That Which Is New In The Clair E. Smith Gallery

The second of four or five major fo-do shows at BHS this year is opening this week: an exhibition of work by Mr. Jeffroix Dionesotes. Come on out on Friday night to the big reception at the Clair E. Smith Gallery in the huge school between 6:00 and 8:00 for frolicsome festivities!

 

(Tomorrow we’ll add the poster here.)

Sally Mann at DePaul

https://www.facebook.com/#!/ColumbiaCollegePHOTO/posts/10151913521358027

Our Top Ten List

In the current practice of the (I can’t believe I’m typing this next word) venerable publication Rolling Stone, here is a compendium of last year’s photo books…

http://blog.photoeye.com/2014/01/best-books-2013-darius-himes.html 

http://6thfloor.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/19/the-top-ten-photo-books-of-2013/

http://cphmag.com/fav-photobooks-2013/

https://www.lensculture.com/articles/lensculture-editors-2013-photobooks-of-the-year

http://www.littlebrownmushroom.com/lists/my-top-10-photo-books-of-2013-by-alec-soth/

…and of jazz recordings:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-12-06/entertainment/chi-best-jazz-recordings-2013-20131206_1_fat-babies-best-jazz-recordings-jazz-technique

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/15/arts/music/craig-taborn-wayne-shorter-and-bill-callahan-achieve.html?_r=0

http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=46068

http://www.popmatters.com/feature/177225-the-best-jazz-of-2013/

http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2013/12/the_best_jazz_albums_of_2013_as_selected_by_fred_kaplan.html

W. o’ W.: “Charles Carson!”

“The business of life is the acquisition of memories; in the end that’s all there is.”

A Kinder, Gentler District

“Understandably, the lack of information may increase your curiosity, but please avoid making hasty and unnecessary assumptions. We hope to deliver more details and clarity as soon as the matter is resolved.”

By Request: A Home Darkroom

Somebody asked if they could visit/tour the home darkroom. There isn’t room for a visitor, much less the class, but it’s important to know that it’s entirely possible to set up at home. This one is neither a custom cave nor a hellhole; economize wherever you can, and spend for quality where it counts.

Here’s everything: books, chemicals, scale, bulbs, film holders, tape.

I process from right to left (not that it matters). Developer, stop, fix, holding bath, all propped up on boxes in order better to see what’s… developing.

Notes.

Some storage, including a tripod case, developer heating pad (and a helmet).

A Beseler 23C. At top height with an 80mm lens, a 35mm negative generates an 8×12″ enlargement.

The enlarger base is an old television cabinet.

Behold: thousands upon thousands of negatives.

One of several print storage archives.

The print washer, propped upon a milk carton, and a drawer of miscellaneous tools.

Blues Ain’t Nothin’ But… Cinema

“Blues Before Sunrise” is Steve Cushing’s weekly all-night radio program with an archive so vast that tunes get replayed only about once every four years. The Jazz Record Mart hosts the annual Blues Before Sunrise Film Festival on Sunday, December 1 (that’s tomorrow) from noon until 6:30 or so, featuring owner Bob Koester’s 16mm collection. It’s at 27 East Illinois and it’s free.

Vivian Approacheth

The release date is now March 28. Here’s the trailer.

Robert “Bob” Cornelius, 1839 Selfier

A Philadelphia pharmacist beat Sir Paul by, oh, 125 years or so. The exposure was 50-60 times longer.