Wishing You a Wonderful Thanksgiving
I wish you all for thanksgiving what, in a sense, but only in a sense, we already have — a world of wonders. Or, rather, I wish that we would all enter … Continue Reading Wishing You a Wonderful Thanksgiving
Alligator Intellect
[The ink painting above, by Sengai, pictures a scene from the famous Zen koan in which the Zen teacher, Nan-ch’uan, tells his students that he will chop the kitten in … Continue Reading Alligator Intellect
THE ARCANE MACHINE – new book of photographs by L. Russ
What follows is the preface of a book that I’ve just had printed, featuring a fifteen-image photographic poem of mine, The Arcane Machine. The book is 10×10″, 34-pages long, including this preface, the … Continue Reading THE ARCANE MACHINE – new book of photographs by L. Russ
The Heroines’ Unpinned Hair
I don’t know how many “favorite” photographs I have, but I know that one of the frames in my sanctum of photographic love holds Imogen Cunningham’s “The Unmade Bed.” It’s clicheish to … Continue Reading The Heroines’ Unpinned Hair
Irony and Fashion
Irony: don’t let yourself be controlled by it, particularly when you are not actually writing. In the moments when you are are, try to use it as one more means … Continue Reading Irony and Fashion
The Terror of the Naked Critic – Part 2 of 2
Mr. Grundberg has credentials to burn, including years of writing reviews for The New York Times and various awards, including the prestigious Infinity Award from the International Center of Photography. … Continue Reading The Terror of the Naked Critic – Part 2 of 2
The Terror of the Naked Critic – Part 1 of 2
The comic bit, on which there’ve been many variations,goes something like this: A Hollywood pitchman addresses a group of studio execs, exhorting them, “I’m tellin’ you this project is box … Continue Reading The Terror of the Naked Critic – Part 1 of 2
The Frailty of Judges and Critics
Ever since caveman-times, no doubt, people have tended to huddle around communal fires for warmth, for mutual comfort, for survival. We would all like the support and good will of … Continue Reading The Frailty of Judges and Critics
Cast a Cold Eye on Acceptance, on Rejection. Artist, Pass By!
Okay, forgive me. I’ve “borrowed” and recast this title from the short poem that W.B. Yeats wrote for his tombstone: “Cast a cold eye / On life, on death. / … Continue Reading Cast a Cold Eye on Acceptance, on Rejection. Artist, Pass By!
Summoning the Genie’s Power – Post 3
Society works to make us believe that we’re small, insufficient, that we have to run on the fumes of worldly ambition, that we’ll be doomed if we don’t buy what … Continue Reading Summoning the Genie’s Power – Post 3
Summoning the Genie’s Power – Post 2
Shadows or darkness, fog or cloud, curving shapes, blurred or fantastical objects. Why should photographs with elements like these help to bring on that state of deep calm and heightened … Continue Reading Summoning the Genie’s Power – Post 2
Summoning the Genie’s Power – Post 1
At the end of my last post, I promised you testimony to a particular power of art. The photo of mine above has a title relevant to my purpose: “The … Continue Reading Summoning the Genie’s Power – Post 1
A Story of Creation – Post 2 of 2
“Mushrooms & Trees 5” by Van Chu Post 2 of 2: The Tradition, The brief artist statement on Van Chu’s website, http://vanchuart.com confirmed my initial impression that his photograph reflects … Continue Reading A Story of Creation – Post 2 of 2
A Story of Creation – Post 1 of 2
“Mushrooms & Trees 5” by Van Chu Post 1 of 2: The Photograph, From time to time in these posts, I’ll write about an image that has caught me in … Continue Reading A Story of Creation – Post 1 of 2
“To the Unknown Friend”
For those of you who may not know it already, I took the phrase “the unknown friend” from Ralph Waldo Emerson, who wrote in one of his journals in the Spring … Continue Reading “To the Unknown Friend”
Art as Experience
What I’m about to say to you is, in a sense, simple, though its ramifications are not. This will be an essential foundation for much that I’ll have to say … Continue Reading Art as Experience
