Tag Archives: Katie Mantell
The World’s a Stage…
The World’s a Stage…
As you know, PWP began with an exhibition. In 1975, Breadth of Vision: Portfolios of Women Photographers opened at the Fashion Institute of Technology. It was from that show that Professional Women Photographers emerged. Since that time, we have always had shows featuring our members’ work. Me Generation, Venus in the City, Eye Witness, Inside, and Objects of Affection (currently up at the Calumet Gallery) are a few that come to mind. There was even an exchange show in 1990: Women Photographers: New York/Tokyo between the two “sister€ cities. But this time the stage is a little bigger.
Because for the first time in our history, PWP is sponsoring an international call for entry open to women photographers around the world. For the prize winners and 20 jurors’ selections there will be an exhibition at Soho Photo Gallery in Tribeca and an exhibition online. In addition, the Grand Prize winner will earn $600 and have their photograph appear on the cover of Imprints Magazine, and the First, Second and Third prize winners in each category will also receive cash awards and be featured in Imprints. And 37 additional Honorable Mentions will be featured in the online exhibition, which will run from October 15, 2010 through April 30, 2011.
The juried competition is open to PWP members, and the organizers encourage all members to submit their images in one of the four categories: People, Places, Nature and Abstract. The entry deadline is September 30th. For entry information and to register and submit images, please visit the 35th Anniversary International Women Only Photography Call for Entry page on our website.
In another first for PWP, the submission process has been outsourced to Smarterentry.com, a company with a long and proven track record in managing calls for arts organizations. This was done to handle the volume of submissions and to allow the jurors, Stephen Perloff, Editor of The Photo Review, and photographer Elinor Carucci, to view and judge images online from independent locations. The software-based system will collect each juror’s ratings independently and will rank the images, which will remain anonymous, by the jurors’ numerical ratings to ensure a completely objective judging process.
Because a cover of Imprints is part of the Grand Prize, we thought we would feature the work of the first two Imprints cover photographers.
In Their Own Words (with a few of ours)
Erika Nusser:
Ginger Fringe ©Erika Nusser
CK: Is the photograph part of a series?
EN: The series is Behind Closed Doors.
CK: What got you interested in doing it?
EN: It was part of MFA project for Parsons. I was fascinated by the Burlesque scene in NYC and wanted to meet the women who participated in it.
CK: Who is the woman and why did she interest you?
EN: The woman’s names is Ginger Fringe and she interested me because she really embraced moving to NYC. I’m from here and I feel I never take advantage of the city around me. Within a short amount of time she had made friends and carved out a niche for herself.
CK: Where is the space?
EN: It was shot in her apartment in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.
CK: Why is there no cover on the bed?
EN: I think she just dropped off laundry that day.
CK: Did you use a flash?
EN: I used a cheap pair of Savage Monolights. The room was so tiny it was hard to light.
CK: Okay, one last question–what is that thing on the wall?! Remember the movie Psycho? Norman Bates was really into taxidermy….
EN: That creepy thing is a jackalope! A “mythical” creature.
CK: I won’t ask anymore…
Susan Bowen:
Citizen's Thermal Energy Plant, Indianapolis ©Susan Bowen
“This image Citizen’s Thermal Energy Plant…was shot in Indianapolis, Indiana in 2005. I was at the time a finalist for a public art project for the Airport Arts & Culture Program for the New Indianapolis Airport. I was in Indiana creating material for my proposal, which was for four 10′ x 96′ curved panoramas for the central Civic Plaza of the airport. I didn’t get the project, but I came home with probably my best photos to date.
I am always drawn to anything industrial, and I was fascinated to find what seemed to be a factory plopped down in the middle of an otherwise standard “prettified” city. All the smokestacks were spewing out steam, so to me it was very dramatic looking…by far the most interesting thing I had found. It was up on a bit of a hill and trains were going in and out. I knew however that probably the commission that would be judging my work likely would see this site as an “eyesore”, so I didn’t include it in my submission. But I loved it. I got up early to shoot the plant in striking early morning light. Hope they never tear it down.
I shoot with a Holga. These are overlapping multiple exposures (I use about a half a scanned roll as one image). I don’t know how they will turn out, which is part of the fun.”
- Katie Mantell, Exhibitions Director
- Catherine Kirkpatrick, Archives Director
Objects of Affection Opens
Objects of Affection Opens
©Trish Mayo
Last week, PWP’s latest exhibit Objects of Affection opened with great success. We had an excellent turnout, and the crowd truly seemed to enjoy the warmth and spirit of the exhibition. Artist Carson Ferri-Grant offers his review of the show on Newsblaze.com:
Summertime in the City
By painter, Carson Ferri-Grant
©Ann Brandeis
I just received a warm summer group hug as my first impression of this wonderful exhibition of photographs Objects of Affection by the members of Professional Women Photographers at the Calumet Photo Gallery, 22 West 22 St, 2nd floor, NYC July 28th through August 13th, 2010.
Well-worth a visit to experience the joy of dancing colors and imagery, humor mixed with passion, form blended with lit shadows, these artists’ journey the viewer through a maze of emotions. I was reminded of Matisse’s dancing bathers as I circled the gallery always feeling held comfortable and eagerly being pulled forward within the rhythm of life.
Yes, a splash of red on mossy green and a box head humor kept this painter affixed and giggling while absorbing these captured moments of time, but to single out any particular artist’s work would break a link in this universal chain created by this gathering of creators. To quote from my sixties upbringing, “this show is a happening€ and a must to be seen.
Behind the scenes
The morning before the Objects of Affection opening, the walls of the Calumet Gallery were bare, and the Objects of Affection committee was faced with the challenge of curating and hanging the 79 photographs from 51 PWP members. Our goal was to have an exhibit that felt cohesive, a challenge for any group show involving so many varied viewpoints. When arranging the exhibit, we asked ourselves, “which images talked to each other, which images conflicted?”
©Sindi Schorr
We set out arranging photos on the floor, choosing images that were complimentary in subject and tone, or held interesting juxtapositions. There were a number of groupings selected for their similarities in gestures of affection and emotion. Certain unlikely pairings surprised and delighted us.
©Pat Yankovitz
©Sindi Schorr
Our installation specialist Chris Lidrbauch carefully measured the space and photos, and hung each photograph with care.
We had a wonderful time and hope everyone enjoys the show!
Sindi Schorr, Katie Mantell, Pat Yancovitz, Sheila Smith, Ann Little John, Janice Wood Wetzel
In Their Own Words
©Joyce Morrill
Sweet Spot (Eddie’s Sweet Shop)
Eddie’s Sweet Shop, a Queens landmark for 95 years, serves hot fudge sundaes the old fashioned way – with homemade ice cream, thick hot fudge, real whipped cream, the requisite maraschino cherry–all dripping down the side of a tulip glass.
Like Proust’s madeleine, this gooey confection stirs up memories of sundaes past. For me, it’s the hot fudge tulip sundaes served at the corner drugstore in Rockland, Maine, twenty miles from my seaside home in Friendship. I’d plot for days until I could wangle a ride to Rockland, perch on a silvery stool and practically hold my breath until the object of my longing appeared. I don’t know which was best – the anticipation or the having it all, but I can close my eyes and remember every spoonful. Better still, I can go to Eddie’s Sweet Shop anytime I please and make new memories!
To capture this dreamscape, I haunted the corner of Metropolitan Avenue and 72nd Road in Queens, night after night this past winter waiting for the holiday lights in the window to be turned on and just enough ambient light to create a sense of mystery and nostalgia. Traffic rarely cooperated, parked cars wouldn’t move out of the way, my fingers got numb and my tripod fell into pieces in a snow bank. I got the shot!
–Joyce Morrill
Katie Mantell, Exhibitions Director
Catherine Kirkpatrick, Archives Director
Objects of Affection
Objects of Affection
©Shirley Pasternak
A natural disaster in Haiti, a man-made disaster on our southern coast, two wars and a troubled economy make this a time of great sorrow and uncertainty. Images of communities in rubble, birds and animals coated in oil, troops under fire-these are glimpses of the challenges that face our world, and remind us how vital photography is in our understanding of incomprehensible tragedies. But in bitter times we also need to focus on love, hope and connectivity, and photography can also bring us to that realm. In this spirit, PWP presents its latest exhibition, Objects of Affection opening July 28th at Calumet Photographic . It is a display of images that make us smile, laugh, and celebrate. From people to possessions, from places to passions, Objects of Affection is a gathering of all that brings us joy, and one of our most personal exhibits to date.
©Pamela Fingerhut
Exhibition Chair, Sindi Schorr said she “wanted to work on something that showed real emotion in a time when our lives are so stressed and overwhelmed by work and world events. I personally was aware of affection around me through family, friends and people I came in contact with daily and I wanted to capture that.€
©Debbie Miracolo
Many of the photographers also chose to portray lovers and children, while others worked with actual objects, in traditional, arranged still life compositions. But as we see in our “What They Saw€ feature, just who did the arranging?
What They Saw
Love Is All Around
©Trish Mayo
“I had been working on a project involving found objects – photographing one per week for 52 weeks. This was the 49th in the series and one of my favorites. Working on the series I began to feel that I was in a collaboration with unknown people who attractively arranged things and left them behind for me to photograph. On a cold, overcast day in December at Wave Hill while waiting for a predicted snowstorm to begin I noticed something red on a bench across the lawn. Walking closer I saw the bouquet of roses and the petals scattered on the ground. Circling the bench, deciding on how to photograph my latest find, there was no one around – the gardens were empty. When I started to walk away I noticed two couples approaching and decided to observe their reaction to the roses and the basket on the bench. It was then that I got the story behind the set-up and witnessed a marriage proposal. While the proposal was going on I talked to the friend and got the whole story: the two men had arranged everything while the woman friend and the proposee visited the gift shop, the men left the items arranged on the bench and had gone to bring the women back to the site. And she said YES!” –Trish Mayo
Wedding Couple Happy Tears
©Andy Mars
Andy Mars was one of the photographers who focused on lovers. She has photographed numerous weddings, including this intimate one at the Waldorf Astoria in 2009. “No guests attended,€ she said, “I was the witness. I love capturing candid moments like this. The picture pretty much tells the story along with the title Wedding Couple Happy Tears.
But Andy has also seen the darker side of wedding behavior. Attending a bridal sale at a major New York City department store, she saw women pushing and shoving to get at the bridal gowns, grabbing them off the racks, ripping off protective wrap, and leaping out of their street clothes on the floor of the store in a frenzy to secure the right dress for their special day.
- Katie Mantell, Exhibitions Director
- Catherine Kirkpatrick, Archives Director
News From Our President – June 2010
PWP President, Madeline Ring. Photo © Susan Raab
PWP President, Madeline Ring. Photo © Susan Raab
Volume 4 | Issue 10 | June 2010
Greetings from the Board
The PWP Annual Meeting is this week and we look forward to seeing everyone there for Elections, The President and Treasurer’s Reports, Show and Tell and Pass the Mike.
This has been a wonderful year – both the Board of Directors and the various committees have been extremely active and much has been accomplished. We truly believe PWP has turned a corner. With great expectations of things to come, next year should be a great year as well.
The Board
Announcing the 2010-2011 Board of Directors
2009 – 2010 for PWP has been a wonderful year – Many thanks to Janice Wood Wetzel and Jackie Neale Chadwick for their contributions to PWP as they complete their term of service on the board.
We are looking forward to another great year with our new board – please welcome them and offer all the support you can
The Board
OFFICERS
President – Maddi Ring
Vice President – Beth Portnoi Shaw
Secretary – Mary Newman
Treasurer – Adele Epstein
DIRECTORS
Archivist – Catherine Kirkpatrick
Development – Terry Berenson
Exhibitions – Katie Mantell
Membership – Patricia Gilman
Outreach – Karen Smul
Programs – Ruth Gitto
Publications – Trish Mayo
Volunteers – Sandy Alpert
EXHIBITIONS
AMERICANA
PWP and the Exhibitions Committee would like to congratulate the members who participated in the Americana exhibit, and thank the Americana committee and MH Art & Framing for putting together such a wonderful show.
OBJECTS OF AFFECTION
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010 – Friday, August 13th, 2010
Mark you calendars for the Objects of Affection Opening Reception
WednesdayJuly 28, 2010 from 6-9PM
The Gallery at Calumet Photo
22 West 22nd Street
2nd Floor New York NY 10010
212-989-8500
________
The Exhibitions Committee has a number of future projects in the works and always welcomes PWP member volunteers. It is a great way to learn about jurying and curating as well as forging great friendships within the organization. Contact Katie Mantell if you are interested at exhibitions@pwponline.org
PWP NEWSLETTER SPONSORSHIP
TAMRON
As you can see, there is an addition to the PWP Banner at the top of the newsletter. TAMRON Corporation is now the official sponsor of our Newsletter and we will feature their banner and website link in each issue. As always, we urge members to support our sponsors.
This month TAMRON has a rebate offer on its SP 17-50 2.8 Image Stabilization lens. Check out the ad below.
2010 ANNUAL MEETING – 6:15PM JUNE 2
Our Annual Meeting of Membership will be Wednesday June 2rd at 6:15 pm. Officers will report on activities and financial status of the organization, and annual elections will be held. If you cannot attend, please make sure that your proxy is submitted.
Order of business:
A. Roll call/proof of notice of meeting or waiver of notice
B. Reading/Approval of minutes of preceding meeting
C. Report of Officers
D. Election of Inspectors of Election
E. Election of Directors
F. Unfinished business
Please make every effort to attend this important meeting.
FIRST PWP INTERNATIONAL OPEN CALL
Professional Women Photographers is sponsoring our first International Open Call in honor of our 35th Anniversary. There will be an exhibition in a New York City gallery as well as an online gallery for selected images. The results of the competition will be featured in 2010-2011 issues of Imprints.
Terry Berenson and Patricia Gilman are heading the committee to create the event and have Stephen Perloff and Elinor Carucci as jurors. This is a great PWP activity and should be very exciting to work on. If you are interested please contact Terry at terry.berenson@gmail.com or Patricia at patriciagilman@gmail.com.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
This year our Community Service Committee partnered with Women In Need, Inc. (WIN), providing both photography and mentoring services for this non-profit organization. On Monday, June 7th, 2010, Women In Need will be holding its “Volunteers Providing Help and Hope” reception at Baruch College. The reception will honor all volunteers who have helped WIN throughout the year, including the members of PWP’s Community Service Committee. Photographs taken by CSC members will be on display.
Our Community Service Committee has partnered, over the past several years, with non profit organizations in New York City providing pro bono photographic services at events. PWP CSC provides the partner organization with an image library of its events as well as display prints for special exhibitions, galas and receptions. PWP gives back to the community and our members gain experience in doing event photography while having their work displayed at these events.
In addition, the CSC has started a small mentoring program using photography as a way of introducing the art form and means of expression to needy children. If you would like to join PWP in this great committee please contact Karen Smul at outreach@pwponline.org
2010 – 2011 MONTHLY MEETINGS
SAME TIME – SAME PLACE
The PWP Monthly meeting will be held next year on the first Wednesday of the month at St. Paul’s Church on West 59th Street, as we have done this year.
PLEASE NOTE – because the first Wednesday in September is before Labor day and the second is in conflict with the Jewish Holidays our September meeting will be WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
We plan another exciting year of guest lecturers and programs so please mark your calendars and make the PWP meeting a priority.
CURTAIN RAISERS
Each month the PWP meeting opens with a curtain raiser – a PWP member who has the opportunity to show 10 images to the group. It is a lot of fun and a great way to get your images “out there” with our members and guests as the audience. Our Program Director Ruth Gitto is looking for member curtain raisers for the months of October, November, February and March. Contact Ruth at programs@pwponline.org
PWP ARCHIVES
Our Archivist Catherine Kirkpatrick continues to uncover more interesting items from the PWP Archives. For detailed information on some interesting “Cards and Letters: a Snapshot” have a look at the latest edition of the blog at
http://www.pwponline.org/blog/2010/05/21/cards-and-letters-a-snapshot/
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Sincerely,
The Board
Professional Women Photographers