all members, but is about one thing, one story. I want visitors to feel the single message.
I provided the example of Tony Kearney’s Rust, Salt, Tar shows, which I have participated in many times. It’s a great model. The only challenge is in the curation, how does one say “no” to potential exhibitors’ work, to control the final show. I have no answer for this.
I also explained my Art Gallery challenge, where each club member needs to visit a prominent gallery, such as Art Gallery of South Australia (AGSA), find a wall that contains work that interests them. They then photograph that wall, and make some photographic work that would fit on that wall, and photoshop in, then present their end result with reasoning.
Further. I discussed my personal photographic challenge process, one where I make a Christmas card each year from one of my photographs, it’s actually quite difficult, definitely pushing myself. I make these by hand, sticking prints on to blank cards. I send out 80+ cards, you can see a few pictured below, and in this previous blog post.
The other challenge I set myself is a book a year, where I try to cull a year’s photography into 60 images. It’s a toughie!
Additionally, I gave plenty of examples of great photo books and boxes that have resulted out of personal projects, notsably:
David Hume’s La Cotta Perfectta
Neal and Hugh’s Loving.
Mark Kimber’s Edgeland
Che Chorley’s Land Sea You and Me
James Darling’s Christmas Cards.
Stef Fuller’s Proximal Orbit
Alice Blanch’s Box Brownie Panoramas
