Ask anyone who knows me and you’ll get a bucketful of oddities lurking in my frontal lobe. Case in point: I crave eclectic well themed and composed photography, so much so I’ve surrendered to the notion that I can be just as observant of natural geometry and physics especially when their entities present the perfect nova of art meets life. My mentors have always been Man Ray and William Claxton. Man Ray’s pioneering themes of nude art photography utilizing the shape and texture of props to enhance the model are still revered as revolutionary - as is much of the energy within the Dada era. Claxton’s work is the stuff of miracles. You see his unique approach to everyday things and events still expanded upon in modern fashion and design photography today. Fascinating man. Did you know his wife was the first ever model of the ubiquitous “Topless Bikini”…? And check out his documentary about all the American and European jazz greats he had the opportunity to photograph during their careers - some of which is really tragic stuff but becomes the quilt of our existence and he captured the best of the best and the worst of the worst, unfiltered, just a gutsy eye view of reality.
Well…anyway, so I just saw the documentary about Vivian maier and am so blown away I simply must include her unwavering eye poised to capture that perfect collision of art and life in my mentor rolodex. Please check her out. The video is on most streaming platforms 😎
I’ve posted this address sculpture hanging in the portico of 123 Justison St here in Wilmington DE. After witnessing Vivian’s boundless aura I’m reinvigorated to walk over there just to see it again.
🎶 …and since it’s humpday, and we’re talking about energy to get you through your day, here… have some toe tappin’ hip shakin’ arm wavin’ Wilson Pickett live in Spain from 1966 🔊 1 2 3…