Third Friday Event.

 

C L O S I N G    R E C E P T I O N    E X T R A V A G A N Z A

this Friday, Jan. 20 from 6–9pm.

BURLAP.
Portraits of Farmers by Raymond Goodman

Tim & Helga / Four Leaf Farm

This photography exhibit captures the faces of the clean food movement in our region. These portraits were all taken on farmland, with a veil of burlap between the farmers and the land they work. While these individuals have come to farming from a range of backgrounds and with varying intentions, these farmers have ultimately arrived at a nexus of geographical and philosophical common ground. Day after day, season after season, they set about their duties motivated by a love of labor and by the integrity of their mission.

This fifteen image exhibit extends onto the walls of Piedmont restaurant next door. Please consider taking in the rest of the show over a meal sometime.

.
Detailed info (and images from) about Raymond’s project

.
Durham News article by Dave Hart

O N E   N I G H T   O N L Y   S A L E

The medium and large prints (16 x 24, and 24 x 36) will be marked down 30% for the reception night only. This is a one-night-only opportunity.

. . .

Side stage activities & special guests include….

P O E T R Y   F O X.

The beloved and eloquent poetry fox is returning to busk and will be here banging out poems on his manual typewriter for at least the first couple of hours. He may have to leave a lil early to attack a hen house (it is Friday night after all).

.

T E R R A R I U M S.

Victor Gordon will have a selection of terrariums for sale. His terrariums include mosses native to the wood and barren areas of the NC piedmont. These are made using reagent jars and found/repurposed glassware. With indirect light, the closed system should require very little to almost no watering. Victor is a some-times landscape designer and garden coach. He tends a mixed shrub and perennial yarden with his wife and two children in SW central Durham.

Dovetailing with the agricultural theme, we’ll have beer from a renowned plow to pint brewery at the back table (along with sodas).

. . .

F O Y E R   G A L L E R Y   H O U R S   &    U P C O M I N G   E X H I B I T I O N S

.

The foyer gallery is open every Friday from 11:30 – 2pm.

Upcoming exhibits…

FEBRUARY–MARCH
Eno River Tapestries: New Work by Silvia Heyden
At eighty-four years young, Swiss-born tapestry weaver Silvia Heyden continues to produce stunning, modernist tapestries inspired by nature, music and her Bauhaus influenced education. The Eno River Tapestries represent a selection of new work inspired by Heyden’s hikes along the Eno River. Heyden’s weaving life and Eno River pieces are featured in the new documentary film, A Weaverly Path, by BCAC artist Kenny Dalsheimer. The DVD will be released in the very near future.

.

APRIL–JUNE
Photography/Writings from the most recent Horse & Buggy Press book.
Maji Moto: Dispatches from a Drought.
The newest H&B book publication debuts alongside a three month showing of photographs and writing by Courtney Fitzpatrick.
The book is the result of a year long collaboration and is being published in a limited edition of 175 copies, each of which comes with a photographic print tucked inside the back cover.

.
Details about the Maji Moto book

.
The reception for Maji Moto will be Friday, May 18 from 6–9pm.

.

JULY–AUGUST
Paintings by Janet Coleman.

Janet is a former antfarm studiomate and I’m excited to share some of her recent work.

. . .

Blogpost survey of Durham photography shows

John Wall has written a nice blogpost covering the array of photography shows going on in Durham right now. I’m grateful that he has made mention of Raymond’s portraits of farmers that will be up here (and at Piedmont restaurant next door) through the end of January.

We’ve decided to have a closing reception for Burlap on Friday, Jan 20 from 6-9pm which should be a fun time to come by and see (or re-visit) the show.

Whatever you do, make sure you get over to Craven Allen Gallery and see the beautiful show by MJ Sharp. Stunning.

Below are a couple of images couple from MJ’s exhibit. Regular visitors to the BCAC foyer gallery I curate will recognize a few images that graced our walls a couple years ago. A definite treat to see a larger gathering of MJ’s work. If you can, plan to spend some slow time in the Craven Allen gallery and give yourself a great treat.

Friday Foyer Gallery Hours Return. Daisycakes next door

The foyer gallery I curate, showcasing the work of guest artists in a variety of media, is now open every Friday from 11:30am – 1:45pm.

The idea is you pair up a visit here with lunch next door at Daisycakes

After kicking it out of a vintage Airstream for a few years…

…Tonya and Konrad have a brick and mortar bakery space and we’re excited to have them right next door. They did a great job outfitting the space and are putting out an impressive array of baked goods. In addition to cupcakes and sweet and savory snacks, they also have a nice bevy of sandwiches, homemade soups, and lunch fare and the space has a bigger and more comfy than you’d expect seating area with free wi-fi.

DECEMBER’S TWO-FER SPECIAL…

Buy any one of Raymond’s medium or large prints (framed or unframed) in the current exhibit Burlap: Portraits of Piedmont region farmers and I’ll give you a $10 gift certificate to Daisycakes. No joke.

Burlap: by Raymond Goodman is a two venue photography exhibit which continues onto the walls of Piedmont restaurant next door (yet another 401 Foster Street tenant). The fifteen images in the exhibit are presented in handmade wooden frames. The images are for sale at two sizes, 16 x 24 and 24 x 36, with or without frames, and are also availabe as $20 cash-n-carry smaller prints.

The exhibit is up through January 28, and there will be a closing reception Friday, January 20 from 6–9pm. (the two-fer special ends Dec 23 though)

Please know I’m happy to show the work by appt. Just give a call at 919 949-4847, and also know when I work Saturday mornings I’ll kick the samwich board sign out front which means come in.

Great op-ed in the N&O

BY WIN NEAGLE/RALEIGH

I arrived at the college and sat in the parking lot listening to the end of a news story on the radio. I watched a couple of students making their way to the nearest corner of our smoke-free campus, cigarettes in mouths, waiting to fire up. I have been there. I have known the sinking relief of a cloud of nicotine in the lungs. I feel for the addicted.

And then my thoughts turned to the concerns expressed recently by one of my students after a class discussion of Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave.” The bright young woman had approached me after class with a genuine concern. She told me she did not like to think of the sorts of things we had been discussing because she was afraid she might go crazy.

It was a beautiful moment. She was comfortable in her mental chains and was honest enough to say so.

I asked her to imagine that I had a pet leopard at home. I asked her to imagine my feeding it every day, not some cheap leopard chow, but fresh raw meat. I had her picture the leopard lounging on its custom-made bed as it was bathed in sunlight through the window.

“A good life,” she said.

“Perhaps. But there is a catch.”

“What is the catch?”

“I never let the leopard run. What do you think of that?”

“That’s a bit sad.”

“I agree. Leopards are meant to run. I can’t imagine living my life as a leopard and never knowing what it’s like to run free across large open spaces.”

We were in agreement, but she wanted to know what the leopard business had to do with Plato.

“We are meant to think,” I explained. “I can’t imagine living my life as a human and not exercising my gift of critical thought to the fullest. I can’t imagine there being ideas that I was not allowed to explore. I cannot imagine looking at the world around me only in order to confirm what I already believe. I cannot imagine not being thrilled to see old beliefs slip away in light of greater understanding.”

She was not convinced. “But what if I lose my mind?”

“If you lose your mind, I promise you will find another.”

She offered a fractured smile and wished me a good evening.

My thoughts turned back to the smokers, who stood just off campus, much more relaxed because their fixes were under way.

And then I thought about my frustration with social media and the sad quality of our public discourse. The world is changing rapidly, and I love that we now have the power to be our own media, but so many of us use our digital connectedness to seek out like thinkers. I know I do.

What I don’t do is abandon discussions. I believe in dialogue. I believe that we are all subject to the trap of confirmation bias and that the best tool to escape our own bubbles of false reality is a willingness to share our ideas in bright light, not just with those who will confirm them, but more importantly with those who are able to look at them from a distance, able to see the ridiculous elements to which we are blind.

However, dialogue works only when the parties involved are willing to stick around. Critical thought takes more exertion than the feeding of dogma. And all too often I see people of different opinions not just fleeing into the irrational or simply exiting the conversation, but actually laughing at the idea of someone’s willingness to take a few minutes to offer substantive rebuttal to false claims.

For many, conversation serves little function once disagreement has been established, and they flee, like those smokers, looking for the nearest fix of confirmation.

Some of our greatest addictions are not to chemicals or foods, but to pet ideas. No one quits smoking without coming to terms with the temporary pain and discomfort of withdrawal. Similarly, no one can truly engage in honest dialogue as long as the goal is simply to arrive – through any measures necessary, logical or not – back in the comfort of one’s pet beliefs.

If we are unwilling to live in the free and open landscapes of our thoughts, we can hope for no better existence than that imaginary pet leopard who will never know the joy of running.

Win Neagle is an author and teaches at Wake Technical Community College.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/11/30/1679172/the-curse-of-being-too-comfortable.html#ixzz1fDKLK2iK

Burlap. Portraits of Piedmont Farmers by Raymond Goodman.

UPDATE: Foyer gallery hours have returned. Every Friday 11:30am – 1:45 pm. Suggested pairing with lunch at Daisycakes next door.

I’m stoked about the most recent exhibit (#32) I’ve curated in the foyer gallery — and in fact this one continues onto the walls of Piedmont, the farm to fork restaurant right next door.

BURLAP.
Portraits of Piedmont Farmers by Raymond Goodman.
Nov 17 – Jan 28     **CLOSING RECEPTION: Third Friday, Jan. 20; 6-9pm**

A R T I S T ‘S    S T A T E M E N T . . .

Capturing the faces of the clean food movement in our region, these portraits were all taken on farmland, with a veil of burlap between the farmers and the land they work. While these individuals have come to farming from a range of backgrounds and with varying intentions, these farmers have ultimately arrived at a nexus of geographical and philosophical common ground. Day after day, season after season, they set about their duties motivated by a love of labor and by the integrity of their mission.

Regardless of age, a youthful optimism persists in spite of the adversarial climate of today’s corporate food system. After decades of industrial agriculture and its assault on small, independent farmers, the agricultural tradition had been left hanging by a thread. Farmers are few; shareholders are many, and much knowledge has been forgotten. But the remnants of that knowledge, kept alive by a devoted few, are being stewarded by these farmers with new methodologies and a nod to the long agricultural tradition and history they are carrying on.

The beauty of this small-scale, intelligent farming resurgence rests in the collective, co-operative approach to solving age-old problems. There is an overarching desire to share knowledge and resources, while chipping away at monoculture and environmental disregard. These small-scale farms are winning day by day as evidenced by the growth and popularity of farmers markets, farm to fork restaurants, plow to pint breweries, local this, and organic that. “This isn’t a return to anything,” says one farmer while checking his email and taking a quick phone call in the field. Dropping an heirloom tomato into a bucket hanging from his belt loop he continues: “There’s nothing more modern than the food we eat.”

The frames, designed by William H. Dodge and fabricated by Marc E. Smith, are made of locally sourced Ambrosia maple.

This exhibit is continued onto the walls of Piedmont, the farm to fork restaurant next door. Please consider having a meal there to view the rest of the images in the two venue show.

Raymond Goodman is a photographer who lives in Raleigh (for now), and tends bees when he isn’t taking care of his daughter Heidi Rose with his wife Crystal.

Raymond’s website

Work will be available for purchase as framed pieces, unframed 16 x 24 or 24 x 36 prints, or smaller card-size prints.

Additional hours open to the public…
Third Friday, December 16; 6-9pm
Third Friday, January 20; 6–9pm
the exhibit will be open occasionally on Saturdays, if you see the samwich board sign out front that means come on in.
By appt. at 919 949-4847

I used to work with this guy below. I’m looking forward to catching up with him. I hear his greens are the bomb.

Books & Broadsides Exhibit at Ackland Museum Shop

The Ackland Museum Store, located at the corner of Franklin Street and Columbia around the corner from the museum proper, has recently installed a great exhibit entitled “Books & Broasides (First Edition).”

Featuring the work of over a dozen book artists and craftspersons from across the Triangle it is an exuberant, diverse show and I’m proud to be a part of it.

The exhibit will be up through December 18 and the store is open every day. Great staff, great curating, and a well designed space. Definitely worth a trip. The show is much more than just fine press books as there are pop up books, collages, sculptures, and more.

Below is a link to a short video highlighting a few of the works in the show. (you may remember John’s pop up books from an exhibit in our foyer gallery a couple years ago).

What Have We Been Doing?

As subscribers may have noticed, blogging has been light of late.

It will continue to be light for a while, but please know things are active here at the studio / shop / insert preferred workspace term.

I have been enjoying working on a range of projects the last few months, from hand-printed broadsides, business cards, full color announcements, and letterpress bookplates to trade edition books, menus, ad designs, and more. I recently completed designing and typesetting the newest Eno Publishers title, 27 Views of Chapel Hill, and they are starting to make progress on the upcoming Asheville edition. Durham can’t be far behind. Today I just checked the proofs for the new Watts Grocery menus and the fall menu there will roll out after Labor Day.

But, I haven’t been happy with the quality of the photographs I’ve taken of my more letterpress oriented work, and this has been the main reason I’ve not been updating the blog and website with more recent projects. I also bought a new computer, upgraded the software, and bought a new wide gamut monitor and getting everything to play well together has taken some serious time. Things are up and running and I have a vastly improved monitor and color managment workflow setup, including using Lightroom as an intermediary step so thatI will be able to exert exacting control over color reproductions. This work and improved image reproduction will be evident in the Maji Moto book I’m currently working on, as well as projects like the Full Frame film catalogue and exhibit catalogues for gallery and museums. Previously I had let the offset shops pre-press departments handle optimizing photographs, but in our accelerated we needed it yesterday economy, this step often seems to slip through the cracks, or not be performed up to snuff, so I’ll be attending to these image reproduction issues myself more in the future.

Improved photo shoots should happen in the near future with some assistance from professional photographers nd what not. But, whether this happens two months from now or two years from now will be hard to tell as our first work priority continues to be working on projects for clients and meeting deadlines and creating good work. That takes time. And did I mention I’m a one person shop. No intern. The dog doesn’t help out much, sorry Bella, you are a helluva greeter though, no doubt about that.

Oh yeah, and the wife is due with our first child in a couple weeks. A boy. We are very excited. I figure in about six years this means I’ll have some IT support in-house.

Please know the best way to see what H&B is working on is to stop in at one of our open houses on the Third Friday of the month. I continue to curate the foyer gallery, rotating exhibits by guest artists, using the H&B workspace to display recent and in-progress works. Plus, you never know who is going to stop by on the sidewalk.

It is usually a low-key fun time and besides seeing work a way to meet some other folks and check out galleries and what not in the downtown Durham area.

Thanks for checking in and please be assured at “some” point I’ll have better reproductions of recent work within the portfolio section on the website, and I’ll return to posting on the blog and providing more glimpses at current projects.

Below are just a few examples of recent projects which I’m posting even though the photoshoot results were a lil disappointing. Okay back to tasks at hand.

 

Maji Moto — New fine press book project underway.

I’m getting started on a fine press book which I am very excited about.

Maji Moto will feature over forty photographs and ten lyrical essays by Courtney Fitzpatrick (who, after a few phone calls and email exchanges, I was amazed to discover lives around the corner from me in Old West Durham, small world).

Excerpt follows from the Maji Moto announcement (which includes extensive details about the book, as well as biographical information about Courtney; please know that I’m happy to mail out an ink-on-paper version if you prefer)

…In 2009 Courtney Fitzpatrick traveled to the Amboseli basin in Kenya to study primate biology. Over the next year, as she acclimated to living as a guest in a remote research camp, Kenya descended into the worst drought of its living memory. Maji Moto is a record of disorientation, deprivation, and discovery. It heeds the call to rejoice. It is a plea and an apology, a love letter and a eulogy…

Courtney spent seventeen months doing advanced field biology work. Maji Moto is the personal side of an amazing and intense experience that occurred during her stay and scientific research. She turns her camera lens towards the unique, majestically beautiful, and often unforgivingly brutal environment that an amazing array of animals attempt to exist within. Her writing reflects upon the experience and the myriad external and internal forces at play as she shares sights and discoveries not too many humans will witness in their lifetime.

“Maji moto, and we are in hot water indeed. Glaciers are melting, the wells are running dry, and still there is the private weight and weather of our own days. Where is the aquifer that hydrates your solar plexus? I will pluck out the straws and cork the leaks. Let me lash hinged thimbles to your fingertips. Ten tiny buckets will swing like iron when you walk, heavy with the catch of your rain.”

Forewords will be contributed by Donna Haraway, distinguished scholar of science studies, and Harry Greene, world renowned snake expert and leading field biologist.

All orders received prior to June 15 will receive 15% off — and be very helpful in providing some upfront money for what will be a nearly year-long project, the conclusion of which will be 175 hand-printed, hand-bound copies of an at least 80-page book. The book will debut in April alongside an exhibition of Courtney’s photographs here in the foyer gallery. (We are also hoping to secure a few kind-hearted and generous “sponsors” for the project who will receive a deluxe edition of the book, along with a heartfelt acknowlegment of thanks within all copies of the edition.)

All text will be letterpress-printed by hand on a heavyweight, eggshell-finish premium uncoated text sheet. Images will be faifthfully and lovingly reproduced on an Indigo Press, and the book will be hand-sewn with linen thread in a flexible “over the shoulder/extended hollow” reinforced softcover binding by Craig Jensen of Book Lab II. This custom-designed binding allows the book to open completely flat and without stress on the spine.

A photographic print, suitable for framing, will be tucked inside the back cover of each book.

Deluxe edition copies, lettered A-Z, will be housed in a clamshell box with a hand-printed spine label and will feature a second larger photographic print.

Order form with discount for early bird orders

Below are a few of Courtney’s photographs and another excerpt from one of her essays.

“I stopped at thirty when I counted the elephants behind my tent last night. They rumbled and trumpeted and stomped around until I thought Kili’s new snows might shake down right off the mountain. I thought I might march out there with my hands on my hips, “Some of us are trying to get some work done, you know!” But just then fourteen heavy-legged white storks came in for a landing. They turned that dead snag into twilit praise-Jesus church risers with their bill-clattering rounds, and tethered me to one holy moment. They hyenas uptrill, the dik-diks tiptoe, and the mongoose prowl, so I must be back in the shallow bowl of Amboseli.”