Friday, October 26, 2012

NEW MEXICO ARTIST

photography by karen kuehn
MY TRIBE
The artist of New Mexico series as been growing over the last ten years.
I shoot with an 8x10 also it converts to 5x7.
The camera is over 50 years old.
Both artist are a couple and last summer I did a demo with Erin Currier.
Her partner Anthony Hassett happened in to the room so I got a few shots to add him to the series at large.
Check out their work.
My Book on line that is growing
The Artist of New Mexico

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Margaret Bourke-White 1904-1971

Self Portrait
"I feel that utter truth is essential,and to get that truth may take a lot of searching and long hours."
Margaret Bourke-White

One of the Great American Women Photographers.
Her work is an inspiration to me.
I look at it and think how the world is lacking in such great imagery being done now today.
The use of large formats and the great magazines of the yesterday.
Now its like homogenized digital capture unless your on a personal art project.
It makes my head spin that I've had so much life full of real film and now you can hardly get a magazine to invest in making great film images for the use of mostly 35mm capture has made film and prints an art form in a market of less sales and less commissions for an over populated market now exists with everybody and their mother being a "PHOTOGRAPHER" it is a tragic step forward and I can only hope that some of the great shooters will remain rather than getting swept under the rug of digital capture.
I find it disconcerting that the copy cats and newbies of the photography world, not just shooters but editors have little history in mind of photography and art.  This is where the now photography wants so very much to stir it all into one pot.
I can only hope in my years to come that the cream will not be diluted but rather come to the top for many I still see as masters in photography. 

photograph by Margaret Bourke-White

This image hangs in my home.  
It's one that reminds me daily to be a better person.
To honor truth and to spin NO TALES.
Support peaceful living and thinking.
Think BIG, Global, Ecology and Humanity.
By example we can make change.
No magical thinking, just make a difference the best you can daily and that adds up to make the whole.
Values that our world must endure as humanity consumes and discards. It can break the Spirit if you let it be so, but I have looked to Gandhi as an example and inspiration many a time.  Also Jane Goodall; both people with full commitments to what they valued at large.
Seek like minded and expand mindfully.

"A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes."
Gandhi 

Today my friend Dr. Deb Windham posted a Gandhi quote:
Their so many ways this quote is posted but you get the point. 
As the election nears we can hope for change but its true we must be what we want.  
We must honor our souls life and avoid the evil and greed that can occur in political gaming.
"A good person will resist an evil system with his whole soul. Disobedience of the laws of an evil state is therefore a duty." -Gandhi

Be the change you wish to see in the world.

Mahatma Gandhi

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."
Here's some amazing quotes to inspire your day.
"A man is but the product of his thoughts. What he thinks, he becomes."
(this resonates to me for the foolery of some, esp those whom think they are angelic and good when in fact they are dogged eared of a lessor evolve.)
For just a moment when you think your just that good, take a step away from what you have created and ask  yourself.
Have I left good foot steps or bad.

Leave no trace, hardly possible for many.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Don Takayama

photography by karen kuehn
REST IN PEACE

World class surf board shaper kicked out as they say today.
Making some of the best long boards in California.
Sporting the sparrow logo.
Don surfed with me once to try out his boards.
It was one of those awesome mornings with an off shore breeze.
He wore a gold wet suit as I recall thinking wow the James Bond of the surf world.
I was in awe of his shaping, the rocker the float, the trim all just right.
A legend.
Aloha and Mehalo

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Scarygirl Exhibition NYC

Bunnie Guru by karen kuehn
The World is My Carrot
My friend Nathan Jurevicius as curated a show of works by many artist to illustrate his toy characters.  I chose the Bunnie Guru, he was green velvet and I gold leafed him.  He lives in a shadow box in my home to remind me of the abundance we can create in our personal and global world.  I met Nathan on a lay over in the Chicago O Hare airport over a decade ago.  We both were sitting quietly minding our own business when a handicap person entered the area...at the same time we both stood up and offered our seats...it was so in sync and we both had similar and positive reactions to our gestures.  Since than we have swapped toys for prints.  It is my pleasure to be part of this selection of art to represent his work.  

Thank You Nathan aka Scarygirl Inventor
(check out this artist work here:)

Show Opens on October 31st 2012
7pm
Toytoyko
 Scarygirl exhibition
91 SECOND AVENUE
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10003
USA
List of Artist in Exhibition
 
-->
Alex Mcleod & Krystle Tabujara
Angel & Justin
Akiko Ito
Akinori Oishi
Aaron Stewart
Ajee
Apak
Abe Lincoln Jr
Andrew Bell
Ania Tomicka
Arkie
Andrea Kang
Allison Cole
Arv Slabosevicius
Adrienne Marcella Kammerer
Ashley Alyson Bryce
Austin Power
Beck Wheeler
Bwana Spoons
Bubi Au Yeung
Bibbe Hansen
Bob Duggan
Ben Newman
Bev Hogue
Craig Redman
Diavù
Destroy You
David Healey
Erica Calardo
Eric Holswade
Emily Bricker
Emiline Allen
Evoker
Erin Bushelman
The Beast Brothers
Frank Kozik
Gemma Correll
Gary Ham
Gabe Gill
Hyein Lee
Haze XXL
HAZ
Itokin Park
Junko Mizuno
Jesse LeDoux
Jesse Hernandez
Jon Burgerman
Joshua Ben Longo
JRYU
MAD
Jermaine Rogers
Jillian Clark
Juan Molinet
Joe Ledbetter
Javier Gonzalez Burgos
Jeremyville
Kozyndan
Karen Kuehn
Lamour Supreme
Lou Pimentel
Leah Chun
Luke Jurevicius
Luke Chueh
Lana Crooks
Lunartik
Luke Temby
Luke Rook
MARKA27
Mark Gmehling
Motomichi Nakamura
Melinda Josie
Misery
Milo
MCA
Matthew Langille
Mishka
Miki Mottes
Mako Fufu
Matthieu Dutheil/K.Olin tribe
Nicholas Aoki
Nahum Ziersch
Patrick Ma
Pelon Cho
Patricio Oliver
Paul S O'Connor
Paul Shih
Peter Kato
Roque Ballesteros
Rolito
Raymond Lemstra
Ryan ‘Downtimer’ Alm
Ryan Matthew Cohn
Rebecca Adams
Remy Poisson
Rilla Alexander
Ryan Cox
Rob Reger
Ritzy Periwinkle
Sonni Adrian
Sucklord
Steve Manale
Sam Fout
Sass
Steve Alexander
Scott Tolleson
Steve Wilson
Shaun Tan
S.Britt
Salamander
Shawn Smith
Selena Wong
Scott Wetterschneider
Sabina Hahn
TADO
Touma
Tokyoplastic
Tokyobunny
Thomas Han
Tamar Moshkovitz/GO-TAM
Tara McPherson
Uman
Vitas Jurevicius
We Kill You
ZombieKid Yuck

Friday, October 12, 2012

Zia Symbol





I love New Mexico.  Like many of the great artist and painters the light here is pretty astonishing at times.
I'd wager that the national anthem was inspired by the taupe's, purples and sages that are ever present in this landscape.
It seems fitting to use the Zia symbol to help clients identify with the region where I am based. The South West my home; rugged, western, inspiring. Many magazines are now hiring regionally rather than sending NYC based shooters on the road.  
I did 16 years worth of work living in the Manhattan.  An unforgettable time in my life.  
The market has had a huge shift due to the economical cinching of pocket books. 
 I am located in the four corner States.
Colorado
Utah
Arizona
New Mexico
and Texas is our neighbor. 

A few sweet facts.
The Zuni Pueblo is just west of my farm.  The Zuni first response team was on 911.  They were brought in from NM to NYC to help.
I remember the singer song writer Chris Whitley use to wear one this symbol.
He was so found of this region.

 ZIA facts.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Breaking Bad


Autobiography in Five Short Chapters – by Portia Nelson
(a story given to my friend Brian Cavens kid to read in school age 11)

 
Chapter 1
I walk down the street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I fall in.
I am lost…. I am helpless.
It isn’t my fault.
It takes forever to find a way out.

Chapter 2
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the side walk.
I pretend I don’t see it.
I fall in again.
I can’t believe I am in this same place.
But, it isn’t my fault.
It still takes a long time to get out.

Chapter 3
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I see it is there.
I still fall in… it’s a habit… but,
my eyes are open.
I know where I am.
It is my fault.
I get out immediately.

Chapter 4
I walk down the same street.
There is a deep hole in the sidewalk.
I walk around it.

Chapter 5
I walk down another street.

GOOD THOUGHT

Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment.

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Fire Drill

photography by Ed Taylor

Ed asked me if my house burned down what would I want to save other than family and critters.  
I said my cousin Joes fire helmet.  He served in NYC for decades. 
 I have some of his certificates of honor for lives he has saved.  
He has been one of my most supportive family member.  
My life is so much better.  He is my blessing.
I asked for his helmet if no one else wanted it.
I did for I thought my son would treasure it as well.
He brought it to NM the very next trip.
Inside the helmet you will find bandages of which he kept there in case of emergencies.
The helmet is leather and well worn, it was his second helmet.
Joe lives in Green-point Brooklyn to date.
And yes he has a thick accent.
Ed thank you for capturing this image I love it.