tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9493601.post7199041077250681615..comments2024-01-11T15:12:49.433-05:00Comments on Tao of Photography by Andy Ilachinski: On the Art of Observing Gallery Viewers Observing ArtAndy Ilachinskihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572501787099507666noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9493601.post-73892348723453398562009-09-14T05:43:31.787-05:002009-09-14T05:43:31.787-05:00Too interesting. But I can't observe at artwor...Too interesting. But I can't observe at artwork too long...Jennifer Palmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13152837331428439346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9493601.post-32345856368908485552009-08-26T09:43:58.435-05:002009-08-26T09:43:58.435-05:00This is a really interesting article, I'm not ...This is a really interesting article, I'm not much of a Gallery Go'er myself although I am a photographer and while I was reading this I was thinking about how different online Galleries are in comparison to the real tangible and visited ones. It really gave me some food for thought!Robyn L.https://www.blogger.com/profile/03751657853774402352noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9493601.post-13603900066494037432009-08-19T08:47:32.540-05:002009-08-19T08:47:32.540-05:00I sometimes enjoy watching the watchers more than ...I sometimes enjoy watching the watchers more than the artwork on show!retoque fotograficohttp://www.photorestorationretouching.com/es/inicio.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9493601.post-62720946776432944262009-08-14T15:29:39.563-05:002009-08-14T15:29:39.563-05:00Would it be fair to say that the more educated the...Would it be fair to say that the more educated the person, the more he/she appreciates what he/she sees? That is, the ones who pass quickly before an exhibit are, more than likely, less educated and experienced in the art than those who linger and take in the work slowly and methodically. <br /><br />(There are those who take in the work quickly and are well versed in the art, but odds are those people are looking for something specific, and are not interested in all artworks.)<br /><br />As an undergraduate, I had the good fortune to take an Art Appreciation course. I thought it would be a good idea to broaden myself and maybe I could learn a thing or two. I learned more than I expected. <br /><br />The education was not just in seeing paintings, from the Masters, but it was the rich explanations as to why the paintings are marvelous. At first glace, Renoir is pretty, but then so are other painters. But, when an expert shows you why Renoir is so beautiful, when you see other works of the time, then you can personally appreciate the art. <br /><br />I suspect photography is similar. It is only after trying to take pictures and seeing what I get that I can appreciate the work of other photographers and what they produce. It's easy to snap a shot of a tree, but how do you get a picture of a tree with the subtleties of light and shadow, with the twist of the branches and maybe an animal to show perspective? It's not easy but the good photographers do it. The rest of us, well, we see a tree and snap a shot. It's easy but it's not what the best do.<br /><br />There's an advertising line, I think it's for Sym's: "The educated consumer is our best customer." <br /><br />Perhaps there's a corollary for galleries: "The experienced artist is our best viewer?"Davidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02236449128797878326noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9493601.post-54166734994334316142009-08-14T11:49:17.831-05:002009-08-14T11:49:17.831-05:00I once noticed an interchange between two viewers ...I once noticed an interchange between two viewers (of my own work,including some almost abstract closeup studies of line texture, in a friend's gallery) which suggested a conclusion about art and perception. One of them, from the opposite side of the long narrow gallery space, came and got her friend who was looking at another image just below where I was standing, taking her to the one she had been looking at. Neither realized I was present, maybe not even knowing I Was the photographer. The first woman said (something like), "Look. I can see (whatever it was she saw) in this. See it?" The second said (approximately),"No.. I don't see that.. but what I DO see is (whatever She said she saw), as plain as day"<br />And they were definite, but quite different impressions, at least with respect to their respective "images", but interestingly, it seemed to me both impressions were similar in character or "feel".<br />Rather than feel as if my work had failed, I began to wonder if it had succeeded on a whole other level, since they seemed to have gotten similar emotional experiences on viewing the same image. They just explained or interpreted their emotional response with different "specifics"?<br />In the end, I began to think that it doesn't matter what the "abstract" image actually "portrays" to those who bother to look; maybe what matters is that we make an image that has the organization and technical skill that clears the way, distills the experience, so that a viewer can bring his/her inner experience to the image. Sloppy images may provide a "confused path" to/through the image, while an image made by someone who composes somewhat cleanly, with organized elements and dynamics if you will, lets the image be a mirror for the viewer.<br />I take that as a high calling, actually... maybe Just as great as showing them what I saw.Wayne Upchurchhttp://waynewarp.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9493601.post-59942980811015781312009-08-11T13:42:19.034-05:002009-08-11T13:42:19.034-05:00Having just been at a photography opening myself t...Having just been at a photography opening myself this made me stop and think which numbers I fit into :>). By the way, I was interested in your mentioning Blink as I thought it was quite a good read. The book made me wonder about the aspects of composition that might be processed in rapid 'thin-slicing' mode.Howard Grillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07734927360682514496noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9493601.post-78519757786380086502009-08-11T13:35:25.239-05:002009-08-11T13:35:25.239-05:00Hi Andy: THANKS for an interesting and informative...Hi Andy: THANKS for an interesting and informative post. It's amusing to learn all the ways people receive galleries and the art on their walls. I fall into your #'s 5 and 6. <br /><br />Even if the work that I am observing isn't my ideal cuppa joe, I believe there is something for me to learn from it and take away with me. I believe that ALL art can inform my art, and I'd be a fool to be dismissive of accomplished art/artists. <br /><br />Thanks!MichaelGordonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17835080524560644457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9493601.post-62258665368859830382009-08-11T10:22:06.089-05:002009-08-11T10:22:06.089-05:00Well said ~ Thanks for sharing this...
On a side ...Well said ~ Thanks for sharing this...<br /><br />On a side note ~ How was the Dominic Miller & Peter Kater show???<br /><br />Peace ~ JohnAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05573001291542238450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9493601.post-51221880420418121162009-08-11T07:02:55.466-05:002009-08-11T07:02:55.466-05:00Interesting observations Andy. I'm a keen gall...Interesting observations Andy. I'm a keen gallery goer but I find that my reaction to a particular exhibition is very dependent on the mind space I occupy at the time. The quieter the mind the slower I will move through the gallery but the more pre-occupied I am the less I "see" and the faster I walk through as pieces are competing against thoughts for my attention. Fortunately, the older I get the easier it is to detach from the thoughts which makes the viewing of art much more enjoyable.<br />By the way Hsi-Mei Yates' work is, as you say, exquisite. And if you don't mind my saying, your father sounds like a fascinating character and gifted artist and I would have loved to have met him.Cedrichttp://aplop.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9493601.post-71623354192014232192009-08-10T11:43:20.600-05:002009-08-10T11:43:20.600-05:00A most interesting posting, thanks very much.
I ...A most interesting posting, thanks very much. <br /><br />I find it really interesting to go to a gallery with my wife or someone else with similar interests. My wife has art training (I don't) and it's interesting, after circulating independently, so return together to photographs that caught our particular attention. It's fascinating to see the great range of different responses and to view photography through more eyes than just your own. <br /><br />Thanks again<br /><br />Jim SwiftUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03781377915818057275noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9493601.post-90122017742181588042009-08-10T11:33:32.153-05:002009-08-10T11:33:32.153-05:00You are very polite; I hate people who run thru...You are very polite; I hate people who run thru' galleries not looking at all but doing it so they can say"I have seen such or such exhibit"<br />The other extreme is also infuriating to me- a person who can camp in front of any picture and not move. I want to say:"hey think about your companion-she or he is human and not obsessed as you are".katiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14188734784784703489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9493601.post-35908342508050575842009-08-10T08:40:32.636-05:002009-08-10T08:40:32.636-05:00As primarily a gallery goer (typically in the mann...As primarily a gallery goer (typically in the manner of your category 6), I've also been interested to observe the various styles of the gallerists or exhibiting artists. Even if I don't particularly like the work on display, I usually make an effort to engage in conversation at some point, if at all feasible (it isn't always at crowded openings, though I'm happy to stand and wait my turn). Though I've had some very rewarding encounters this way, and many pleasant ones, what I find surprising is the relatively small percentage of the time we get beyond the superficial. Among gallery personnel, an intellectual interest in art--by which I mean nothing academic, but just a willingness to react and discuss--seems less common than I would have thought.Steve Durbinhttp://stephendurbin.comnoreply@blogger.com