TGP Feature #1

PHOTOGRAPHER: KIMBERLY, AGE 13

TGP Feature #1 is work by Kimberly from Kentucky. I am so excited to share these photographs with you. There is something about the way Kimberly captured herself, in both of the following photographs, that I find so intriguing. They both make me what to learn/know more about her. Take a look at what Kimberly had to say.

©The Girl Project

"It is a self-portrait. I was thinking when I took the picture that I wished the camera's were digital so that I could see how it would turn out... and make sure I didn't take an embarrassing photo of myself. I was actually in a giggly mood, but tried to keep a straight face for a more dramatic effect. I had no idea about the reflection - I don't have any experience with cameos or photography - but it is really cool. I think that the image kind of reflects a different side of me. The picture I took looks like I am in a gloomy mood, but that is not how I usually am. So yes, it is a whole new side of me." - Kimberly

©The Girl Project

"I love this one. I had actually taken this picture by mistake, because we were outside and I had the flash on. So I really didn't think that the picture would come out. The 5th, 6th, and teenagers had actually taken a trip to the Town Square Mall to see if we could find anything to represent ourselves. We were outside and I had seen the flowers. I thought that the flower would represent inner beauty. Like, since it was the only thing that looked pretty in a big pile of weeds, I thought it would be great. Now that I have learned more about myself and others I think that this picture would be great to use as part of The Girl Project." - Kimberly

Introducing the TGP Feature

Today I am posting the first "TGP Feature". Every couple of weeks I will be selecting one or more photographs, by one photographer, to share with you. Each featured photographer will have the opportunity to write a statement about her work. As you know, most of the photos you guys take with TGP cameras will not be seen until the project's conclusion in book and exhibition form. In the meantime, TGP Feature is a way to showcase great work and to share what other girls are creating. So ENJOY!!! And if you see an image you like be sure to tell your friends to check it out.

Worlds Away: New Suburban Landscapes

Angela Strassheim, Untitled(Elsa), 2004

There is an exhibition up now at The Walker Art Center in Minneapolis that you should see if you can. It's called Worlds Away: New Suburban Landscapes and it includes work by 34 artists and architects, with a lot of interesting photography. Each of the artists is finding a way to examine suburban life in America.

There were 2 pictures by Larry Sultan (though I am surprised that they were from The Valley series instead of his fabulous Pictures from Home), Gregory Crewdson (I've never seen his photos printed so small!!), Brian Ulrich, Angela Strassheim, Ed Ruscha, Paho Mann and Greg Stimac.

Installation shot @ Worlds Away, including a sculpture by Stefanie Nagorka

One of the highlights for me was to see one of Stefanie Nagorka's sculptures, though I would rather see one in it's original site instead of a museum. Stefanie walks into Home Depot stores across the country and makes sculptures in the aisles with things that they are selling, like bricks, stones and pavers. (She does this all without permission). She has improvised a sculpture in a Home Depot store in every state but Hawaii. Pretty cool. The show is up through August 17, 2008.

So, by the way, I have to say that I think it is hilarious that I was told by a security guard at the Walker that I could not take pictures in the Richard Prince exhibition. Really??

It IS Easy Being Green

Sometimes I take a look around my desk and see the multiple hard drives, cameras, boxes of film and paper, and I think that my world is turning into a Chris Jordan photograph. And that scares me.

At this point we know that our actions have an affect on the planet, and it is up to us to take the responsibility to make some changes. We know that we should all buy Energy Smart lightbulbs and that we should recycle magazines and newspapers. As a photographer, I know that I consume and waste a lot of products. As the technology changes, CDs and DVDs crash, cameras and computer software are upgraded and the old ones become obsolete. What do we do with all of this excess?? I know I don't want it sitting in a landfill somewhere for a thousand years.

So I decided to do some research and put together some easy ways for us all to reduce, reuse and recycle. It's important whether you are printing in the darkroom or using a computer. Please...send these tips to every photographer you know.

REDUCE

• Buy in bulk. If you buy a box or 20 rolls of film instead of each roll individually, you buy less packaging. One out of every $11 spent by consumers pays for packaging. Packaging adds up to about 1/3 of all the trash tossed in the U.S.
  
• Only print what is necessary. If you are working digitally, don't hit print after every minor modification. In the darkroom, try to be efficient. Make test strips no matter how much of a pain they are. In the long run, you will waste less paper.
• Don't waste water in the darkroom! North Americans use 50-70 gallons of water for indoor use every day.
  
• Apparently, you can now buy eco-friendly chemistry for the darkroom. Check it out.
  

REUSE

• Buy Used Equipment. If you are in the market for equipment, think about buying used. Not only will you save money, but you will be helping the planet. Most photo stores, like B&H, Adorama, and KEH, sell used equipment. Just be sure to check their policies for returns.
• Use rechargeable batteries. And recycle them when they die.
• When you get your rechargeable batteries, recycle your regular ones here.
  
• Donate electronic equipment if you no longer need it.
• If you can't donate, Dispose of electronic equipment properly.
  

RECYCLE

• Dispose of Fixer Properly.
• Recycle old digital equipment. LAMP (Learning About Multimedia Project) accepts iPods, Mac Laptops and digital cameras, which they use in workshops for educators and low-income families. You can recycle ink and toner cartridges at Best Buy, Staples and Office Depot. Cartridge World also accepts them, and you can get up to $3 for each one - or choose a refill for 50% off. Staples also accepts old computers. Apple also recycles ipods, computers and cell phones.
  
• If you have photographs to recycle, check with your local recycling center about what they will accept. In NYC, I was told "If you have a small number of photographs, they can certainly be included in your mixed paper bin."

Here are a number of websites that contain information about how you can be environmentally friendly. You can buy environmentally-friendly clothes, eat at green restaurants, and recycle the water from your sink into your toilet! Who knew?

If you have any suggestions of earth-friendly links for me to add to my list, put it in the comments or send me an email!

• Green Restaurants Association
• Recycle Bottle Caps with Aveda & Shape Magazine
• Water Saver Technologies
• EPA
• Treehugger
• Gaiam
  
• Green Clothing
• Environmentally Friendly Hotels
• Eco-Friendly Cleaning Supplies
• Recycler.com
• Freecycle
• Plant a Tree for just $1
  

Call For Teen Art in Boston

Call For Teen Art: Violence Transformed

The Cloud Foundation’s Visual Art curators seek work from teens responding to violence in their own lives, their neighborhoods, at school, and in the city.

Violence Transformed is a collaboration among artists, activists, academics, museum professionals and community service providers working in the greater Boston area. As part of National Crime Victims Rights Awareness Week, Violence Transformed includes an exhibition in the Boston State House, on display from April 28 through May 2, 2008 followed by a show at Cloud Place. We share a belief in the transformative power of art and artists’ ability to challenge the prevalence of violence in society today. We are seeking teen art expressing feelings about violence experienced or observed in all aspects of life. We also encourage artworks which suggest ways to make positive change, or that imagine peaceful alternatives. UBUNTU is the idea that we all benefit from caring for each other’s well being, and that we think of another person's pain or loss as affecting us, or our pain or loss as affecting others, since we are part of each other. We want your voice and your perspective! For ages 19 and under.

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: APRIL 14, 2008!!!
Download Submission Form here

All media are welcome, including drawing, painting, sculpture, photography, collage, and new media. Send/ deliver your work and completed submission form to:
Cloud Place, Attn: Teen Curators
647 Boylston St.
Boston, MA 02116
Hand-delivered submissions (note deadline) may be dropped off at Cloud Place Monday – Friday between 11:00am and 6:00pm and Saturdays between 11:00am and 2:00pm.

Jury: April 14, 2008
Exhibition at the State House: April 28 - May 2, 2008 Questions? call 617.262.2949 or email info@cloudfoundation.org

And... You can also apply for your own exhibition at the Cloud Place. More info is available here.

20 Under 20: Call for artists

From the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis:

Are you sick of the only bonuses of your teenage years being driving, R-Rated admissions and legalized lung-cancer? Well, we have the solution. 20 Under 20 is a competition for artists, filmmakers, dancers, graffiti writers, spoken word poets, musicians etc. Over 100 selected artists representing a variety of media will compete in two showcases at the Northern Warehouse in Lowertown Saint Paul on Saturday, May 10 and the Traffic Zone Center for Visual Art in on Saturday, May 17.

At these two showcases, a panel of celebrity judges and the audience will select the top 20 artists to be featured in a final showcase at the Walker Art Center on Thursday, June 12 at 7 PM.

So if you are into it, submit your work. Think of it as a chance to show the world you're more than a shopping demographic. Think of it as a party. Think of it as a great extra curricular application filler. 20 under 20 is brought to you be the Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council, creators of Hot Art Injection and Below the Belt: Battle of the Underage. So you know it won't be too corny.

Submit your artwork by sending your name, phone number, email address, and a link to your Myspace page, Youtube, JPEG file, etc. to teenprograms@walkerart.org by Monday April 14th. Participants must be 19 years or younger on Monday, April 14.

Check out teens.walkerart.org for updated information about 20 under 20. If you have any questions or want further information please email teenprograms@walkerart.org or call 612-375-7683.

Summer arts program in Colorado

The Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation Summer Seminar is a scholarship program (full tuition, room and board and all seminar related expenses, excluding transportation), available nationally to artistically gifted high school juniors (2007-08) in public and private schools. The Summer Seminar, held on the campus of The Colorado College, Colorado Springs, Colorado, is designed as an art institute offering an intensive visual art studio program for the students. Three, two-week seminars will be held next summer.

Deadline is TOMORROW! April 9, 2008.

This is an amazing opportunity for all you TGP girls. Download the application here.

Who is the real Nikki S. Lee?

The Seniors Project (26), 1999, © Nikki S. Lee

The Ohio Project (6), 1999, © Nikki S. Lee

The Hip Hop Project (1), 2001, © Nikki S. Lee

If I ran into her on the street, I don't think I would recognize Nikki S. Lee, although I have seen hundreds of pictures of her. That's because she is a chameleon. She has mastered the art of transforming herself into someone completely different. In Nikki's PROJECTS series, she immersed herself into multiple different subcultures, like young skateboarders, schoolgirls, and the elderly. For each photograph, she would put on elaborate makeup (check out the Hip Hop Project image) and costumes to fit in with her subgroup. Then, she enlisted someone else to photograph her with a regular point-and-shoot camera (notice the dates stamped on the corners of the pics). The results are amazing. She reinvents herself a thousand times over, and thus challenges our ideas about identity.

Nikki continues to dress up in another important series of hers, called PARTS. Here, she photographs herself as half of a couple. She then cuts the photograph in half, getting rid of her "ex," leaving only a hand, leg, or hint of his presence. You can see more of Nikki's work here.

Cameras made out of felt? Sew cool!

An Olympus, Brownie, and Holga Camera, all made by Blythe

Blythe is a Canadian artist who has some serious talent when it comes to sewing. She makes adorable monsters and robots using felt, as well as a number if household objects like a blender and a phone!

But the best part is, she has made cameras with working lenses!! I want all of them…

According to her website:

My current soft sculpture work is inspired by the work of Claes Oldenburg, an artist I have admired since discovering his work at the age of 8. I love the idea of seeing something cold, mass produced and disposable as something soft, precious and with an obvious human touch. These pieces are very labour intensive, with each piece taking as much as a week to complete. I begin by hand dyeing the felt and then sewing each construction by hand, embroidering all the details. This means that no two felt creations are alike.