Topic: Sally Mann

[lauraburlton]

I had the fortune to go a lecture and slide show by Sally Mann this past Friday. Her work was really amazing. She showed us work from the inception of her career to the present. I found it very enlightening to say the least She was so very articulate. Her newest body of work was a trip though, she had taken photos at the body Farm, I think it was somewhere in Tennessee. This is a place where study the decomposition of bodies in the wild ( I am half asleep so I am sure I could  think of a better way to put that after caffeine injection....) Another funny thing she showed was some of the entries from the guest books at her shows. Some of the entries were quite funny like "nice composition", "great contrast", "VOTE REPUBLICAN!" ( which she promised never to do)  and a bunch of other pretty funny stuff.  She also had some majorly muscled up arms- guess dragging around an 8 x 10 view camera has some advantages I never really thought about....

[Tammy]

Lucky you!

I believe the Body Farm is near Knoxville.  It is fascinating, and I would give a leg to go visit- not that I would be too compelled to photograph things, but well, it is interesting from a scientific point of view.  I keep telling my husband that when I go, stick me in an old car, half buried in the creek out there someplace.   amazing.

Anyway, the lecture sounds pretty interesting, I've been intrigued with her work, mostly her earlier work, and with the format she uses for all that.  . 

Tammy 

[lauraburlton]

Recently she is using a very old wet plate set up- hence the increased bicep size . She want around the South taking photos and had a darkroom set up in the back of her suburban. Funny that I think..."ahhhh , now thats the life "

[astrobeck]

I'm with you, I think that is the life!
How amazing it must be to be able to do this, and in this time when digital is trying to take over.
No matter how many zillions of megapixels they put in a camera, we'll never get biceps from them.
;-)

astro

[JOhn Reeves]

rent or check out the PBS ART:21 episode. http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/mann/index.html
You can get it at netflix.

[db]

Fantastic. I'm jealous.
Last week I saw 'what remains'  (fantastic film by the beeb) on the same subject. It incorporated footage from an earlier film that dealt with the famous family pics, then seamlessly followed through to following her capturing this new work.
Great insights, intense person. Lo-ove the wet plate. I recommend the film (for those who can't see her in person!).
db

[Karl]

I saw the BBC film too. A great documentary and it was interesting to see both angles - the retrospective and the current work, which she was finding hard to get into the major gallery. Didn't they cancel on her or something and she then pushed hard for exhibiting it herself at a museum? Fascinating programme of a great artist. Would love to see her work for real.

[db]

I saw the BBC film too. A great documentary and it was interesting to see both angles - the retrospective and the current work, which she was finding hard to get into the major gallery. Didn't they cancel on her or something and she then pushed hard for exhibiting it herself at a museum? Fascinating programme of a great artist. Would love to see her work for real.

Yes that's right. Her regular gallery in NY got cold feet when they saw the subject matter (dead bodies ) and pulled the pin only a few weeks before the opening. The film shows how devastating this was to her, but Sally immediately and rightly, surmises that a museum would be the best place to host such an anthropomorphically confronting show.

[lauraburlton]

She has a show up at the Texas Gallery here, which I have yet to go and see ( It opened on Saturday). Each print is something like $45K. Wish I could get that for my prints  I would only have to sell 2 a year to make a comfortable living 

[Ron]

I am quite envious, Laura   I have seen Sally's work in person a couple of times.  Fantastic is a good summation.  For her really large prints, often she makes the frames too.  Her work is the total package for me.  Great content, amazing printing ability and a very polished presentation.  Her prints are something to behold in person.

[Ed Wenn]

This all sounds too good to miss. I'm going to go and hunt down that BBC documentary. Will post info back here if I find a copy anywhere.

[Janet_P]

Wow, I'm jealous too. Keep us posted on that documentary ED, I'd love to see it too.

Janet

[JOhn Reeves]

watched these videos the other night. found'em again for youins.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17861120/site/newsweek/