Many of you know that in addition to writing this blog, I maintain another blog called Slow Painting that filters through websites, publications and blogs for compelling excerpts. Slow Painting is a customized assemblage of art-related news, ideas and concepts as defined by my sensibilities.
Every so often a Slow Painting find is so provocative that it migrates over into this more personal space as well. Two recent postings on Slow Painting have filled my attention this week, one of them being the work of photographer Lynn Davis.
In a review of Davis’ current show, the photographer is quoted as saying:
What I’m looking for are sites that evoke a feeling of inner peacefulness, some quality of contemplation. I don’t always get it, and I don’t always translate it, but I certainly know when the feeling comes over me, and that’s what keeps me going.
As a affirmation of her success in achieving that goal, her work is being featured at the Rubin Museum of Art, a museum dedicated to promoting the art and culture of the Himalayas. Even though her work does not fit in with that directive per se, the museum staff could see how closely aligned her aesthetic goals are with the spirit and intention of the museum.
I have been a fan of Davis’ photographs for many years. Her images, particularly those experienced full scale, capture the essence of embodiment–that ineffable sense that all things are part of a living, breathing cohesiveness that we give many names to but is in fact one immense entity. Touching into that is the highest achievement I can imagine for someone working in the visual realm.
For those of you near New York, her work can be seen at the Rubin Museum through July 16. A catalog will be available in August.
Greetings,
I very much appreciate your SlowMuse and SlowPainting blogs. Your writing and critical offerings are wonderful. I work for the Shambhala Sun Foundation (publishers of the Shambhala Sun and Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly.
We have, over the years, published the work of Lynn Davis (most recently in the January 2008 issue of Shambhala Sun). This year, she very kindly donated a copy of one of her photographs to our first-ever online auction. We did not meet the reserve price during the auction, and so we are now seeking to sell this photograph privately. Funds raised will contribute to our transition to environmentally responsible paper for both magazines, as well as our youth internship program. Also, 10% of the proceeds will be donated to organizations working on the development of human rights and democracy for the people of Burma.
If you had any suggestions on how to market this photograph within the New York art world, or how to reach collectors of such works, that would be very helpful!
I may be reached at debra@shambhalasun.com or 902-422-8404 extension 34
Below is a link which may be pasted into a browser which gives further detail about this Lynn Davis photograph.
http://www.shambhalasun.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3199&Itemid=244