memories

just thinking about aesthetics today

from M&D

My parents give good gifts. I love watching my father get so excited about the things he's finding for my mother throughout the year. This year especially showed how well they know me, and what I like. My loot included a ceramic gin label, for my favorite beverage, and a little ambrotype. A little girl is pictured wearing a headdress of some sort. I'm going to have to do a little research on this. The funny part is, that I almost bought this for myself in Cleveland (and my parents had no idea).

Picture Yourself

Well, well. I've been waiting to mention last week's PopRally at MoMA because I wanted to link to the photos they took. The PopRally is an inexpensive after-hours party - this most recent one showcased some of the new photography out on view. In addition to the art, drinks, and music, there was a "photo booth." In my head I imagined one of those old booths with a little curtain and a slot spitting out black and white photos (I should have thought harder on this...). They took amazing digital photos in front of a green-screen, and then we got to choose backgrounds designed by the photographers featured that night!

Cool photos by a cool girl.

Love them.

my dad is cooler than your dad

Some local Cleveland news here. (academically) local here. And some interesting commentary here (read the comments). Something short and sweet here. Blogging here.

Whose Father Was He?

I have been riveted by Errol Morris's blog - the five installments about Amos Humiston, Civil War soldier who died holding an ambrotype of his children; the man who found it; what happened after; and how the story is being told now. Start with part one! The juiciest bits come from the post-war orphanage.

From a letter to his wife during the war:

January 2, 1863: “If I ever live to get home you will not complain of being lonesome again or of sleeping cold for I will lay as close to you as the bark to a tree.”

If I could Whistle...

Check out Alison's post on our amateur photo fun. Because I had my backstage pass, I was allowed to see all 57 images, and I think she's selling us short. Anyway, more can be seen when submitted to the "It's Time We Met" contest.

Samuel Gottscho

I bought this postcard of the Brooklyn Public Library's circulation hall and entrance because I thought the metalwork was cool, and it's a pretty unusual scene for a postcard. After I got it home, I did a little research on Samuel Gottscho (the photographer for this card). Turns out he was a pretty famous interior/architectural photographer during the first half of the 20th century. There is a huge database of his work with photographer William Schleisner at the Library of Congress, and I found out he (or they) shot this in 1941. Most of his work is of New York, and there's a book on it by Donald Albrecht: The Mythic City (2005). Even though it seems Gottscho's work is characterized by bold cityscapes, I like this simple, quiet image. There's something slightly funny about that little desk flanked by huge pillars in the middle of such a large space: the guy looks vulnerable. I'm pretty sure an image like this wouldn't make the cut for Albrecht's book, but I dig.