Smoke

Advertising poster for Job cigarette papers by Alphonse Mucha (1898). The law forbidding smoking in public places finally came into effect in England on Sunday, something that the nation’s smokers are still coming to terms with. I’ve never been a smoker but have always been easy-going about the activity, having had smoking parents and been … Continue reading “Smoke”

Shadows at Compton Verney

The Candles by Christian Boltanski. The Shadow is an exhibition at Compton Verney from Saturday 30 June–Sunday 9 September, 2007. I’d been considering a post about shadows in art for a while so this has forced my hand. There’ll be some follow-ups in the coming week, work permitting. I’m busy with a big new piece … Continue reading “Shadows at Compton Verney”

London Pride

One of the exotic creatures at today’s London Pride march. More pictures at this Flickr pool. Marchers braved wet weather and renewed terrorist threats after two unexploded car bombs were found on Friday. (And where that matter is concerned, The Register has a rebuke to the inevitable hysterics.) On a related note, this site has … Continue reading “London Pride”

Luther Gerlach’s Los Angeles

Contemporary Los Angeles via Luther Gerlach’s wet-plate photography. Using antique cameras he restores himself, and a wet-plate photographic process dating from 1851, Luther is completely immersed in this compelling method of vintage process. Gerlach says, “Quite often I feel as if my soul is in the past and my mind is in the future.” His … Continue reading “Luther Gerlach’s Los Angeles”