“Touring internationally since 2008, ‘Play Me, I’m Yours’ is an artwork by artist Luke Jerram.
Street pianos are appearing in cities across the world. Located in parks, squares, bus shelters and train stations, outside galleries, markets and on bridges and ferries, the pianos are for any member of the public to enjoy and claim ownership of. 133 pianos have been installed so far.
Who plays them and how long they remain is up to each community. Each piano acts as sculptural, musical, blank canvas that becomes a reflection of the communities it is embedded into. Many pianos are personalised and decorated.
Questioning the ownership and rules of public space ‘Play Me, I’m Yours’ is a provocation, inviting the public to engage with, activate and take ownership of their urban environment.”
“At 9am on Monday the 21st June, 60 pianos will be distributed and then unveiled across New York City by Sing for Hope. Located in public parks, streets and plazas the pianos will be available until 5th July for any member of the public to play and engage with.”
I have been following public arts since my initial study at the City College in 2007. This event ‘Play Me, I’m Yours’ is truly engaging public art from what I’ve seen before. As accessible and romantic it is, at the same time it provides instrument for personal expression in public space.
The fact that the artist allows the public to engage not only at the location but also on the web is an extra ordinary effort. The website encourages public to upload stories, photos and and videos relating to street piano experience. Applause to the artist Luke Jerram.
Italians think they have found Caravaggio’s bones
By ALESSANDRA RIZZO, Associated Press Writer –
“ROME – Italian researchers believe they have found the remains ofCaravaggio, but 400 years later some of the mysteries surrounding the death of the artist may never be solved.
After a year of digging and analyzing centuries-old bones, the researchers said Wednesday they have identified a set of bones they believe to be Caravaggio’s, though they admit they can never be 100 percent certain.
……”
This is very exciting news if they are truly bones of Caravaggio’s. But it is little too coincidental if they are because this year is 400th anniversary of the artist’s death (1610).
Caravaggio is my favorite artist from Baroque period. His dramatic lighting technique is referred to as Caravagesque lighting. The contrast between light and dark is so dramatic; it is as if someone put spotlight over one part like on a theater stage.
Many photographers are inspired by Caravagesque lighting whether they are aware of it or not. It is interesting when photography borrow lighting from painting. Another example is Rembrandt lighting.
Caravaggio’s paintings are very dramatic largely due to lighting but realism and his use of common people in religious paintings were uncommon practice.
Two of my photographs from Mnemonics series will be in a group show at the Fraser Gallery in Maryland. Details follow:
9TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION
March 12 – April 3, 2010
Fraser Gallery
7700 Wisconsin Avenue, Suite E, Bethesda, MD 20814
A group exhibition of photography by finalists of this annual competition, curated by Catriona Fraser.
The Fraser Gallery received submissions from 151 photographers. The finalists are Erin Antognoli, James Blackie, George Borden, Deb Casso, Alain Debrabant, Sharon Dowis, Karl Doyle, Jane Vanden Eynden, Lee Goodwin, Edward Hahn, Chris Heard, Walter Hobbs, Jessica Jastrzebski, Prescott Lassman, Minny Lee, Anita Licis-Ribak, Stephen Marc, Michael McCullough, Kent Mercurio, David Orbock, Michael Palmer, Walter Plotnick, David Quinn, Allen Russ, Virginia Saunders, Edgar Stewart, Shaun Van Steyn, Michael Wilson, and Christopher Zedano.
An Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held in conjunction with the “Bethesda Art Walk” on Friday, March 12 from 6pm – 9pm.
REVIEWS
9th Annual International Photography Competition featured in:
“The exhibit’s landscape images are among its strongest…… and Minny Lee’s ominous sky-and-branches image, with the indistinct detailing one might find in an early 20th century gum-bichromate print.”
When I arrived in Paris Gare de Lyon train station on February 20th, it was already evening. It took me a while to find a taxi stand. The taxi driver was coughing hard. I didn’t have cough drops for him. He dropped me off on Grands Boulevards with my hotel address #. But there was no hotel in that address. Soon I realized that it was actually one subway stop away from my hotel that is on Boulevard Montmartre. It’s hard to catch a taxi just to go for 1 subway stop. It is even harder to take a subway with my 2 luggage and go up and down the stairs just for one stop. So I walked following the map and asking people. I arrived at my Hotel 20 minutes later.
Paris was very busy. It was Saturday night. A lot of people were on the street, restaurants, bars, theaters, etc. The crowd was not as bad as what one would see in Seoul (S. Korea), but it was pretty crowded for me to stroll down with my two luggage. The hotel had a tiny elevator, but I had to go up and down the stairs several times to and from elevator.
I was not too hungry but I wanted to see the city little bit. I decided to grab something quick and to walk to Pont Neuf at least. Near hotel, I stopped by Chinese noodle place. I ordered a hot noodle soup which was not spicy at all. What a rip off.
I went to Paris with group of students from my college as a part of summer abroad program in 1997. We had a tour guide and tour bus. I moved with them without sensing where I was. I never had enough time to contemplate in each place with such a group.
Walking to Pont Neuf took me longer than I thought. About 20-30 minutes from my hotel that was located inside of Passage Jouffroy. Passage is an arcade walk path with shops on both sides. Sometime I was overwhelmed to see a whole building block going endlessly. Paris has certain color schemes; I noticed after seeing films scanned. Paris has way too bright street lights (maybe for security reasons).
Eiffel Tower in the back left
Pont Neuf and Seine River
Once I arrived at Pont Neuf, I thought to walk to Notre Dame Cathedral. It was another 10-minute walk.
Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris
When I first when out with my 35mm film camera, I thought to photograph Paris, the city, but naturally my attention went to the trees.
I walked back to the hotel. Still a lot of people were inside of restaurants and on the streets. I noticed that most Parisians wear black color. Also a lot of girls were wearing mini-skirts. I haven’t seen so many mini-skirts for a long time.
My promenade (‘a leisurely walk’ in French) lated about 3 hours. My legs were sore when I returned to hotel.
From the window of my hotel room, the ceiling of the Passage Jouffroy created subtle and mysterious mood. Next morning, I had Café au lait and a croissant at one of the shops there.
How many artists passed through Paris. How many photographers photographed Paris. Paris has been inspiration for so many artists. It attracts so many tourists as well. I was curious to see what would be the reason. I am sure there are many reasons and many of them cannot be described. I only had one day (2 nights) which was too short of time to feel the city. But I thought Paris surely has its charm that seems to be embedded into the life of the city, be they pleasant or harsh.
I just finished reading Herman Hesse’s Narcissus and Goldmund. Whenever I finish reading a great book, it makes me feel empty and think, what am I supposed to do now? I feel like I lost a purpose.
During my high school years, Hesse was one of my favorite writers. After many years of absence, now reading him again, it gave me a great joy. His deep sea of thoughts.
Well, now I should be delighted to choose my next reading from a long list.
Some passages from Narcissus and Goldmund
…
All true mysteries, it seemed to him, were just like this mysterious water; all true images of the soul were like this: they had no precise contour or shape: they only could be guessed at, a beautiful distant possibility that was veiled in many meanings. Just as something inexpressibly golden or silvery blinked for a quivering instant in the twilight of the green river depths, an illusion that contained, nevertheless, the most blissful promise, so the fleeting profile of a person, seen half from the back, could sometimes promise something infinitely beautiful, something unbearably sad. In the same way a lantern hung under a cart at night, painting giant spinning shadows of wheel spokes on walls, could for a moment create a shadow play that seemed as full of incidents and stories as the work of Homer. And one’s nightly dreams were woven of the same unreal, magic stuff, a nothing that contained all the images in the world, an ocean in whose crystal the forms of all human beings, animals, angels, and demons lived as ever ready possibilities.
…
It was that way with everything: even sadness passed, even pain and despair, as well as the joys. Everything passed, faded, lost its depth, its value, and finally there came a time when one could no longer remember what had pained one so. Pains, too, wilted and faded.
…
The basic image is not flesh and blood; it is mind. It is an image that has its home in the artist’ soul.
…
You spoke of ‘basic images,’ of images that exist nowhere except in the creative mind, but which can be realized and made visible in matter. Long before a figure becomes visible and gains reality, it exists as an image in the artist’s soul. This image then, this ‘basic image,’ is exactly what the old philosophers call an ‘idea.’”
…
At the exact point where images stop, philosophy begins.
…
So let me go on thinking and judge my thoughts by their result, as I shall judge your art by your works.
I was in Arles participating in the Reflexions Masterclass and doing an institutional job for Actes Sud publishing company.
From Arles, I went to Avignon, a City of Pope. From Arles train station, it only took about 30 minutes to Avignon station.
I felt the presence and pride of Pope is still very strong in Avignon. While still a part of Kingdom of Arles, Pope Clement V chose Avignon as his residency in 1309. Avignon belonged to Papacy until 1791 when it became part of France after the French Revolution. From 1305 to 1378, seven popes resided in Avignon. From glimpse of Palais des Papes, one can only imagine the power of popes in those days.
Avignon is famous for the Avignon Festival, a theatrical events that embraces dance, music, and cinema which attracts 100,000 visitors each year.
I arrived in Avignon on February 19th. Although the weather was cold, I enjoyed strolling down much less crowded streets. Immediately I was astonished by buildings sit on grandiose rocks.
After walking around for a couple of hours and had my crêpe, it was 4pm. There were not many options to do around that time. I was thinking whether to go to a museum or walk more. Meantime I arrived at bus stops across from the train station. I was checking on bus to Avignon TGV station. I was disappointed at how little I did that day. I thought travel is about exploring.
Chartreuse Notre-Dame-du-val-de-Bénédiction is on the other side of Rhône river. It sits on hilltop. Admission to the castle closes 5 or 6pm. I don’t have time to go in. But I thought it would be beautiful going up there. I just found that #11 bus goes there and I saw #11 bus parking and waiting for passengers. Without much thought, I jumped into #11 bus. I was able to pay bus fare on the bus which was 1.20 Euro.
Bus went across the river and up into the hilltop. The other side of river is called “Villeneuve-lès-Avignon.” After 10 minutes or so, I saw the tip of the castle. I got off from the bus impulsively without thinking much. Probably another 3 stops to the castle. I crossed the street and saw a farm.
I felt like walking into the town. I ran into an old man walking with his horse. After passing me, the horse stopped and looked back at me, checking out the stranger. The owner pulled and he walked away leaving curiosity behind.
I passed many houses with gates. I looked into the yard and saw abandoned looking old cars. I didn’t see anybody and thought, “Is this a ghost town?” Finally I saw a house without fence and the smoke coming out of chimney. I almost felt like going in there to greet the owner.
I kept walking and finally arrived into an empty field with a canal ahead. I also saw human beings! One Mini Cooper parked and a couple came out. They met up with a woman who seemed to be a real estate agent. They talked for a while in the field.
Along the cannel, there were pathways and many people jogged or walked. A man with a dog passed me the other side of the canal. The dog stopped and tried to sniff at me even though I was on the other side of the canal.
I photographed along the canal for a while. It was cold but it had a clear air and sky. I saw Chartreuse Notre-Dame-du-val-de-Bénédiction afar.
Next day it had a beautiful weather with warmer temperature. I went to plaza of Palais des Papes. It is a huge square with a lot of monuments surrounded by: Remparts, Petit Palais, Cathédrale des Doms, Palais des Papes with 4 towers. Palais des Papes is the biggest Gothic Palace in all of Europe. Of course, I cannot take a picture with all the buildings together. So here is the sketch I got from the Palais des Papes website.
a sketch from Palais des Papes website
I first went to their garden. Then came down to outside of ancient wall (14 km long). I walked down to the water and then walked over to the bridge.
My friend Kathleen asked me to takes pictures of the famous Avignon Bridge (Pont Saint Bénézet) so I tried many shots with my digital camera. Unfortunately Rhône River is much polluted and the water is unclear with garbage floating.
Jardin Benoit XII
Rhône River
ancient wall
Pont Saint Bénézet
Pont Saint Bénézet
Pont Saint Bénézet
Pont Saint Bénézet
Notre Dame des Doms
The Cloister Benoît XII
The Cloister Benoît XII
Terrasse des Grands
Plaza of Palais des Papes
From Avignon, I went to Paris. I always have problem leaving each city when I travel. Just when I got used to Arles, I had to leave for Avignon. Just when I started finding beauty of Avignon, I had to leave for Paris.
TGV train from Avignon to Paris took 2 hours and 40 minutes. I didn’t get to sit by the window but I kept snapping pictures with my digital camera. Man next to me got used to my camera and tried to position himself as far into his seat possible for me to get better angle.
Outside sceneries were sort of deserted but they had their own unique colors.
This is a video piece that I made during 4-day Mountain Workshops in October 2008. Recently the Mountain Workshops posted videos made from 2008 workshops.
Participating at the Mountain Workshops was an amazing experience — not just for the sake of learning or improving skills but it made me think fundamentally about image-making and storytelling in general. My mentor David Frank from the New York Times was especially helpful during my short journey at the workshops. He was crucial to editing of this video. I shot a lot but I didn’t know how to put together. My other mentor Huy Mach went to the field with me one day to help me out not to forget elements.
It was my first experience of shooting video and I was nervous and made a lot of mistakes but at the end of the day, what it counted was not the final product but what I got out of the experience.
The subject of this video, Fran Chester was a huge inspiration for me and her kids at the Mayfield Elementary School were so sweet. When I went to shoot for the second day, they all said hi to me. One student said, “I saw you at the Walmart yesterday.” Kids called me “Miss Minny.”
The whole experience was one of those rare moments in life that you can look back year and year and still feel special about it. It is like a jewel box that only you possess and you can open it whenever you like and it’s all yours.
Just to add more on this post:
After my documentary video of October 2008, Mayfield Elementary School’s cheerleading team won the National Championship again in December 2008. Then in February 2010, they won another Championship plus 2 other awards, one being “The Most Entertaining” award. They won the National Championship 3 years in a row.
Opening Reception on January 15th 6-8PM at ICP Education Gallery
After several months of preparation, opening night finally arrived.
We had a table with our promo card and guest book. We sold exhibition catalogue on the same table.
People started to coming in from 6PM and even at 8PM, I saw people coming in. Opening was supposed be 6-8PM but it went on til almost 9PM when ICP school finally put blinking light to hint people that opening was over.
We had a lot of visitors. Many people pay attention to photos and reading captions. People went through every walls and rooms. We displayed about 70 pictures on the wall, 2 multimedia pieces, and 2 installations for the opening night.
Opening night DJ Tom White was playing music in the Studio and variety of beverages were served including wine and beer. People were holding beer bottles all over the place and viewing photographs, catching up with friends etc. The hallway got pretty crowded soon after.
Just as I tasted little bit of opening night fever, it was already over. 2 1/2 hour gone by like wind.
Uploading pictures from the opening night below. I didn’t have mind or time to take tons of pictures but got some to share with others.
(View from the stairs at 6:50PM)
(My Italian teacher Umberto with Star at our table)
(Our seminar leader Bob Sacha and PJ’09 Anna and Illana)
(Sheila and her friend on the left, Jesse and her friend on the right)
(On the left: Daniel’s book installation, On the right: my 16 small theater pieces)
(my installation room “Nightwalker”)
(Studio)
(Brendon’s installation room)
(Brendon’s projection on the hallway)
(already crowded hallway)
(Tom White and Heesoon and their daughter at Studio, ready to DJ)
(A visitor is watching Gianni & Yusuf’s Detroit multimedia)
(Bess and Christina)
(A visitor making a note of photo)
(A tall Gianni in the background talking to Nelson)
(interrupting GS ’08 guys taking a group picture)
(getting back to the lounge, Rachel in the back in pink shirt)
(Sheila and her friends)
(Lounge scene at 7:30PM)
(A visitor viewing my hand-made book. Rachel’s photo in the back.)
(Studio, Tom White playing music using old fashioned LP)
(Studio, Free drinks are always great! ICP prepared a lot of drinks.)
(Studio scene. I wish we played a slideshow of our images.)
(Gianni flied in from Palermo, Italy)
(Anna and Annie)
(Christina, Katherine, and Deirdre)
(Yusuf and friend)
(Scene from the Education office. My tree picture in the back.)
(The last visitor to my installation room. 8:40PM)
I will be in a group show with 26 other photographers from our collective, What We Saw. We are 2008 alumni of ICP’s Documentary photography and Photojournalism program.
Almost 2 years after graduating from the ICP school, everybody is doing their own thing, trying to establish own vision in photography.
Please come to see our show. Information follows.
What We Saw: Dialects
January 15 – March 28, 2010
ICP Education Gallery at the School of the International Center of Photography
