unsatisfied appetite

“As an artist, it is central to be unsatisfied! This isn’t greed, though it might be appetite.” Lawrence Calcagno

Haven in the Ghetto, by Gregory Pestegord

Even though I have not written it almost a month, did you miss me? I have been out and about viewing, attending, researching, socializing, being inspired, been awed, been confused, and as of late even frightened.

I have photographed, I have entered a juried art show, and disappointed the work was not selected this year. Was I fully committed to that venue this time? No, I almost missed the dead line for submissions, and sent them in via email which was a form of submission this year. Yet alas competition was a challenge and more people have been entering so it make the juror job that much more difficult.

So with ego bruise, disappointment offers another opportunity, which may or may not have presented itself. The gallery exhibit in Vermont is still on the table, and hopefully this weekend the plans will be framed and hung. I received a message of a local library call for artist just this morning, so the work that was not selected in the juried show can be submitted to that exhibit. Yay!

In the past week a few of my photographs have been included in my friend Don Brewer’s DoN Arts blog to go along with a Studio tour we did a few weeks back at 915 Spring Garden St, Philadelphia Pa. I could write a whole blog about that experience, and I just might yet Don, interviewed many of the artist that we viewed, so check out his blog.

Before I went to Vermont I ask about writing a blog for the Photographic Society of Philadelphia’s 150th Anniversary, and I had not realized I had not heard a response until a few weeks ago while at a PSoP Solo exhibition reception when I saw Eileen for the first time since returning, and I ask her if she received me request, and said she had responded via email, which I never recalled seeing. Eileen is the president of the Society. She offered to share a PDF she had of the Philadelphia Photographer magazine from 1866, in which are minuets of the first meetings of the Society, included is the founding members names and some of their discussions about photography, mostly equipment, for photography was an emerging form of creativity.

Back in the Day

OffI was down the path, following names, searching for photographs, of the members, as well as photographs by the members. It seems most roads lead back to this PDF and to the Library company of Philadelphia, which has it linkage to all other archives around the city.  On Wednesday Don and I ventured to the Free Library for what I thought was book about the Society, which it is but is a reference book, not a memoir of the society useful but not what I was looking for. Of course during our inept search of the racks we discovered a treasure of Photography art books which can and will be a source of information and inspiration. In our frustration we were directed to the Print and Picture Room, that space is awesome in itself, we were greeted by the curator Aurora Deshauteurs, to a whole box full of stereoscopic images, which was one of the forms that early photography was printed, well these two art geeks where in haven. We viewed and photographed via iPhone some of the prints I thought where of first use to begin the society blog.  So stay tuned.

believed to be a photograph by one of the first Members of PSoP! John Moran
1864

As I mentioned above Don and I had his friend toured the studios at 915, one Sunday afternoon, the Tuesday before was the Solo Exhibit at Cafe 12 for a PSoP member John Bacillie, who photographs street art, graffiti and such, he tends to play around with the photographs as well.  The next Monday PSoP’s Vice-President Morris Klein had a reception at Brown Street Bar, a local corner bar in the Fairmont area of the city. Morris collection is his ode to Philly rendered in his unique HDR style.

Morris Klein at his reception discussing his work with a friend !

Then the next Sunday was the Plastic Clubs 100th Annervsary members only exhibition, in which many of the members of the Photographic society belong to as well, and about half of the awards of the collection where photographs by our members.

Plastic Club members exhibit!

There has been a few other events, yet as you see I have been wetting my appetite, filling the well, spending time with companions who encourage each other to do the work, envisioning the art world as an abundant source of  inspiration, challenge, as well as great opportunity. The city of Philadelphia is a cultural artistic venue once the doors are opened and the light shone, which it has been for me in the past few months.  Early on I had hesitated to join the Photographic Society of Philadelphia because it sound pretentious, and my own fear of stepping out. Now I have stepped in, have been welcomed, and have become involved! Was it that unsatisfied appetite that caused me to venture forth, or the seeking of artistic knowledge and recognition that has been central to me present state of being?