Back in the (Hudson) Valley
While still thinking about my artist residency in Michigan
Hi everyone,
It’s been just over three five weeks since I returned from an artist residency on the shore of Lake Michigan. I was at the Tusen Takk Foundation near Leland for about a month.
When I came back home I realized just how tired I was, something I didn’t really think about (or feel) while I was there, since everything was so exciting and raw. I felt exhausted in a good way from being totally immersed in making new photos, exploring a new landscape, doing my best to not freeze my fingers on some very cold days (especially while making photos that took up to an hour).
All this while also continuously thinking, hopefully in a critical way, about the work I am making and using my time there to experiment with new ideas and techniques. I was also perusing artist books, reviewing and editing my photos and printing them on a daily basis. While at Tusen Takk I also explored new processes (to me) such as creating photogravure plates and spending time in the printing studio to ink, press and make such prints. It was a lot to take in and when I was there I just savored it all while being as aware as possible of the light and the changing scenery.
I’ve never had the opportunity to make personal work in such a focused way - without thinking or worrying about making commercial work, which is part of my daily life back home. I am hoping to retain some of the habits I formed there as I gradually resume a more regular life schedule. One such habit is to give myself enough time on a daily basis to think about art - or look at art - either in a book form, online or even just a relevant podcast while working. Essentially I’d like to train myself to use my time to not just create work but also to think about concepts, ideas and future projects. Look, think, rinse, repeat.
While I was in residency, Andy Adams from Flak Photo reached out to me and asked if I can send him some of the new “Lake Horizon” photos that I was making to possibly feature them in his photo-centric newsletter. I did that and when Andy published his newsletter about my work titled “Slow Looking and Photographic Patience” I received several wonderful comments about it. I was especially touched to hear that people found the work to be calming, meditative and even inspired some to go out and make long exposures photos on their own.
It was really nice to receive such feedback while still in residency and it encouraged me to continue and develop the project. The landscape I photographed continued to evolve and change on a daily basis. Tall ice banks that took over a third of the image when I arrived are part of my first photo (see below), melted away and made way to a clear shore line. Keeping my tripod and camera at the same spot, several times a day - every day, the photographs show the same point of view yet the landscape keeps changing, transforming so much in a span of two weeks (see second photo below).
It’s a tradition at Tusen Takk that on the resident’s last week they are interviewed by Geoffrey Peckham, the residency Director. I prepared several prints to share and discuss, just like any studio visit but in a more condensed fashion. I am grateful to Geoffrey for the thoughtful questions and to Maggie Pavao, the Assistant Director, who patiently took notes and condensed what was a fairly long conversation into a succinctly written article. Please follow this link or click below to read the conversation as it shows additional work and expands on everything I wrote above.
This newsletter would not be complete without mentioning that this new work from Lake Michigan has piqued the interest of several people, among them a wonderful gallery owner from California. As a result of that I am happy to share that I am now being represented by Susan Spiritus Gallery! Susan is a long-time supporter of photographers and their art. I am looking forward to sharing my work with her and a new audience of potential collectors.
Susan’s website currently showcases both my Lake Horizon series and my even newer Pacific Horizons series, of which I am sharing one image below.
Thank you as always for looking and reading. I believe that when artists and photographers connect personally we learn from one another and expand each other’s knowledge. None of what I described above would have happened without making personal connections with fellow artists, so feel free to reach out to me with comments, questions or feedback. I am available here, on Instagram or via email on my website.
Alon
Beautiful scenes. And a big congrats on your gallery representation. Best for your transition back into “regular” life.
Your backstory and the personal work is more than inspiring, it shows that when we step back and “in” we can create some of our best work. When that work transcends to representation it’s a precious thing because it wasn’t the intention going in. Wouldn’t it be something to behold if we could do what we love and … oh wait, just do what you love, what’s meant to be will be.