Photography

Photography

• Pro-Choice Art Activism- We started a Pro-Choice art project and discussion about the recent ban on abortion in South Dakota. We are asking women of all backgrounds and affiliations to photograph themselves in the midst of a fake unplanned pregnancy as a way to represent the silent majority of people who feel we must have a choice for abortion in this country. Eventually, all individual submissions will be collaged together to create a giant installation reflecting the range of geographies and experiences we receive. Please send word of us to anyone you may know who might be willing to participate. You can read more details at http://www.barefootandpregnant.org You can see some early submissions in our gallery. http://www.barefootandpregnant.org/?page_id=14
• Some photos from the March for Peace and Justice- Additional images can be found on the New Democratic Majority web site, here. Heavy on the symbolism – the flag in front of the New York State Supreme Court, with the legend "The true administration of Justice is the firmest pillar of good government". Cindy Sheehan. Randi The Goddess Rhodes, of Air America Radio. Unrelated, but pretty, on Union Square. A magnetic ribbon for the times. Jonathan Tasini, running against Hillary – and still he smiles. The typical liberal curse. We can't all be on the same page about one subject without somebody jumping up and down and saying "Hey! Hey! Notice me! Listen to my pet bizarrity, dammit!" In this case, the 9/11 conspiracy crowd; not far away is the usual "Free Mumia" crowd, the "Free Haiti" bunch, in short, every lefto cause known to man since the beginning of time, all clamoring for attention, because issue unity isn't something we should ever strive for. Like I said, the crazies were out; here's a Condi 2008 supporter. Freak. More crazies – behold the Freepers, just as angry and ugly as you always thought they were. The lady with the black backpack said she wasn't a Democrat "because the democrats have been taken over by Marxists. Maaarxiiistssss!" No, seriously. The 9/11 conspiracy crowd really hogged up as much space as it could; likely to the undisguised delight of right-wingers seeking to discredit the peace movement.
• The CIA, observed- Via Left Behinds comes this, on an art show currently running at Bellwether Gallery:

  If you get a chance in the next couple of weeks, check out Trevor Paglen's show BLACK WORLD at Bellwether Gallery (10th Ave. between 18th and 19th). Paglen photographs and videotapes secret government bases through telescopes from around 20 miles away; the videos in particular shimmer like the surface of a scrying pool. More recently, Paglen has gotten interested in the CIA's use of shell companies and clandestine flights to transport suspects to unacknowledged prisons in Eastern Europe. [...] Perhaps my favorite piece is a simple 2-minute video taken at a distance of a mile, showing commuters at McCarran airport in Las Vegas getting on the 737 to either Area 51 or the Tonopah Test Range. They're ordinary fat Americans and they waddle, which tickles me. His photo of the "Salt Pit" CIA interrogation facility outside Kabul is also quite moving, in the hell-looks-like-an-ordinary-building sense.

  Maybe not quite what I'd like to have hanging on my dining room wall, but it's interesting to consider out of what unpromising material aesthetics are made.
• Some site notes- The Daily Gotham is pleased to announce a new contributor, Richard Rothstein; Richard will be blogging here, and - we wish for want must have - hopefully sharing his stupendous photography, otherwise featured on his other blog, Manhattan Details. Richard was recruited straight off Daily Kos, where he currently has a featured diary, which in turn led us to him. Here's a sample of his work: So, welcome aboard, Richard.
• Spring is here!- Hooray! We can finally all leave our various hovels and head outside without fear of drowning, freezing, or being buffeted by monstrous winds; Spring is, indeed, finally here. In short, we have roughly three, maybe four weeks, before we can all again complain about the oppressive heat.
• Anti-War Photographer Phillip Jones Griffith, 72, Dead- The cancer death, Wednesday, March 19, 2008 of anti-war free-lance photographer Phillip Jones Griffith gives those of us who learned to understand war through his lens and those who loved his brilliant photographs an opportunity to review his legacy. A somewhat mis-edited NYT obit is here which includes a link to a few photos. He sold his work through Magnum, a photographers’ cooperative of which became president and it is at the Magnum site that a massive display of his work is available.