Opening Tonight at Soho Photo

The sixth incarnation of the alternative process photography competition opens tonight at Soho Photo Gallery. Both "Sting / Ray Kite" (honorable mention) and "Two Leaf Stems" are included in this 2010 exhibition of works by 40 artists from all over the world of alternative and historical process photography. The exhibition will run through the month of November.

The artists included in the exhibtion are:
May Perkins-Benton, Timothy McCoy, David Puntel, Jackie Bauer, Ilya Feldshteyn, Sarah Nesbitt, Mary Wanless, Loli Kantor, Stephen Murphy, Ron Cowie, Peter Lindstrom, Anne Hopkins, Ansley West, Travis Hocutt, Tony DeBone, Jan Kapoor, Michele Cole, Jennifer Spencer, Lyn Slate, Frank Lopez, Cynthia Morgan Batmanis, S. Gayle Stevens, Roxanne Guez, Lori Bell, Marky Kauffmann, Diana Bloomfield, Michael Frels, Yukiko Shimizu, Kelsey Vance, Bruce Rathbun, Karen Divine, Allan Barnes, Milo Fay, Cara Lee Wade, Thomas Harris, Gwen Walstrand, Michael McCullough, Barbara Ethan and Patty Rogers.

return to New York, Soho Photo's Alternative Processes Exhibition

Below is the press release for the latest incarnation of the Alternative Photography Exhibition at Soho Photo. Two Leaf Stems and Sting Ray / Kite (Honorable Mention) are both included.

The list of artists can be downloaded in pdf form at:

http://www.sohophoto.com/downloads/alt_process_winners_2010.pdf

For Immediate Release:                                November 2 to December 4, 2010 Blue Tree© Marky Kauffmann, 1st place Winners of Soho Photo's Sixth Annual Alternative  Processes Competition plus   The Next Phase: IPhone Photographs by Dan Burkholder    OPENING RECEPTION:    TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 6-8 PM    Gallery Hours:    Wednesdays - Sundays, 1-6 PM    and by Appointment    Contact: Wayne Parsons    info@sohophoto.com or 212.662.5532 New York, NY- Soho Photo is pleased to announce that its November show will feature the winning entries in its Sixth Annual Alternative Processes Competition as well as its guest exhibition by Dan Burkholder entitled The Next Phase: iPhone Photographs. This year's Alternative Processes Competition presents the winning images of some 40 photographers from across the United States. The hundreds of images that were submitted for this competition represent a wide range of alternative methods that can include beeswax paper negative, cyanotype, Van Dyke Brown, platinum/palladium, gum dichromate, gold toned salt print, tintype, and ziatype. This year's jurors were France Scully Osterman and Mark Osterman. Both are fine art photographers and scholars who specialize in early photographic processes, most notably, wet-plate collodion. Mark has researched, practiced and taught historic processes for over 20 years and is currently process historian at George Eastman House. France is an artist, writer, and educator at Scully & Osterman Studio and guest scholar at Eastman House. After selecting the winners, the jurors remarked, "We were particularly impressed to see a surge of new talent. The winning entries demonstrated an advanced level of sophistication in choosing a process to support their vision, competency with their medium of choice, and most importantly, they had something to say." A complete list of winners is at www.sohophoto.com. The 2010 competition's top winners are: 1st Place: Marky Kauffmann, Blue Tree 2nd Place: Ronald Cowie, Lisa's Hat 3rd Place: Peter Lindstrom, Camden Street In the Upstairs Gallery....

George Washington Bridge in Rain ©Dan Burkholder The Next Phase: iPhone Photographs by November guest exhibitor Dan Burkholder will be shown in our upstairs gallery. Burkholder says, "Photographing and stylizing images with the iPhone is one of the purest photographic phenomenon I've experienced during more than four decades of using a camera. With no gap between the moment of capture and time of enhancement, I find my emotional reaction to the subject becomes an integral part of the final image, in a way that's much more honest and fluid than waiting to return to the computer or darkroom."   Also in November, Gallery members who print in alternative processes will show some of their recent work.   Visit Soho Photo Gallery Soho Photo Gallery has been showcasing a broad spectrum of imagery by emerging and veteran photographers since 1971. The Gallery is in New York's historic TriBeCa district, three blocks south of Canal Street between West Broadway and Sixth Avenue. Subways: #1 to Franklin Street or the A, C, E,  N, R or #6 to Canal Street.

they're fading and tattoo advice needed

Tattoo advice needed. A few days ago I mused out loud about getting a tattoo for my extended twenty fifth birthday. One should never ask a gentleman his true age. Well...the musings have gained a life of their own. Call it the deliriums of mid-life. I call it love of Robert Crumb and August Sander. It's gone beyond should I get a tattoo to who would be able to create a Robert Crumb drawing of August Sander's "Konditor, Köln, 1928"?

No new pics of the anthotypes to show, but the window treatment is working. Bridgette and I took a look at them late this afternoon and noticed that the ground looked lighter i.e. significant loss of density in the highlight areas.

Pokeberry Anthotype Attempt Number Three (and Four)

If at first I don't succeed, try, try again. If at second I don't succeed, try, try, try again. This will be anthotype attempt number three and number four. The first attempt got washed away by rain because I overestimated the water proof qualities of an IKEA frame. The second attempt was stolen from a public field in South Park after a week of exposure. That anthotype was in an ugly World Imports wood frame stained green and purchased from a thrift store. The loss of the negative and exhibition preparations prevented me from replacing it very quickly.

So here is attempt number three. I think I have solved both the theft issue (thanks Chasper) as well as the water proof issue. Both anthotypes are located in the sunniest windows in our house and, if Bridgette agrees their placement, I should have some anthotypes done in time before the Bogle clan descends on Dayton.

from walking

With a sigh of relief I announce the completed installation and opening of from walking.  Four large scale pieces and the ever expanding Gingko Leaf Grid. The exhibition in the Works on Paper Gallery, runs concurrently with Glen Cebulash's show at the Triangle Gallery from October 15th (today) until November 18th.  Go to the fourth floor of building 13 on the campus of Sinclair College in downtown Dayton.

Thank you Bridgette for painting the map tacks!

gingko-tober

ABC DEF GHI JKL MNO which is my way of assigning an image a letter in the growing Ginkgo Leaf Grid.

To think that I began collecting and scanning these leaves about a year ago.

The grid will be at 15 on October 15 for the Sinclair College exhibition in the Works on Paper gallery. Here is a look at number 14 which will end up being Gingko Leaf N.

wouldn't this make a lovely postcard?

Here is one version of the Gingko Grid that might just be installed next month at Sinclair College's Works on Paper Gallery. Progress has been slow on other pieces. I have three large tiled pieces and the Gingko Grid. If things go well I might have at least one other larger piece and the grid may grow to 15 pieces from the current 12.

Anyone have a roll of amberlith or rubylith that they want to part with?

the proverbial drawing board is an open field

noteworthy: Make your way to building 13 to see...

Bridgette Bogle has created a drawing installation as part of the 2010 Faculty show at Sinclair College's Triangle Gallery. Next month I will be across the way in the Works on Paper gallery concurrent with Glen Cebalash in the Triangle Gallery.

Back to the drawing board for a couple of projects. My first attempt at an Anthrotype got rained on and the very water soluble vegetable matter of the pokeberry juice washed away. The transparency didn't fair to well either. As of yesterday, I have begun attempt number two. It is in an open field in the South Park neighborhood. I plan to move the printing frame around, perhaps taking it to school to leave it in the practice field while the marching band does their drills. All in an attempt to get some sunlight to fall on the Anthrotype for long periods of time.

Over the last 9 months, perhaps longer, there has been a slight shift in the color of the Vandykes that I have been producing. The really rich dark brown that caught Chris Anderson's eye two years ago is gone. It's time to do some testing including re-visiting my old processing regime. Tonight I processed a print and went without using any citric acid in the processing. It seems to have made a difference. Only with a dry down and the morning light will I be able to tell.

Pokeberry Anthotype Day One -Three

I began the anthotype exposure two days ago. Based upon what I have seen after two days and knowing how light is at a premium in back of the house, I expect the exposure to take about 3 weeks.

did someone say "Pokeberry Anthotype"?

It's pokeberry harvesting season and while I am a little fuzzy on how edible they are, the birds love them and they are the perfect organic material to create an anthotype.

For those of you reading this who don't know what an anthotype is, let me offer a little information. The anthotype is yet another process invented by Sir John Herschel around 1842. It is a direct postive process because the sun bleaches away unprotected areas of a substrate coated with organic dye. If I were to use a photographic negative, I would get a copy of that negative in anthotype. If use a postive print or transparency such as the image above, I would get a single color postive copy of the picture. Here's a link to an exhibtion of anthotypes that took place at Ryerson University. http://www.imagearts.ryerson.ca/topographica/Anthotype.html

Herschel used pigments from flowers such as the Iris for this process. Contemporary practitioners have used beets and berries for creating their images.

This will be my first anthotype and I plan on giving the exposure about 3 weeks in the late summer early autumn Ohio sun to have a really strong image. I'll post here once the exposure is started.

Let the grand experiment begin.

The Art of the PhotoArchive published

University Press Antwerp (UPA) has published The Art of the PhotoArchive: 170 Years of Photography and Heritage. The book represents a collaboration between Roger Kockaerts, founder of Atelier pH 7, and art historian Johan Swinnen and contains many of the photographs exhibited last year at the Free University of Brussels.

The Art of the PhotoArchive's main aim is to assist in identifying types of photographs and the illustrations range from 19th century to contemporary photographs.

Gingko Photogram Lab Coat may be seen on page 291.

roots with dirt clumps in 16 pieces

Here is the second of my large scale pieces, Roots with Dirt Clumps in 16 Pieces. The issue of justifying this scale is resolved for me since I now notice the clumps of soil that I didn't see while preparing the negative. I am optimistic I can create at least 3 more large scale pieces, including a light ground one, for the Sinclair Exhibit in October.

tree bark in fourteen pieces as my height

Here is the start of new work. It remains in Vandyke brown but the scale of the piece and construction hopefully draw (even) more attention to the physical nature of the print.

Tree Bark in Fourteen Pieces as My Height is composed of 14 pieces of 9x7 inch vandyke brown prints pieced together with map pins. It actually is the same height (give or take a half inch) as me.

This will be one of at least four new large scale pieces to be shown at Sinclair College's "Works on Paper" gallery starting in early October. In fact the scale of the pieces is specific to the new display space on the fourth floor of building 13.

lost in translation

I've been wanting to do this for some time, namely look at an image at its earliest stage and compare it to one nearing completion. The left represents the Vandyke Brown print of the scanned botanical sample on the right.

For me it answers a couple of questions. The first being "why go through all the labor of printing this out as a Vandyke Brown print on an unusual paper?" The second question is somewhat related to the first question, "what remains of the original subject?"

Gushy on Chincoteague Island

This week Bridgette and I escaped Dayton for a few days. Jill and Tim invited us to stay at their beach house on Chincoteague Island. I managed to get to the water on two days. It was a mini vacation even though I brought some art documentation work with me which ate up most of Wednesday which was the day the salt cowboys ran the swimming of the ponies.

I'll be uploading more images to Flickr this week.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/frangst/

In the meantime here is an image from the carousel in the Chincoteague carnival grounds. This image was taken with a 55mm Diana lens on a Canon digital rebel. Gushy!

ohio state fair fine arts exhibition 2010

The Ohio State Fair opened up today. Besides the butter sculptures that Bridgette and I love so much, one should mention the Fine Arts Exhibition. This year the Schanbogles are represented (both Bridgette and I have work in the professional divsion) and while we were not able to attend last night's reception we will eventually make it over there to see everyone's work.

In the meantime some record keeping. My accepted entries that I will never again be able to submit to the state fair are...

Hairy Cemetery Nut, left

Decaying Leaf (Apron), middle

Split Pod (Chaps), right

a piece of sky

one of the things I do on the side is document art work. For the last eight years I have had the opportunity to photograph objects and installations by Suzanne Silver.

Today was one such day with the session spanning three rooms, lots of loose work on paper, warm (hot) humid temperatures and about seven hours including the jaunt over to west campus.

There was a parking ticket...grrrrrrrr...but I did park in a loading zone for four hours....grrrrr...but it was a hot, humid, sunny Sunday.

it's what hot, humid days are for

lumen prints, it's what the hot, humid days of summer are for.

continuing the found on a walk theme. These seeds are from about 3 houses south of our house. Might even be in front of the house David Esrati's parents are living in.

working title

Now I am a point where the title of the vandyke brown prints, Forces of Nature, seems to be a disservice.

In October I will be showing a different version of this work at Sinclair Community College's Works on Paper gallery. Three quarters will be new.

I was pondering this a couple of days ago. I was experimenting with:

from my walks; walking, wanting walking, walk

...mainly as a way to bring the viewer into the process of making these images, their selection, even their inception.

so the (working and hopefully final) title will be:


from walking

and medium:

Vandyke Brown Prints (Photography)

visiting with old friends

Talk about things that don't get talked about when one is talking with someone about art. On the list of many things about being an artist that isn't "fun". Imagine cleaning out your basement and visiting a therapist. Now mix the two and you have "revisiting old work" or in the case of the self-portraits, "visiting with old friends".

I was pulling stuff up from the basement to show Kay Koeninger for a future exhibit on portraits. Don't get me wrong. I love the work from my thesis exhibition. How could Narcissus not love his own reflection? I don't love how I've stored the work (it's big for how I work). There's old artist tape and velcro sticking to the velcro not meant to be in contact. I was an installation artist in 2002. Now, I think I'm a mat and frame artist.

So I will be spending some time this week with old friends, trying to figure out who will be going to the Riffe gallery in late January and how exactly an installation in 2002 will translate, in part, to a new space in 2010.

beardos five

Why did I pull the Fisher Price Fun Photo Maker off the shelf and start playing with it (again)? I have a love hate relationship with this camera and dread having to reload the pink cassettes with thermal fax (point of purchase receipt) paper once they run out. It only focuses well at arms length or closer so it is a natural for self-portraits.

What's changed since the mis-taken exhibition in 2002? I have a wisp of goatee that looks like it has been inspired by Tim Burton's A Nightmare Before Christmas.

So with that said, I present to you my fifth attempt to capture my beard with the Fun Photo Maker. Here is Beardos #5.

gingko leaf #13

I am expanding the grid of gingkos. Slowly.

Here is Gingko Leaf #13 which I will tentatively call Squashed Gingko M.

meet B.O.B., burnt out bulb or Bob for short

meet B.O.B., burnt out bulb or Bob for short.

One thing leads to another. Like a FIXX song from the 80's. I was finally over the proverbial hump printing a commision in palladium when ...

...the bulb burnt out. The burnt out bulb became a obstacle and a subject. The silver nitrate is running out. There's plenty of gum and potassium dichromate. My wife has contributed tubes of water color. Burnt out bulb. B.O.B.

Bob in eggplant.

Sorry for the speckles. The successful print is in DVAC. This one has a failure of size (PVA medium).

Tavis Lothar has finally exhibited a print.

this is a cigar

This is a cigar. This is a catnip cigar. The illustration is your cat smoking a catnip cigar.

My question: "Which Phillip Morris catnip executive dreamed up the catnip cigar?"

happy summer (solstice)

happy summer solstice, 2010!

Someday I would like to experience white nights and (in the winter) the northern lights.

Here is an image take 14 years ago on the first day of summer.

Sundial, Torrey Pines State Beach, 1996, silver gelatin print

Absurdly Behind the Times, Alejandro

I promised myself that the blog would be a way to keep track of work going out into the world even if it is not that far away.

In May, "One Night Absurd" happened and I delivered to pieces for the two nights of the event. See, only one night was absurd. The preview party the night before with the $100 ticket price was not absurd. The lighting was absurd but who am I to complain since I didn't help install.

Amanda Tirey Graham did much of the work and I never properly thanked her for buying some work a couple of years ago.

For the record of what I can never submit to an OAL juried show ever again...

"Split Pod (Like Chaps)" and "Hairy Cemetery Nut" were both in the ONA.

Recently,Bridgette and I both found out that we got work into the Ohio State Fair Fine Arts exhibition. This led to a really wonderful prestigious opportunity which I might elaborate on soon once it becomes official so never, ever look at state fair art exhibit with a disdainful eye.

Alternative Photography Website

Malin Fabbri the editor at AlternativePhotography.com has provided me with a page to display my work.

Go to http://www.alternativephotography.com/gallery/v/francis_schanberger to see how it looks.

Four Color Gums by Christine Zuercher

Things are usually a little too quiet in a small city rusting away on the fringes of the rust belt. Thank goodness for students who thrive despite my very laissez faire way of teaching.

Here is a link to some four color gum work by Christine Zuercher (University of Dayton) who has been at work combining images of Lincoln and 19th century images of the moon. Her work is currently on display in the Regional Artist Gallery at the Dayton Art Institute along with three other students from colleges in the Cincinnati and Dayton region. Christine along with Sam Kelly (Wright State), Mary Ransdell and Amy Scarpello will have their work on view until September 19th. Each of them are recipients of the Yeck Fellowship at DAI.

http://christinezuercher.blogspot.com/2010/04/blog-post.html

francis schanberger

the black box

the black box
Originally uploaded by HillHop

The posting board for Overexposed and Underdeveloped (UD's photoclub) in the old photography lab at the University of Dayton. Photo by Hillary Hopkins.

chemicals, old UD photography darkroom

chemicals
Originally uploaded by HillHop

I was looking through Hillary Hopkins photostream and remembered all the images that she made of the old photography facilities in Mechanical Engineering (University of Dayton). Here's to nostalgia and the year anniversary since the move began.

I need to see if Amanda Baker has any images as well.

Inside Out at Dublin Arts Council

Last summer the Dayton Visual Arts Center's annual member exhibition was curated under the theme Inside Out". DVAC director Jane Black has been asked to curate a smaller version of the exhibition which will open next month. "Two Leaves (Secret Hiding Place)" will be one of the pieces included in this 16 artist exhibition.

There is a preview write up at http://www.americantowns.com/oh/dublin/news/dayton-visual-arts-center-inside-out-on-view-at-dublin-arts-council-290168

Participating artists are: Amy Kollar Anderson, Pat Antonick, Willis “Bing” Davis, Jon Barlow Hudson, Tom Keen, Edd McGatha, Teresa Olavarria, Migiwa Orimo, Christina Pereyma, Rebecca Rose Skydancer, Andy Snow, Diane Stemper, Don Williams, Jud Yalkut, Joanne Yeck and the artist formerly known as Dr. Frangst.

between the two galleries

What do you think transpires at night between Susan's work and my work?

Here's a peak at the two galleries looking towards the sculpture of Susan Byrnes.

rosewood gallery exhibit. A picture.

Here's an image from the exhibit. I'll post a few up until the day of the workshop.

No pictures but a review

No pictures but here is a link to the review of the Susan Byrnes / Francis Schanberger exhibit at Rosewood.

This article appeared in the Sunday edition of the Dayton Daily News.

http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/dayton-daily-news/mi_8035/is_20100411/dayton-artists-exhibit-diverse-work/ai_n53154941/

video interview from La Verne

Thanks to Kevin Bowman and Gary Colby for installing and hosting the Forces of Nature exhibit this past January and February at the University of La Verne. Somehow in the process of participating in the Virtual Exhibit, they have created a video podcast of me that night. It's one of three available from iTunes in a series called Arts and Creativity. Thanks to Dr. Fred Yaffe for creating the video and podcast.

At iTunes search for "Forces of Nature (Carlson Gallery) / Arts and Creativity - videos". It's about 148 MB of space.

Here is a web link for the series but be warned, there is a scary video still composite featuring my head and some of the leaves (see picture above):

http://www.laverne.edu/academics/institutional-review-board/faculty-research-and%20-scholarship/arts-and-creativity.php

the clunky review from La Verne

Just for archiving, here is the review from a student paper, Campus Times, at the University of La Verne for the January / February exhibit of Forces of Nature.

http://laverne.edu/campus-times/2010/02/carlson-gallery-exhibit-showcases-natural-beauty/

Rosewood gallery exhibit is up!

April is here and not only is the tree pollen in full force but also the Forces of Nature exhibit at Rosewood Gallery in Kettering, Ohio.

"Forces of Nature"

Vandyke Brown photography

&

Susan Byrnes, Recent Sculpture and Installation Work

April 5 - April 30, 2010

opening reception Sunday, April 11, 2 - 4 pm

There will be a vandyke brown workshop associated with the exhibition on April 24th from 8:30am – 5:30pm

Rosewood Gallery
2655 Olson Drive
Kettering, OH 45420
Phone: (937) 296-0294

I increased the size of the Gingko Grid to 12 images and there are an additional 23 framed works. Installation details will follow.

Ohio Art League 99th Annual Spring Juried Exhibition Review

Find the Christopher Yates review of the 99th annual Ohio Art League Spring Juried Exhibition here:

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/arts/stories/2010/03/21/strong-showing.html?sid=101

how to float an image in a frame

I was asked for images of how I attach a print to a backing board when I want to float the image in a frame. I have uploaded images to flickr that show the steps I take to frame the small gingko prints in the gingko grid.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/frangst/4442848085/

I use the same type of paper that I made the print on to make the T's. I used to use gummed linen tape to attach them but have switched to self-adhesive linen hinging tape.

Ohio Art League 99th Annual Spring Juried Exhibition

Now that it is almost Spring and my allergies will soon respond to that TBA (think Arrested Development) tree pollen, the 99th Annual Ohio Art League Spring Juried Exhibition continues at Fort Hayes Shot Tower gallery. This year's edition features the vandyke brown print "Twelve" from my Forces of Nature series. The exhibition was juried by Ron Pizzuti and will be on display from March 2 to April 27.


The Fort Hayes Shot Tower gallery is open MON-FRI 9am - 4pm but call ahead, 614-365-6681, to confirm. Find the Shot Tower gallery at 546 Jack Gibbs Boulevard Columbus, Ohio 43215.

Please note that Fort Hayes will be closed for spring break: April 2 - 11.

It's Nice to Get Published

Bridgette Bogle, Couch Pattern, 2010

Francis Schanberger, Ryan's Beets, 2007

thank you Roy G Biv for the bringing in Lori Waxman for her 60 word per minute art criticism and resulting publication installation.

http://www.columbusalive.com/live/content/features/stories/2010/03/11/ca_ar_waxman-works.html

Virtual Reception at University of La Verne Exhibition "Forces of Nature"

With much trepidation I participated in a virtual reception on February 4th at the University of La Verne's Irene Carlson gallery. It wasn't so bad. That's my head on the lap top screen in the photograph. I think I'm ready for Chatroulette!

I have a link to the student paper which includes a clunky interview as well as an image taken by photographer Nicholas Mitzenmacher.

http://laverne.edu/campus-times/2010/02/carlson-gallery-exhibit-showcases-natural-beauty/

Christopher Yates Review of ImageOhio 10

Christopher Yates of the Columbus Dispatch reviewed Image Ohio 10 in the Sunday edition.

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/arts/stories/2010/01/31/2_IMAGE_OHIO.ART_ART_01-31-10_E6_FPGDLJD.html?sid=101

Also the pdf catalog for the exhibition may be found here:

http://www.fulcrumcreatives.com/client/roygbiv/imageohio10.pdf

Interior / Exterior

I forgot to post this on my blog. Bridgette Bogle and I were part of Dayton Visual Art Center's Juried Member Show Interior / Exterior juried by Pamela DeCoker. Jane Black has plans to expand / loan / alter this exhibition for the Dublin Arts Council's exhibition space in 2010.

The dates for the exhibtion were:
December 4, 2009-January 1, 2010

http://www.daytonvisualarts.org/exhibitions/09-10season.html

ImageOhio 10 2010

From a listing in the Columbus Dispatch, the artists exhibiting in ImageOhio 10 juried by Michael Stickrod are.....

...Ryan Agnew, Scott Aigner, Matthew Burke, Brianna Dance, Dennis Deane, Marcella Hackbardt, Yurika Hirata, Nicholas Hoffman, Satomi Jin, Tyler Joswick, Qian Li, Cosby Lindquist, Dominic Lippillo, Michelle Maguire, Krystle Merrow, Takeshi Moro, Jason Nein, David Politzer, Kate Rhoades, Francis Schanberger, Cameron Sharp, Like Snailham, Jeremy Stone, Joseph Vogt, Sarah Weinstock, Sheilah Wilson, and Erica Woodrum. January 18-February 19.

Mon-Fri, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Opening reception: Jan. 21, 6-8 p.m.