Main Gallery: 5.10.12 – 6.15.12
Opening Reception: Thursday, May 10th, 6-8p
The aim of Photolucida’s Critical Mass program is to give exposure to emerging and mid-career photographers across the globe. In 2011, over 500 artists entered their work for the chance to be seen by over 200 professionals in the photography world. Curators, gallery directors, editors, and publishers juried the work of these artists, and through a truly democratic process, narrowed the field down to the Critical Mass TOP 50. Juror, Darius Himes of Fraenkel Gallery, selected one image per artist to represent the artists’ projects. The exhibition will travel from PCNW in Seattle to Newspace Center for Photography in Portland, and RayKo Photo Center in San Francisco, furthering the mission of all four photography organizations to bring top emerging talent to the public. To view the full body of work each artist submitted you can visit here.
THE JUROR
Darius Himes is Assistant Director of Fraenkel Gallery, San Francisco. He is a co-founder of Radius Books, a non-profit publisher of books on photography and the visual arts, where he serves on the Board and consults on project acquisitions. He was founding editor of photo-eye Booklist, a quarterly magazine devoted to photography books, which ran from 2002–2007. A lecturer, educator, and writer, he has contributed to Aperture, Blind Spot, Bookforum, BOMB, PDN, and American Photo. In 2008, he was named by PDN as one of the fifteen most influential people in photography book publishing. His most recent title, “Publish Your Photography Book,” co-authored with Mary Virginia Swanson, was released by Princeton Architectural Press in the Spring of 2011.
Juror Statement
“The picture’s smiling appearance is for your sake, so that by means of the picture the real theme may be established.”—Mathnavi, 1.2769
Curating an exhibition from a pre-established group of artists and photographs has certain obvious challenges, as well as unpredictable rewards. The parameters are simple to explain: one photograph was to be selected from small portfolios submitted by each of the fifty chosen Critical Mass artists. What will be first and most readily apparent to the viewer is the vast diversity of work. That is the first theme. A further layer is provided by the groupings of images. They are both loose and intentional, with hints of association and shades of meaning. Lastly, one arrives at individual images, each extracted from larger, and in this case, unseen bodies of work. Each image then carries with it a theme singular to itself and yet stands in for a deeper vision, while simultaneously speaking to and being informed by the other works in the exhibition. Theme upon theme hinting at other themes; a wide-ranging conversation. As Kent Rogowski’s opening piece so elegantly indicates, the ultimate Contents to be found in the works shown here speaks to Love, Anxiety, Happiness and Everything Else.—Darius Himes
