After being detained by customs agents at the UPS sort facility in Louisville, KY for over 3 months, my copy of FUTURE IMAGES (©2009 24 ORE Motta Cultura srl, Milan) finally arrived. Edited by Mario Cresci the book is intended to explore at an international level the works of some of the emerging artists who use the photographic medium without adopting the generic schemata of traditional photography.  Its release nearly coincided with the opening of my exhibition at 1000 eventi gallery in Milan last month (more on this later). Artists are presented alphabetically, making it one of those times in life when having a last name that begins with the letter ‘A’ a good thing!

I’m finally making good on a promise I made back in October. That was when I received my first, genuine piece of fan mail—outside in the mailbox standing at the end of my driveway.! It came from pop-up artist and author Kyle Olman (New York) and is a mini, pop-up version of FLOORED, 2010. I told Kyle that I would showcase his gift here, but that’s as far as I got—until today. Now that this outstanding piece of paper engineering has been documented, it’s found a new home atop my Drobo—where I can see it every day. Be sure to visit his site to see his latest release, BABY SIGNS (illustrated by Jacqueline Rogers).

I completed the last of 3 new commissions this week. All are for magazines. I won’t say which ones (yet), but I will tell you that the approved, final versions are not these.

HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY

Music credit:
Hymn #1 — Eluvium
©2007 from the album COPIA

I first appeared between the pages of Harper’s in March of 2004—4 images printed 2-0ver-2 in the Reader’s section. This one-time honor (or so I thought) has grown into one of the best working relationships of my career. There isn’t a pedestal tall (or worthy) enough to hold the magazine’s Art Director and the Assistant Art Director.

(Did I mention that Stacey and Alyssa came to hear me speak at School of Visual Arts in NY last September?)

Harper’s is an artist’s dream-come-true. Plenty of lead time is given to read the copy, ponder the problem and come up with a solution (with one legitimate exception). I feel valued, am rewarded handsomely and, best of all, I’m entrusted with full creative control (to date, everything has been accepted ‘as-is’ with no revisions).

How did I get to be so lucky?

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(The January 2010 issue marks my 5th time in the magazine and features a portfolio of my work. Full scans of the actual layout will appear here in February.)

Boy. I’m glad THAT’S over!

Back in May, I received an email inquiry from an exhibition group wanting to know if I would be interested in teaching a number of workshops in Hong Kong. In the letter, they offered me a stipend, accommodations at a 4-star hotel, per diem and round-trip airfare for me AND an assistant. I no sooner posted a query on Facebook when Jared Janderwski—a friend and student from Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University—sent this reply (complete with disclaimer for his lightning fast response): “I’ll go—I’m not stalking you. Really!”.  If I’m not mistaken, Jared applied for a passport the very next day—just in case!

As the days and emails back-and-forth from Hong Kong passed, the offer took on the characteristics of an ice sculpture—solid and beautiful at first and then gone! After submitting my compensation requirements (to teach 6 workshops in 10 days ) along with a ‘rental’ rate for my work, I was told, “There will be no need for your person to be present.” At first I thought this meant Jared, but there was a language barrier that I misinterpreted once before, so I wrote back for confirmation.

Yep, they didn’t want me either!

Instead, they only wanted the work. To be more specific—a selection of the actual books that I had deconstructed and photographed—no prints (the first of  my language misinterpretations). The organizer also wanted to know if the original ‘rental’ amount would be lower since I was no longer traveling. All email correspondence ceased when I answered, “No”.

At that point, I was tired of all the hoop-jumping and relieved that the deal was off. However, I still had the painful task of telling Jared and felt like a total jackass when I finally did. Fortunately, he was very gracious and understood.

I recently got the chance to make it up to him.

Several weeks ago Jared posted a status update on Facebook and “hinted” at wanting a copy of PAPER: TEAR | FOLD | RIP | CREASE | CUT by Raven Smith for his birthday. At the time, he was not aware that I am one of the artists featured in the book so I signed copy and sent it to him. The picture above appeared on Facebook  (and Jared’s blog) today along with this note: A simple thank you didn’t seem like it would suffice. I got the book yesterday and I love it. Thank you!!

That’s one of the nicest THANK YOU’s  I’ve ever received and a perfect way to close the book on such a ridiculous ordeal.