I finally went to the SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art) this week. I have been ecstatic that I live in a city that hosts such epic collections, but, even better – as an Academy of Art student, I get FREE admission. I also have homework assignments that require me going there. Tough life, I know.

I stumbled upon this little gem on the way to the museum. I could hear them blasting Bee Gees through the streets from within my bus as I passed them the first time. Once off the bus, I patiently waited for them to catch up and had a nice brief interaction with the unit. They invited me to hop on, but I told them I had to be on my way. It would have been fun though. I saw them again later that night in my neighborhood.

I met up with my friend Tara at the SFMOMA entrance, and she quickly told me to turn around to see Pierce Brosnan, the biggest crush of my 9th year of life, patiently waiting for his vehicle beside us. Damn. He still looks as good as he did in Dante’s Peak. His driver arrived and swept him away before I could charm him. Next time.

So back to the MOMA. Exhibitions of note:

Sensate – Bodies & Design. A collection of pieces that reflect debates about what bodies are and how they relate to design. I particularly loved Andrew Kudless’s 45-foot cast plaster P_Wall. It just looks like pasty fat rolls. Also reminded me of my 9th year of life (my “butterball” phase, as my dad would kindly refer to it).

I was surprised to find that I was actually allowed to take photographs. Last time I was in an art museum was last fall in NYC, and they certainly weren’t having anything to do with my camera use over there. I suppose that, thanks to cell phone cameras, museums have finally retreated in the photo war.

I have discovered that photographing glass boxes is a convenient way of photographing people that don’t want to be photographed. Until these people notice I’ve taken 20 photos of the same box and become suspicious.

As far as my approach to photographing the rest of the museum… I work keeping in mind that at least 37290 people have photos of the pieces in these displays. I can either take some generally uninspiring photos trying to duplicate what is displayed, or I can try to make something unique out of what I’m supplied with… basically incorporating the piece and its environment to make something completely new. I’ve been trying to use this approach to most things I find in the city these days.




(Yeah, this is one of those replicas, but I loved it too much not to include.)



Okay, if you have the opportunity, go see the Richard Avedon exhibit. Jesus effing christ. His portraiture is incredible.




Seriously, this photo scares the shit out of me. Avedon’s portrait of dance teacher/killer Joe Piro. The portrait is perfect.

The rest of the museum was a bit anticlimactic at this point.

Once finished up at the museum, I headed back home to find a little art party in the yard, consisting of Cyndie, Maia, and Martha. Everyone’s preparing for the giant annual art party my house throws every fall. Glad my social debut happens to be as one of the hosts.

That’s all for now.

END!

MY CAMERA CHARGER IS BACK!

I’ve had the following photos stuck on my camera for a week now, as I accidentally left my camera charger + extra battery at my old abode. I finally retrieved it, and my photos are finally free. I’ve actually spent the entire day either editing or taking photos, and I’ve loved every freaking minute of it. I’ll take that as evidence that this whole photography MFA will work out just fine for me.

Anyway.

Last weekend, my roommate Cyndie and I went adventuring in the Mission to look for art and coffee and perhaps some mexican breakfast potatoes. We found all three.

Our first stop was a series of in-house art shows by Home Is Something I Carry With Me, a San Francisco-based art collective that has been one of the grant recipients from Southern Exposure. I’m quickly getting used to the amount of art I have public access to at any given time. I could visit a different art show every day and still not put a dent in the SF arts scene.

Additional stops on our trek included Triple Base Gallery, Philz Coffee, multiple alleyways and storefront windows. This place is serious eye candy. Slightly grimy burrito-flavored candy.

And to top off my trek, on the final walk home, I see this. Total camouflage parking awesomeness. My day can’t be more complete.

Man, it feels good to be blogging again. I took another 357920 photos today, and will be posting them tomorrow. Hooray!

END!

I’m starting my MFA program at the Academy of Art in San Francisco in September.  These are the photos that got me into grad school.  

On Sunday (5/10) I had the chance to explore Raleigh’s historic abandoned Bain Water Treatment Plant (aka E.B. Bain Waterworks). The site opened up to the public to display The Bain Project, a collective display of work by a group of artists in a variety of disciplines, a few of which are friends of mine.

It was Mother’s Day. Mother had no plans, brother was in town… so I figured I’d drag them out there with me with the assumption that they’d find it halfway engaging. I couldn’t wait.

The map says it’s on Fayetteville Street. So I park on Fayetteville near the Raleigh Times and begin walking south. What I don’t realize at the time is the plant is located way down south. Almost-to-the-beltline south.

So the walk continues. No sight of the plant on Fayetteville. (I had wondered why I had never encountered this building before.) Google tells me the plant’s actual location. We are faced with the decision to retreat or continue. We decide it’s nice weather, and the additional walk couldn’t be THAT far anyway.

After about an hour or so of southbound wandering through unfamiliar seedy territory, we finally find Bain in all its glory. I am in heaven. Color and decay and creativity and morbidity everywhere. I came back twice that day.

View my complete set of Bain Project photos on my Flickr.

For more info on The Bain Project, visit bainproject.com.

(Complete Bain Project photo collection on my Flickr.)