AIPAD Photography Show New York: Images and Observations

After strolling the aisles and seeing thousands of photographs during the AIPAD Photography Show press preview in New York City on Wednesday, April 9, I can sum up the event in one word: incredible. This year’s AIPAD Show is like a history of photography, with a mix of Daguerrotypes, platinum prints, silver gelatin prints, c-prints (some in sizes over 6-foot-square), dye-transfers, pigment-based inkjet prints and some unique processes. The Photography Show New York opened Thursday April 10 and continues through Sunday April 13.

Photographs can be found throughout the show on a wide range of substrates, from paper, to acrylic, to plant leaves, and they are presented in many ways: hanging on walls, on shelves, in portfolio boxes and on display racks.

Front entrance of the Park Avenue Armory, New York City. Photo Â© Andrew Darlow

One of the aisles of the AIPAD show floor, photographed just a few steps from the main entrance. It’s a large space, with over 75 galleries exhibiting, but I found it easy to explore, and the layout changes often as you move from booth to booth, making it feel almost like a museum. Photo Â© Andrew Darlow

Below is a sampling of AIPAD member galleries containing work that I found particularly interesting.

Pace/MacGill Gallery, New York

A few of John Szarkowski’s photographs on the walls of Pace/MacGill Gallery’s booth. Photo Â© Andrew Darlow

A copy of John Szarkowski’s book, The Face of Minnesota. Photo Â© Andrew Darlow

Pace/MacGill Gallery’s booth features a number of photographs of the late John Szarkowski, who served as director of photography at the Museum of Modern Art from 1962-1991. A beautifully printed new edition of Mr. Szarkowski’s second book, entitled The Face of Minnesota (originally published in 1958), was also on display, and a selection of work by other artists who were inspired by and supported by him is also being exhibited in Pace/MacGill’s booth.

(Please also note the related special event described at the end of this article)

David Gallery, Culver City, CA

Three photographs by Stephen Wilkes at David Gallery’s booth. Photo Â© Andrew Darlow

David Gallery has a fantastic space with work by Stephen Wilkes including: Boy in Beijing, China 2007. According to the show literature, “In the China series, the artist manipulates the images by draining color from certain areas of his compositions so that they stand out significantly in relation to the rest.” The images are listed as “Fuji Crystal Archive Prints mounted on acrylic.” They are incredibly sharp and detailed, with exceptionally rich color.

A selection of Eve Arnold’s prints at David Gallery’s booth. Photo Â© Andrew Darlow

David Gallery is also showing a beautiful collection of the work of Eve Arnold in their booth. It is just a small fraction of the much larger exhibition, entitled All About Eve, on exhibit from March 29-May 24, 2008 at their Culver City, CA gallery. The show is a retrospective, “featuring one photograph for each year of her amazing life â€“ ninety-six in all â€“ as a testament to her enduring legacy,” writes David Barenholtz of David Gallery in the show overview.

The gallery is also showing a collection of large-scale photographs by legendary photographer Harry Benson, including some of his iconic images of The Beatles.

Related Links: To view the whole Eve Arnold show online (as well as thousands of other images by photographers represented by David Gallery), visit David Gallery’s website here.
–Stephen Wilkes’ website
–Harry Benson’s website

A Gallery for Fine Photography, New Orleans, LA

Maggie Taylor’s work (left) next to two large prints by Jerry Uelsmann. Photo Â© Andrew Darlow

A Gallery for Fine Photography has a large, open space near the main entrance of the show. Many images in their booth caught my eye, including what owner Joshua Mann Pailet explains, are the first fine art pigment ink prints (output using inkjet technology) of Jerry Uelsmann’s work ever exhibited. The prints are spectacular and have the look of silver halide black and white darkroom prints. Each print was made from a darkroom print produced by Mr. Uelsmann, who is known for his incredible manipulated prints produced entirely in a photographic darkroom. Maggie Taylor, Jerry Uelsmann’s wife, also has work on display (created from scanned imagery and masterfully assembled using Adobe Photoshop). Like much of her work, I find the print on display to be dreamlike and very beautiful.

Joshua Mann Pailet of A Gallery for Fine Photography describes some of the work by Louviere + Vanessa. Photo Â© Andrew Darlow

Other images on display at A Gallery for Fine Photography’s booth include a new group of impressive large works that include gold leaf and acrylic (the process is quite complicated, and the results are stunning). The pieces are by Louviere + Vanessa, a New Orlean’s-based husband and wife team. A huge new photograph entitled Fresh Hybrid by Sandy Skoglund is also on display. According to her page on the Gallery’s site, “Sandy Skoglund spends 6 months to a year planning and creating each installation. Then she brings in her models for a one-day photo shoot before she dismantles her creation.”

Peter Fetterman Gallery, Santa Monica, CA

Photographs by Sebastiao Salgado, and Salgado’s book, Workers, in Peter Fetterman Gallery’s booth. Photos Â© Andrew Darlow

In Peter Fetterman Gallery’s booth, the work of Sebastiao Salgado covers most of the walls. So many of Salgado’s images show the reality of life for migrant workers, refugees and the poor in regions around the world. The booth also contains a few of Salgado’s breathtaking images of Antartica and Russia. If you go to the show, I would not skip this booth.

Also being shown is the work of Phil Borges, who I greatly respect for his stunning photographic work, as well as the humanitarian work he has done. An exhibition of images from Phil Borges’ book, entitled Women Empowered, is currently on display at the Sheila C. Johnson Design Center, New York, NY (February 22-April 16, 2008). See the links below for more information.

HackelBury Gallery, London, UK

(Top and Bottom) Two works by Doug and Mike Starn at HackelBury Gallery’s booth. Photo Â© Andrew Darlow

HackelBury Gallery is showing a collection of work by Doug and Mike Starn, and a number of other artists, including Stephen Inggs, Garry Fabian Miller and the late Seydo KeÃ¯ta. I’ve seen many of the Starn twins’ creations over the years, and like many other works that they’ve produced, these should really should be experienced in person because the materials used are an integral part of each piece.

Related Link: HackelBury Gallery’s website

In addition, the AIPAD Photography Show New York is presenting The Legacy of John Szarkowski, a short talk, panel discussion and documentary film, on Saturday, April 12, 2008, from 9:30 to 11:00 a.m. in the Veteranâ€™s Room at the Park Avenue Armory. Peter Galassi, Chief Curator, Department of Photography, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, will deliver a short talk, Photography Until Now: John Szarkowskiâ€™s Materialist History of Photography and moderate a panel discussion with AIPAD dealers whose lives were impacted by this legendary curator and photographer. Richard Woodward will introduce his prize-winning short documentary film John Szarkowski: A Life in Photography (Checkerboard Films, 1998). The film will be repeated at 1:00 p.m. Admission is free. Seating is extremely limited and is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Links to all the galleries mentioned in this article, as well as all of the AIPAD member galleries, can be found here. The admission is $25 daily and $35 for the run-of-show, and includes a show catalogue. No advance purchase is required; tickets will be available at the door. For more information about the show, including information on the Gala Preview, visit AIPAD.com/photoshow.

Bill Kane - April 11, 2008

Thank you, Andrew, for a very nice walk through of a few of the galleries exhibiting at AIPAD. I almost felt as if I were there! Looking forward to part 2.

Best,
Bill Kane

Rosalie Winesuff - March 30, 2009

Nice newsletter. I enjoy seeing what’s out there.

AIPAD Photography Show New York: Images and Observations

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