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Eli Klein Gallery presents an artistic celebration of the beauty behind queerness in the group exhibition, (In)directions: Queerness in Chinese Contemporary Photography. From November 18 to January 31, viewers are invited to experience the work provided by 21 artists who combined their visions of what it means to step out of the restraint provided by the status quo to express an array of photographic mediums. This show honors the range of genders and sexualities, as well as highlighting the cultural complications that co-exist.
While no definition may perfectly fit queerness as a whole, this exhibition, which is curated by Phil Zheng Cai and Douglas Ray, hopes to draw outside perspectives to consider how a photographically artistic approach to queerness can impact one’s reality.
Various concepts surrounding queerness are presented within the show, peaking into the experiences these artists have faced. Physical forms of what the journey to self-discovery is like is presented through work highlighting the transformation of fluid identities, presented by artists such as Chi Peng, Mengwen Cao, and Leonard Suryajaya. Other artists touched on concepts such as the want for belonging and the drive to becoming, and the comparison of truth and fiction through the identity of a Chinese persona.
Effortlessly blending the boundaries of queerness with evolving environments, as well as consulting traditional art history, the show also features work exploring the human body. Artists such as Whiskey Chow and Pixy Liao do so in their work by challenging gender norms through the context of media and sexual expression. Alongside the visual work of the artists, the exhibition also features an illustrated catalog and essay by Phil Zheng Cai, as well as an essay by Douglas Ray.
With a combination of expressions provided by individuals who have lived the lives they craft in an artistic form, Queerness in Chinese Contemporary Photography strives to leave three pondering questions in the minds of the audience: What is queer photography? What is Chinese queerness? and What would a queered contemporary look like?
(In)directions: Queerness in Chinese Contemporary Photography is on view from November 18 to January 31
Immerse yourself in the vibrant and creative spirit of Whidbey Art Market’s holiday-opener event! This Thanksgiving weekend, Friday and Saturday, November 24 & 25 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., pack your friends and relatives into the car and enjoy Thanksgiving weekend access to six private artist studios from Clinton to Greenbank.
In total, fifteen professional Whidbey Island artists will be featured, with two or three at each of the six studios on the tour. A wide range of fine art mediums are represented, including sculpture, clay, wood, photography, basketry, glass, illustration, paintings, mixed media, digital collage, jewelry and fiber. This very special show offers a curated selection of each artist’s most recent and popular artwork. You’ll have the opportunity to meet each artist, learn about how their work is created, all in a holiday celebration atmosphere!
And if that weren’t enough, guests who visit all six studios and have their “show passports” validated at each location will be eligible for over $1000 in special prizes! Passport/punch cards will be available at each studio, and can also be downloaded in advance from the organization’s website. The grand prize is one night midweek at the Inn at Langley (a $500 value), first prize is dinner for two at Orchard Kitchen (a $350 value), and the runner-up will receive an artists’ surprise gift basket containing many artist-made small gifts, for yourself or for your own gift-giving (invaluable)!
The Whidbey Art Market tour route with studio addresses and an interactive online map can be found at the organization’s website www.whidbeyartmarket.com. The artists are looking forward to celebrating the season with you!
Whidbey Art Market
Visit all six studios for a chance to win valuable prizes! Use our online interactive tour map at www.whidbeyartmarket.com or visit us at the following locations:
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes‘ wedding photographer has candidly revealed what it was really like to shoot the event.
The celebrity couple tied the knot at Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano, Italy, in November 2006 in front of a star-studded guest list.
There to capture their nuptials on camera was Robert Evans who took about 5,000 snaps of the A-list occasion.
He dished that the relationship between Cruise and Holmes ‘seemed very real and natural’ before expressing the pitfalls of nondisclosure agreements.
For years, Cruise and Holmes were deemed one of Hollywood’s biggest couples.
The Mission Impossible star infamously declared his love for his fellow actress, who was 16 years his junior, while jumping on a sofa during an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show.
And, after he proposed at the Eiffel Tower, the couple walked down the aisle in a Scientologist ceremony just months after welcoming daughter Suri.
The nuptials, which included a fireworks display over the 15th century castle, reportedly cost more than $3 million, according to E! News.
The couple’s photographer, who also shot Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt’s ceremony in 2000, has now spoken to Yahoo Entertainment about how the ‘wedding of the century’ unfolded.
Speaking about the build up to the event, Evans said that he was asked to submit his previous works for consideration – along with a whole host of other photographers – before he was hired by a very enthusiastic Cruise.
‘When I met him for the first time, he was very excited to meet me. It was around the time he was kind of getting the bad press for the couch-jumping thing. But he was super-nice.
‘He was like: “I’m so happy to meet you! When I saw your book, I was like: That’s my guy! That’s my guy!” He was excited about it.
‘I’m meeting Tom Cruise for the first time, this is within the first minute of us meeting, and I was like… “Thank you?” I’m not great with compliments.’
Evans and a fellow photographer flew to the location in Rome and stayed at the hotel next door to the newlyweds-to-be.
He covered two days of events prior to the official ceremony before 150 guests, including the likes of Jennifer Lopez, David and Victoria Beckham, Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, descended on the event.
But he said that the ‘wow factor’ of the impressive list of guests soon wore off, admitting that he did not even remember some of them being there.
Discussing the relationship between Cruise and Holmes, Evans told the publication: ‘It seemed very real and natural to me. They just seemed like they were having a great time and they were in love.
‘Obviously I’m not thinking about that [while I’m working], but you are observing and you see it. But then the pictures reflect it. I guess they’re actors. They could have been faking it. But I just go there and do my job and shoot what I see.’
Evans usually takes a batch of up to 5,000 photographs at events such as the Cruise and Holmes wedding – but said that many of the more touching and intimate photos are never shared.
Revealing what he has learnt from being ‘on the inside’ of such A-list events, Evans said that ‘the stuff that gets reported after is usually not very accurate. People are speculating because they don’t know the truth.’
He added that because of nondisclosure agreements, ‘obviously, you can’t tell anybody that the flowers were pink or the cake was this, so they all speculate, and a lot of stuff you hear, that’s not what happened.
‘It gives a little insight into what it must be like to be a celebrity and having no privacy. Yes, I realize that’s the job that they chose, but that’s the con that goes with the pro.’
But the partnership between Cruise, who had been married twice before, and Holmes’ was not set to last as the pair split just five years later.
The relationship had slowly crumbled, with sources claiming Holmes felt intimidated by the Church of Scientology and its influence before she filed for divorce in 2012.
The fallout of the bitter split has led Suri, who is now 17, to become estranged from her father, with the actress gaining ‘sole custody’ of her daughter in the wake of the divorce.
Designed by Studio KUNZ, the Trapezium House is nestled in the small town of David Canabarro, Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. The home seamlessly blends modern design with the charm of the Brazilian countryside across 1,830 square feet on one floor. Built on a high plateau, the structure is surrounded by araucaria trees seen above the reimagined gabled roof.
The architects at Studio KUNZ deconstructed the typical gabled roof, making way for two trapezoidal sections. The facade stands out with oblique angles, offering a visual treat that is dynamic.
The structure, formed by the extrusion of two trapezoids, boasts inclined slabs that create a unique roof structure and internal ceiling, while inverted beams maintain the continuity of the ceiling surface.
Dark wooden slat accents dial back the coldness of the facade’s shades of gray while adding texture and warmth.
The glass door off of the dining room opens to a wooden pergola-covered balcony, creating a perfect spot to grow climbing plants and to enjoy the local trees.
Inside the Trapezium House, one notices two subtly separated levels, materials of wood, linen, and burnt cement, and an overall white finish that creates a space that exudes warmth and tranquility. The living room and kitchen, which fill with natural light, become a seamless extension of the picturesque surroundings.
During the chilly southern Brazilian winters, a fireplace and wood stove add warmth, while strategically placed windows ensure views in every direction.
Photography by Ezequiele Panizzi.
Accomplished music, fashion, and lifestyle photographer Jason Siegel has released a new collection for his Shoot Portraits Not People (SPNP) project.
The latest sculptures and photographs follow Siegel’s original SPNP work in 2017. Like the prior collections, his newest art release uses recycled camera equipment to create realistic, “anatomically correct” sculptures of weapons.
“Photography will always be my passion,” says Siegel. “But now, I’m creating something beyond a portrait for a magazine; I’m building thought-provoking art that speaks to a societal issue. Imagine making something really cool and, at the same time, bringing awareness to something that affects us almost every single day.”
The idea behind Shoot Portraits Not People came when Siegel arranged his camera gear into the shape of a rifle on his living room floor and uploaded the photo to social media. The image went viral, inspiring Siegel to think about how to turn that basic idea into something more meaningful.
Siegel hopes that Shoot Portraits Not People will reshape the way that people think about firearm violence and, ideally, spark conversations surrounding guns and potential legislation that may save lives. The need for that conversation only gets more urgent each year.
The newest batch of sculptures is Siegel’s fifth significant addition to the SPNP project and brings the total number of guns constructed using cameras to 22. The new firearm sculptures include a MAC-11 submachine gun, a G36 assault rifle, and a Romanian Draco Pistol, although it is more like a compact rifle.
The realism of Siegel’s sculptures is very intentional. The artist tells PetaPixel over email that the point of his work is to evoke an emotion. “I think that by making the sculptures look hyper-realistic, it does exactly that. This has opened up a lot of conversation and interest in the project as a whole. I think if they looked more toy-like, they wouldn’t have the same effect,” Siegel explains.
There is some risk that by creating facsimiles of real guns, Siegel attracts the attention of people who simply love guns and have no sincere interest in having a conversation about firearm safety. To that concern, Siegel says that his work attracts many types of people, including those passionate about guns and preserving firearm rights. However, Siegel argues that many of these same people are also interested in his project’s anti-violence message.
“I think that the vast percentage of gun owners still believe in the idea of ‘anti-violence’ and own firearms for the sport of target shooting and have never even considered hurting people with them, so it’s pretty easy for both parties to get behind the message of Shooting Portraits and Not People,” the photographer says.
On the more significant problem of gun violence, the impetus for Siegel’s work, he accepts that for another subset of people, seeing realistic depictions of guns, especially mixed in with a hobby they love, like photography, can be uncomfortable. The discomfort is part of the point.
It is also worth considering that the line between critique and glorification can become very blurry.
“The purpose of this project is to create emotion,” Siegel says. “Sometimes that emotion may not be a comfortable one — in this case, it often isn’t for many.”
“However, through this project, I’ve had lots of discussions with people who have been directly affected by gun violence, and while it may feel jarring for them, the majority have walked away with only positive things to say.”
Not only do most people who engage with Siegel’s SPNP come away with a positive experience, but some have added his sculptures to their art collections, which enables Siegel to donate a portion of the proceeds to Everytown for Gun Safety, a non-violence advocacy charity.
“I think there are definitely things that need to change with firearm legislation. Unfortunately, because firearms are so deeply rooted in American culture and law, I don’t see a whole lot being able to change very easily,” Siegel admits. “At least with this project, it helps keep the topic at the forefront of people’s minds and is able to give back to those who have been affected and [can help] educate.”
Siegel’s views on firearms have evolved over the years because of Shoot Portraits Not People. His exhibits have exposed him to more perspectives on firearms.
The project has also allowed him to speak directly with people affected by gun violence and learn more about the organization and work going on concerning firearm legislation and gun safety.
“I’ve got to learn the history of firearms in a very detailed, in-depth way. Everyone has a story and usually loves to share it, so through those personal conversations, I’ve been able to gain a lot of perspective on firearms — good, bad, and everything in between,” says Siegel.
Siegel’s hand-crafted sculptures are one-of-a-kind, so once they sell, they’re gone forever. Siegel also sells prints of his sculptures. After all, Siegel is a very talented photographer, so he makes excellent images of his “gun” creations.
Each firearm model takes significant time and care to create. They also require a lot of old and recycled camera parts, which Siegel has been collecting for years. Sometimes he finds a piece of photo equipment that gives him an idea for a specific sculpture, while other times he has a gun model in mind and needs to find the gear to bring his vision to life.
Siegel is also a full-time professional commercial photographer, so he is often busy working with musicians, artists, models, and brands. “When I’m not doing that, I’m working on this project.”
He also doesn’t have any sort of sculpting background, so working in a physical, three-dimensional medium is quite a bit different from taking photos. “But I’ve always loved designing and building things with my hands,” Siegel says, adding that he’s learned “a lot of new skills” through the SPNP project.
“But honestly, the greatest skill I’ve been able to hone with SPNP is problem solving. It’s really just one big puzzle when it comes to putting these things together.”
From a photography perspective, the Shoot Portraits Not People prints are very minimalist, which Siegel says builds upon his longtime use of negative space in his commercial work.
“When I first started taking photos, my work was very ‘minimalist.’ Since then, it certainly has changed a lot. However, one thing that has always stayed constant was my use of negative space as well as my use of straight lines and symmetry — I think that still shines through when photographing the sculptures as well. I think it even shines through when fabricating them as well. I chose a plain white background to make sure the pieces stand out as much as possible. We love a clean look.”
Each new show takes a lot out of Siegel. The sculptures are very intensive to create, so he says he needs a recovery period before starting work on the next release. However, he tells PetaPixel he has “lots of ideas in mind” for what he will build when the time comes to start up the sixth SPNP collection.
The best way to stay current with Siegel’s Shoot Portraits Not People project is by following along on Instagram and by visiting the website. Siegel’s commercial photography work is also available on Instagram.
For those in the Los Angeles area, Siegel’s current exhibit is available to visit until December 1.
Image credits: All images © Jason Siegel
Amid the commercial noise of the holiday season, a new initiative in Seattle offers a refreshing reminder of the power of intentional spending. Black Black Friday encourages residents to spend money at local, Black-owned small businesses, emphasizing the impact of every dollar spent in promoting a more equitable economy. The innovative movement leverages partnerships, community engagement, and creative marketing to build a program that could spread beyond Seattle, inspiring companies and individuals across the country to support Black business owners.
Black Black Friday is organized by Intentionalist, a company that helps people support local, diverse small businesses. Intentionalist partnered with Seattle-based creative agency DNA, and local credit union BECU to launch the Black Black Friday card and interactive directory of participating Black-owned businesses.
“From the beginning, Intentionalist has focused on closing the gap between our good intentions to support diverse local businesses and our ability to easily take action,” shared Laura Clise, CEO and founder of Intentionalist. “In the context of an American consumer culture focused on enabling us to swipe and click our way to immediate gratification, Black Black Friday reminds us that where we spend our money matters–that we can be intentional about who benefits from everyday decisions about where we eat, drink, and shop.”
Black Black Friday card with a Boon Boona coffee cup.
Jeriel Calamayan
To encourage and incentivize community members to “Spend Like It Matters”, the campaign offers the Black Black Friday Card, a digital or physical card featuring art by local Black artist Damon Brown. The card can be used exclusively at more than a hundred participating Black-owned businesses. Thanks to BECU’s support, card purchasers can enjoy a 20% discount, making it more accessible to shop at local, Black-owned businesses.
Alan Brown, the founder and chair of DNA, emphasized the importance of companies supporting diverse communities with more than just promises: “Black Black Friday is an opportunity for companies and brands to put their dollars where their promises have been, bringing more opportunities for growth and success to individuals and businesses that are the backbone of our community. And when they support Black Black Friday, it shows others in the community that they truly care about making an impact.”
One of the key stakeholders in the Seattle initiative is Douglas Baldwin Jr, former Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl champion and CEO of Vault89, who sees the potential for the initiative to grow beyond the Greater Seattle area: “As our country fights to change the cycle of excluding Black and Brown people from generational wealth creation, representation of that cycle being broken matters greatly. By shifting the spotlight to raise awareness that the American Dream is alive and well within the Black community, we are funneling vital investment and building a sense of belonging amongst a demographic that has been historically excluded from both.”
Efrem Fesaha of Boon Boona coffee talking with Douglas Baldwin Jr about Black Black Friday.
Intentionalist
The response from Black small business owners has been strong. “The power of this exposure has been apparent,” shared Monika Matthews, Owner of QueenCare, who has already seen new customers and expanded sales through Black Black Friday. “This is the type of support that can pave the road to lift whole families out of poverty thru business ownership. We all know the statistics when it comes to the economic outlook within the Black community. Its bleak now, but by implementing solutions within key wealth building vehicles that affect bottom lines I believe we can slowly turn the page.”
Intentionalist designed Black Black Friday as not just a one-day holiday, but an ongoing economic justice call to action. The Black Black Friday Cards expire seven years after issuance, giving customers the opportunity to make every Friday a day to intentionally support local Black-owned businesses.
Authenticity is at the core of the initiative’s success, with the collaboration rooted in the community it seeks to engage. A Black Small Business Advisory Panel aided in the development of marketing and messaging strategies, ensuring that the benefits of the program reach the Black-owned brick-and-mortar small businesses at the heart of their neighborhoods. As Clise pointed out, “values-based, community-driven collaborations need to be rooted in the very community the partners seek to engage.”
The potential impact of Black Black Friday goes far beyond Seattle, as other communities may look to it as an example of how collaboration, authenticity, and creative marketing can support marginalized business owners. Encouraging intentional everyday decisions about where we spend our money can help advance racial equity and promote economic justice.
