The Last Shot

Rock photographer Jim Marshall passed away in his sleep last week. He was in NY promoting his latest book, "Match Prints" a pairing with Timothy White. He was headed to LA this week.When I received this in the mail, it made me a little sad, but I hear the reception for the artist is now being planned as a celebration of his life. The opening is tomorrow night. Go, pay your respects & check out his work!Marshall had unparalleled access to rock royalty. He got his break in 1960 when John Coltrane asked him for directions to a club. Marshall said he'd give him a ride if Coltrane would let him take his picture. A rare shot of Grace Slick & Janis Joplin together.The only photographer allowed backstage at the final Beatles concert.
A pensive John Lennon backstageHe asked Johnny Cash for a shot for the warden. Love it!

Opening reception 7-9pm
Thurs. April 1st
Fahey/Klein Gallery
148 North La Brea Avenue
LA, CA 90036

Nick Brandt: A Shadow Falls

"Nick Brandt continues his ambitious and ongoing photographic project to memorialize the vanishing natural grandeur of East Africa. His spectacular yet intimate wildlife portraits are filled with a sensitivity usually reserved for human beings."

Fahey/Klein Gallery

Nick Brandt A Shadow Falls
September 10th - October 17th

Fahey/Klein Gallery
148 N. La Brea

Los Angeles, CA 90036

Jean-Marie Perier

These photos were taken by famed French photographer Jean-Marie Perier. The photo with the candy stripe background grabbed me. I didn't know who the subject was, I just knew she looked like Drew Barrymore set in the 60's. I now know she's Sylvie Vartan.


First Person Access: The World of Jean-Marie Perier, 1956-2008
Reception for the artist, Thursday, April 23, 7 - 9 p.m.
It is Perier's first US show.

When I visited his website, I clicked on his biography. The link led me to a section titled, Words To a Young Photographer. I love someone willing to share unvarnished advice.

Below is an excerpt.

In all artistic profession – it also holds for photography – lies a key factor for success: chance. Being a talented and hard-working man is not enough if fortune doesn’t smile on you. I admit it’s not fair but chance is usually the starting point for successful careers: look at me.

All my life I had the chance to meet people who accepted to be photographed…even if I know they usually did accept because I was representing a famous French magazine.

To finish up with advice: a good photographer has to be spontaneous. If you’re slow, forget about this job. The thing is to know what you really want to do before the shooting. Of course, I’m talking about portraits or fashion pictures not about photojournalism which definitely requires a courage that I don’t have. I admire those people ready to travel to hostile countries to bring back images. I am just good at making a show. I know the art of lying to bring out the truth.

Swoon.

There's No Place Like Home

The Power of Now Nail Polish

Camptown Races

Here's how Julie Blackmon describes her series:

“The stress, the chaos, and the need to simultaneously escape and connect are issue that I investigate in this body of work. We live in a culture where we are both ‘child centered’ and ‘self-obsessed.’ The struggle between living in the moment versus escaping to another reality is intense since these two opposites strive to dominate. Caught in the swirl of soccer practices, play dates, work, and trying to find our way in our ‘make-over’ culture, we must still create the space to find ourselves. The expectations of family life have never been more at odds with each other. These issues, as well as the relationship between the domestic landscape of the past and present, are issues I have explored in these photographs. I believe there are moments that can be found throughout any given day that bring sanctuary. It is in finding these moments amidst the stress of the everyday that my life as a mother parallels my work as an artist, and where the dynamics of family life throughout time seem remarkably unchanged. As an artist and as a mother, I believe life’s most poignant moments come from the ability to fuse fantasy and reality: to see the mythic amidst the chaos."

I don't have children but can't we all relate? Particularly if you're a dreamer, I love the concecpt of struggling between living in the moment and fantasy. Blackmon normally photographs family members and her works seem to have a sweet yet sinister side. The images below remind me of Chris Anthony.

PC

Candy

American Gothic

Bubble Tape

Created Equal

Motorcycle Gang/Altar Boys

Fur Trapper/Woman With Dog

Mariachis/Elvis Impersonators French Chef/Short Order Cook
Ballerina/Boxer

Marine/War Veteran

I'm mesmerised by Mark Laita's photos at Fahey/Klein.

I love sitting with each pairing to compare their differences and similarities. I hate to project what associations I made, so I'll let the artist share what drove him:

"At the heart of this collection of portraits is my desire to remind us that we are all equal, until our environment, circumstances or fate molds us and weathers us into whom we become. America’s extremes seem to be getting more severe. The chasm between the rich and poor continues to grow; the clash between conservatives and liberals is stronger than ever; even good and evil seem more polarized. Created Equal attempts to remind us that we are all connected, no matter how separate our paths may be.”

Click here for more.

Melvin Sololsky

Fahey Klein has the most incredible upcoming exhibition of photographs by Melvin Sololsky.
It begins Sepember 4th.

Most of them were taken in the 60's. Possibly my favorite decade as far as fashion goes.

Check out a preview of the show here.

But honestly, you must see Sololsky's personal website.

Plus, he's not strictly into fashion.