Poetic memories of a sepia-toned time
By Rosanna Checchi, Oct 20, 2006

Jack Spencer, “Silver Prints” Saturday, October 21, 5–7pm Galeria Yam, Instituto Allende, Int. 1 Ancha de San Antonio 20

Some artists have the innate gift of intensified sensitivity and, through their work, are able to transmit to us their sense of natural harmony and their vision of the world. With them lies a philosophical testament to the essence of existence. A way of life that is frozen in an instant, in the subtle ambiance of a place, capturing both expressions and virtues, in an apparent state between dreams and awakening, that “pure” instant where we begin to relate to the world.

Thanks to his perception, photographer Jack Spencer is consistently able to capture this dimension of a fleeting instant, creating evocative images of an emotion free from all tension. Only in a subsequent phase do we interpret these images and receive these emotions as if they have been delivered to us—exactly what happens when we awaken. Spencer’s refined technique greatly contributes to the elaboration of many of his works. 

As photographer and writer A. M. Rousseau noted: “The brown-toned, selenium-washed prints are extensively altered in the darkroom through the elaborate use of masks, soft focus and meticulous dodging and burning of specific areas.”

The result is an exquisitely created piece of work. The prints have an appearance of paintings that provoke poetic memories of a sepia-toned time lost to our memory, yet still present in our dreams. Spencer never had the intention of being a Southern photographer, trying to make sense of what, for many of us, is a foreign land. His collection of photographs titled “Native Soil” has brought him considerable success, but his goal is to show us that it is about a vision, not a place. What is constant in Spencer’s work is his attention to detail—the gesture and mood that defines each one of his subjects, discovered through a process that involved communication with his subjects. He began to photograph after a long absence from his birthplace, and his experiences in other places before his return gave him the opportunity to understand and interpret his “old world.” 

The result is a unique mix of distinctively southern landscapes and portraits seen through the artist’s deep personal vision. It is not a coincidence that Spencer’s work has been compared to the writings of William Faulkner and Flannery O’Connor. With its multitonal monochrome, Spencer’s work proves that those who only see five colors are blind and those who only hear five notes are deaf.

Limiting sound to a pentatonic system and color to a pentacromatic system means to be deaf and blind. The world of color is infinite, as is the world of sound. It is only when we cease to attach outside concepts to color or sound that we really begin to see and listen.

Spencer was born in Mississippi in 1951 and was raised in Louisiana. He is a painter and musician and started to photograph seriously in the mid 1980s when he returned home to Mississippi for a family visit. He is currently enjoying considerable success in the fine art world, where he is considered one of the most interesting photographers on the contemporary scene.

Jacobo Mendoza, master weaver
By Heidi Levasseur

Weavings by Jacobo Mendoza Friday, October 27, 5–7pm Casa de la Cuesta Gallery, Cuesta de San José 32

Jacobo Mendoza is the youngest member of the well-known Mendoza family from Teotitlan del Valle. He weaves his rugs in the traditional way on a broadloom with wool that has been dyed with natural colors using patterns passed down through generations. His works with geometric and Zapotec designs are unique and beautiful. The unrest in the state of Oaxaca has all but eliminated Mendoza’s regular customer base. 

In the master weaver’s words: “I began weaving rugs when I was eight years old. Now I have participated in many different competitions. I am working with silk and with the natural pure vegetable dyes that I learned to use from my father, Emiliano Mendoza, and my older brother, Arnulfo.” He is teaching both his 6-year-old son and his 10-year-old daughter to weave, even though it is traditionally a man’s work in Teotitlan del Valle.

Mendoza will demonstrate his dying and weaving techniques and exhibit his rugs at Casa de la Cuesta. He has generously donated one of his rugs to be auctioned at the Mujeres en Cambio tea.

The eye of the photographer

Lecture/photography presentations Santa Fe Workshops Monday, October 23 & Wednesday, October 25, 7:30pm Teatro Ángela Peralta

Photographers Leasha Overturf and Paul Elledge present and talk about their work on October 23 and 25, the Santa Fe Workshops lecture and presentation series highlights the work of four prominet photographers.

Overturf, a Chicago-based photographer, explores childhood, teenage relationships and her immediate family in her photography. She uses county fairs, public gathering spaces and city streets and environments to find and explore her subjects. Her photography has been published and exhibited in many venues, both nationally and internationally, and she leads workshops in the United States and Italy. In addition to her own projects, she has worked with Paul Elledge in all aspects of photographic production since 1993. This is Overturf’s seventh year teaching at the Santa Fe Workshops.

Paul Elledge is a Chicago-based photographer and filmmaker whose clients include major advertising agencies, record companies and corporations. He has been honored with numerous national and international awards for his work that melds photographic realism with painterly qualities of illustration. Elledge has photographed such celebrities as AC/DC, Ashanti, Billy Corgan, Ministry, Willie Nelson, Trent Reznor, Luciano Pavarotti and Oprah Winfrey. His work has appeared worldwide in publications such as Audubon, Fast Company, Life, Men’s Health, People, Rolling Stone, Time and Wired, among others.

Elledge’s book Luna, Bella Luna chronicles the people of Vesale, Italy, and he has collaborated on several books with chef Charlie Trotter. In addition to photography, Paul has directed several music videos and television commercials. This is his eighth year teaching at the workshops.

On Wednesday, October 25, two other extraordinary photographers, Eddie Soloway and Flor Acosta, present their work during the fourth evening in the lecture series. 

Soloway’s photographs express his passion and commitment to the natural world. He developed his eye during 30 years of exploring the earth’s wild places. Soloway spent 10 years working for the Institute of Earth Education, where he helped develop wilderness journeys and school curricula and conducted educational workshops in five countries. In 1998, he was the first recipient of the Excellence in Photographic Teaching Award presented by the Santa Fe Center for Photography. Today, he divides his time between teaching, making fine-art prints and shooting for Getty Images. His book, One Thousand Moons, was published in 2004. An impassioned teacher, Soloway brings experiences in both nature and photography to his workshop. This is his fifth year teaching in San Miguel.

The Santa Fe Workshops, an inspirational resource for image makers for the past 17 years, is a year-round educational center covering a wide range of topics in digital, black-and-white and color photography as well as year-round digital imaging programs. Each season image makers of every kind travel to Santa Fe to engage their imaginations and rekindle their passions for photography. To find out more, see www.santafeworkshops.com  or email info@santafeworkshops.com
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