Arles 2013

[Roger Hicks]

At least two RFF members have exhibitions at the Rencontres Photographiques d'Arles, the biggest gathering of fine art photographers in the world, which opens on Monday July 1st. Tom (Turtle) has one Chez Arthur et Janine on the rue du 4 Septembre and Frances and I have our own exhibitions a few doors along the same street at La Caverne d'Ali Baba (No. 50). Or at least, as I am sure Tom would echo now he's back from Kabul, we will have them Insh'Allah (God willing).

Frances's is Himalayan Dreams, ten hand coloured pictures of the borderline between reality and orientalist fantasies of Tibet in exile. Mine consists of 18 pictures under the title Recycled Religion. These are pictures of devotional objects for sale at French vide-greniers, village-wide yard sales, where crucifixes are sold next to rusty bicycles, and statues of the Blessed Virgin next to video cassettes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. All were shot with my Leica M9 and 1,5/50 Zeiss C-Sonnar. These are just two of 100-200 free exhibitions (and maybe 60-70 you have to pay to visit) during the Rencontres.

Many exhibitions (including ours) have vernissages, parties with free booze and varying amounts of food. The date for our vernissage isn't set yet but you'll find out if you come to the exhibition. Putting on an exhibition involves more time, effort and money than you would readily believe unless you've tried it, so we would like to acknowledge the support of Harman (Ilford): all prints are on Harman (digital) or Ilford (silver) paper. Over the years, though not specifically for this exhibition, we've also had help from Zeiss and Leica, so thanks to them too. When it comes to mounting 28 prints in 40x50cm mounts, our Rotatrim cutting mat and Olfa 45 degree matte cutter have been indispensable.

If anyone can make it, we look forward to seeing you...

Cheers,

R.

 

[Photo_Smith]

I only wish i could make it, sounds like a great deal of time and effort for which i hope you are both well rewarded. I love exhibitions, and go to as many as I can, which due to work isn't as many as I'd like.
Hope you can post some images after the event.
Have fun.

 

[Ben Z]

Je souhaite que je puisse y aller Roger, j'ai toujours voulu visiter cette région. At present though we are occupied with the recent arrival of our first grandchild, so international travel has dropped to #2 on the priority list 😛

 

[lynnb]

My best wishes that all goes well for you and Frances, Roger.

 

[robert blu]

It must be a real satisfaction for Tom, Frances and you. Unfortunately this year we had to cancel the Arles trip because of the dates which make it difficult for us to be there in that week. I'm sure of you success and please share some pictures when you are back.
robert
PS: still trying to arrange things in order to come at least a couple of days toward the end of the week...

 

[Gabriel M.A.]

At least two RFF members have exhibitions at the Rencontres Photographiques d'Arles, the biggest gathering of fine art photographers in the world, which opens on Monday July 1st. Tom (Turtle) has one Chez Arthur et Janine on the rue du 4 Septembre and Frances and I have our own exhibitions a few doors along the same street at La Caverne d'Ali Baba (No. 50). Or at least, as I am sure Tom would echo now he's back from Kabul, we will have them Insh'Allah (God willing).

Frances's is Himalayan Dreams, ten hand coloured pictures of the borderline between reality and orientalist fantasies of Tibet in exile. Mine consists of 18 pictures under the title Recycled Religion.

(...)

If anyone can make it, we look forward to seeing you...

Nice! My warmest congratulations.

It so happens I'll be able to have a marathon visit at Arles next week (Thursday afternoon through Friday early afternoon), as I'll be at the portfolio reviews (two, in fact, although they'll be 20 minutes each one hour apart). This was just decided last night.

The hard work of a mounted exhibit masks much of the pains taken through (not to mention the personal time in the photo-making and the work of finding getting exhibited --I myself have been going through the pains of at least getting my contact attempts answered!!), specially with the costs involved. So I utterly understand on how proud and happy you must be.

I will most certainly try to show up on Thursday (or Friday morning?) next week.

 

[sparrow6224]

I cannot wait to see these images, both yours and Frances', but alas won't be able to see them as real prints at Arles. As the Dodger fans used to say, wait til next year. Meanwhile hearty congratulations and best of luck.

 

[robert blu]

Due to such a special occasion we managed to change our schedules and we'll arrive in Arles on thursday morning (staying till saturday). It is not much time for so many events but it is better than nothing. I'm sure the pictures of our RFF members are great! See you in Arles, ciao.
robert

 

[Rodchenko]

Best of luck with it.

 

[Denton]

At least two RFF members have exhibitions at the Rencontres Photographiques d'Arles, the biggest gathering of fine art photographers in the world, which opens on Monday July 1st. Tom (Turtle) has one Chez Arthur et Janine on the rue du 4 Septembre and Frances and I have our own exhibitions a few doors along the same stree

R.

....then you must visit the Patissierie and Boulangeria at 24 rue du Septembre as it's the best in downtown Arles...
Denton

 

[Richard Pickup]

What size are your prints and how are they presented?

What size are your prints and how are they presented?

I hope you don't mind me asking - I'm preparing for an exhibition of my own at the moment and presentation methods and sizing is a current obsession.

Cheers

Richard

 

[Turtle]

Roger is busy with his exhibition at the moment, so I hope he wont mind me answering: Roger and Francis have printed to 16x12/A3 I believe and matted the prints for wall display.

Really image size depends IMHO on the size the image 'wants to be' and the size of the venue. There is nothing worse than huge prints in a tiny venue where you cannot view them from the right distance. Some sort of consistency in size works well, but it can be even better to have a few sizes to create a slightly more variable viewing experience. It really is personal and you can enjoy the process of curating your show and will invariably look to do things differently next time.

 

[Rodchenko]

Any news on how the exhibition is going?

 

[Richard Pickup]

Roger is busy with his exhibition at the moment, so I hope he wont mind me answering: Roger and Francis have printed to 16x12/A3 I believe and matted the prints for wall display.

Really image size depends IMHO on the size the image 'wants to be' and the size of the venue. There is nothing worse than huge prints in a tiny venue where you cannot view them from the right distance. Some sort of consistency in size works well, but it can be even better to have a few sizes to create a slightly more variable viewing experience. It really is personal and you can enjoy the process of curating your show and will invariably look to do things differently next time.

Thanks, that's really helpful.

 

[Turtle]

Richard, the bottom line is make it your own and enjoy it! Framing everything is ideal, but its not cheap so not possible for everyone. If you do use frames, go for a number of standardised sizes which you can use with a standard mat size. While you can vary the aperture in the mat for different images, the outside dimensions remain the same so you can easily reuse frames for different shows. I have about 50 frames now and will need few if any more.

 

[Richard Pickup]

You've exactly put your finger on my dilemma. The work is a body of some twenty 'street' style images from a recent trip to India. I work in a College and we have a gallery (I teach art / photography). Initially I was thinking only foamboard mounting due to prohibitive costs. I've started looking at frames and mats but it gets hugely expensive with that number. I'm in love with the idea of 'the print' so treating them as 'images' in an advertsing style - what I associate with foamboard, and my initial intention - is tough. I simply wanted to give something to College without seeing it as my first solo show - which it is - but as you might expect the work exerts its inevitable demands.

 

[Richard Pickup]

Sorry this thread is about Roger and Francis's show and I'm harping on about my own!

I'm sure we're speaking about some universal issues though.

 

[Charlie Lemay]

Congratulations Roger and Frances. Wish I could be there.

 

[Canyongazer]

Congrats

Congrats

Best wishes to you, Frances and Turtle.
Wished I could be there now....I was in Arles in April.
In photography, as in comedy, timing is everything.
:bang:
Regards,
Joseph

 

[lynnb]

Picture Gallery on Arles in The Telegraph.