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Flaunt Evolution Saturday:
When: Sep 12 7:00p to 11:00p
Where: Under the Colorado Avenue Bridge, Colorado Springs,
What: CO Flaunt: Evolution A growth and sustainability-themed collaboration of visual, video and performance arts as well as experimental music. On September 12, 2009, artists and community organizations are going to put on the show of their lives – under the Colorado Avenue Bridge.
I am part of a group called the Big Picture Group and we have put in a piece for this show that was designed by De Lane Bredvik. I hope you can join us for this opening!
http://www.galleryuccs.org/exhibits/2009/flaunt-evolution
On April 1st, Colorado Springs lost an impact full artist. I met him in the mid 70’s in Jr. High. His art started to have an impact on me in 1980 when we took an art class together. Tim (Timber) was doing some paintings and one of them really stood out. Timber continued creating art and impacting the community ever since.
Timber did shows around town including at Rubish Gallery, Smokebrush Center, V bar, and the incubator. He also created art for Burning Man, and built shelters that can be found hidden throughout Colorado.
Timber always had a playful curiosity and enjoyed creating new things and seeing how they worked in his surrounding. I really don’t know how to provide proper tribute to Timber but, to say he will be missed.
Hello:
It is sad to announce that a great gallery here in Colorado Springs is likely to be closing on the 31st of this month. Edifice Gallery Has been showing state of the art art for the past year. Edifice Gallery has been run by young energetic entrepreneurs for the past year and they have really done a great job of bringing a new wave of art to the community. I was just visiting their web site and came across some of the interesting links, pages, and youtube posts. Following is an example:
If anyone is interested in seeing this gallery continue into 2009 please contact the gallery owners. You may find more information at their web page http://www.edificegallery.com/.
Colorado Springs needs more venues for art not fewer. I realize that this economy is making things tight for everyone but, let’s pull together and work to create artistic opportunities not see them leave our community.
Peace,
Bill
Well, things have been crazy here first with photographing the Obama campaign, then going to DC to photograph the fly girls and participate in Photoweek DC. And now getting ready for my next trip for the Archaeoastronomy of the American South West. I haven’t even finished the first book and I am now in the process of starting the second one. These are long projects that don’t really provide financial rewards until they are finished. The first book has been more than six years in the making and the second one will probably take longer as I will have fewer days each year to capture the needed images.
Aztec Doorway © Bill Young 2002
It will be interesting working on this next book, The locations are a bit more remote and it will be a lot colder taking photos of each one. I suspect this project will be eight years in the making.
Some of the images from the first book have been featured on PBS, and various shows throughout Colorado. I hope to set up a road show for the images soon and perhaps have the book ready to go with them. If you know of a gallery that may be interested please contact me and let me know! figurativephoto@aol.com
Have a great holliday season!
Peace
Bill
Collaboration!
I love to collaborate with other artists, models, and groups. It gives new energy to the work I do. Recently I did a photo shoot with Ron English of Popaganda – Art crimes fame! http://www.popaganda.com/. Ron and I have a lot of ideas in common although he has them better refined than I do. This shoot gave me the opportunity to work with an artist that really has brought his work to the front stage of the American public. He just had a show in Denver for the Democratic National Convention. Ron travels all over the united states putting his work on display.
McCastle © Ron English 2008 & Diplomats & Lawyers © Bill Young - Figurative Photo 2008
Ron English’s work reaches into the lexicons of big Business, Politics, and Religion. You may not agree with the message Ron puts out in the world but, his methods are effective and most would agree very artistic. Some people say it isn’t art unless it has a message, some say art has to stir the sole, and some say art just has to be beautiful. I believe the best art does all the above. Although I am not sure what the message was for the Mona Lisa or the statue of David? As we look at them today many find a message that reaches to their own beliefs.
Most artists don’t have the opportunity to collaborate with a great artist like Ron English but, we do have the chance to learn and progress and collaborate with other artists. Some times it is just taking a known piece of art and creating something new from it. I think we all have something to learn from the works of others. I have been working on a project that is similar to the work of Boris Vallejo – http://vallejo.ural.net/1997/ for a couple of years now. I am not looking to create the same images just something similar to the style. I have never met Boris Vallejo but I still love and learn from his work.
Teefa's Dream © Boris Vallejo 1997
If a master artist doesn’t come to town to work with you study the work of those that you do like and feel free to incorporate their work into your own. You don’t have to copy it as closely as some of the examples I am showing but, you can follow the style as you feel fit. Now get out there and create something amazing!
David by Michelangelo & Worth 1000
MonaLisa by Peg, Leonardo Da vinci, & Fernando Botero
Some people would look at the above images and say the artist just copied the originals. I would say that they are very different and at the same time the new images couldn’t have been made if the original didn’t exist. I see this as a collaboration of efforts, at the same time I should point out that a true collaboration would require that the two artists work together at the same time or at least with permission of the other artist. Who knows perhaps Leonardo & Michelangelo would have provided permission if they were alive? Then again perhaps not?
Let me know what you think! Feel free to comment on this or any of my blogs! Oh, and tell your friends about them as well!
Peace,
Bill
Hello:
I was just going through the web sites about Joe Papez. Joe is the American Hero that I am doing a documentary on. He was an amazing man that just dies at the age of 100 years old. I am still doing some research for his life story and decided to see what was posted since his death. One of the things I found to be interesting is the way people write about his Purple Heart’s. Joe earned three of them during World War II. I say Earned as that is what really happend. Some of the web sites say he won purple hearts and I think there is a big distinction between Earning a purple heart and winning one. When I think of winning something I think of it as something I want to strive for. I want to win things and I don’t think anyone really wants to win a purple heart. It is a difficult distinction as most would say you want the things you earn as well. I would submit that we often earn things we don’t want.
We earn the consequences of our behavior. Some times this is good and at other times it isn’t in our best interest. If you work hard, and apply what you learn you can often earn A’s. If you goof off and don’t apply yourself chances are you are going to receive poor grades. Both of them are earned results
The English Oxford Dictionary defines Win in the following way:
1 be successful or victorious in (a contest or conflict) : the Mets have won four games in a row | [ intrans. ] a determination to win | [with complement ] the Pirates won 2–1.
2 acquire or secure as a result of a contest, conflict, bet, or other endeavor : there are hundreds of prizes to be won | [with two objs. ] the sort of play that won them the World Cup.
• gain (a person’s attention, support, or love), typically gradually or by effort : you will find it difficult to win back their attention.
• ( win someone over) gain the support or favor of someone by action or persuasion : her sense of humor had won him over at once.
• [ intrans. ] ( win out) manage to succeed or achieve something by effort : talent won out over bureaucracy.
• archaic manage to reach (a place) by effort : many lived to win the great cave.
• obtain (ore) from a mine.
noun
a successful result in a contest, conflict, bet, or other endeavor; a victory : a win against Norway.
PHRASES
one can’t win informal said when someone feels that no course of action open to them will bring success or please people.
win the day be victorious in battle, sport, or argument.
win or lose whether one succeeds or fails : win or lose, the important thing for him is to set a good example.
win (or earn) one’s spurs historical gain a knighthood by an act of bravery. • informal gain one’s first distinction or honors.
you can’t win them all (or win some, lose some) informal said to express consolation or resignation after failure in a contest.
The English Oxford Dictionary defines Consequences as:
1 a result or effect of an action or condition : many have been laid off from work as a consequence of the administration’s policies.
2 [often with negative ] importance or relevance : the past is of no consequence | he didn’t say anything of great consequence.
• dated social distinction : a woman of consequence.
PHRASES
in consequence as a result.
take the consequences accept responsibility for the negative results of one’s action.
ORIGIN late Middle English : via Old French from Latin consequentia, from consequent- ‘following closely,’ from the verb consequi.
Even though I believe Joe would have preferred to go through life without ever earning a Purple Heart I do know that he was proud of what he did in WWII and that we should all be proud of his efforts. It is the results of people like Joe that brought us to victory in WWII and we all owe him and other men and women like him that served and still serve to this day to make our country a better place.
Peace,
Bill Young
Hello:
Well, today I had a new experience. I went to a friends cremation. It was interesting as I went up I found my self going through different emotions and not knowing how to react. I walked in and they had the viewing. He looked good considering the situation and the family seemed pleased. We watched as he went into the oven and then we left for a few hours. I couldn’t help but, think I should have been taking photos and at the same time feeling that it wasn’t appropriate. I think one of the family members took a few photos but, put his camera away as the body went into the oven. I felt the whole thing was very dignified & now the family has something to remember him that they can bring home.
I wonder if there is a good way to ask about doing photos in a situation like that? Is that best kept for immediate family? What are the rules of engagement in a situation like that? I am sure that my friend that died would not mind photos but, he wasn’t there to ask! I guess if anyone has input I would be interested in knowing! I also realize that we don’t have to photograph everything! Those are just moments that can never be re-captured.
Thanks, I hope to hear from you soon!
Bill
Welcome to the blog of Figurative Photo! I am new to this blog stuff so I hope I can keep it interesting and up to date. I will use this as a chance to let you know what is going on with me and my work. I do photography and videography. I enjoy both mediums and have a lot of projects in the works. I have a few projects that you can look into right now.
1. A show at the Smokebrush Center in Colorado Springs! I have a show called “Big.” It showcases some of my images as bigger than life!
2. I have an installation piece in the Show Shelter also at the Smokebrush Center.
3. A book “Year in the life of a Camera” has five of my photos in it. You can pick up a copy at Blurb.com. This was a fun project by the Circle of Confusion photo club here in Colorado Springs.
I have several other projects in the works so check back and find out what is going on. Also check out my web site! FigurativePhoto.com. I will also be posting some more information about current shows, I have been receiving some interesting reactions to “Big” and I will attempt to respond to some of them in this blog.
Have a great day and feel free to comment on my work!
Bill Young
Photographer/Videographer – Figurative Photo/Ripple Effect Productions.
