Review of Pete Turner show at the George Eastman House

“Color Me Beautiful: Photographer Pete Turner is Empowered by Color”

A photograph has the uncanny ability to rediscover for its viewers the beauty that they recurrently experience, but fail to give sufficient attention – or, as famous French photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson famously coined, photographs represent a “decisive moment” where even the most basic object or event can be striking if captured in the right fraction of time. Photographer Pete Turner mastered the art of the “decisive moment” early in his career and combined it with a flair for surreal color and striking composition in a time when color photography was used almost exclusively for commercial purposes; unfortunately, Turner’s newer work sacrifices his old talents to focus solely on experiments with color, a boring and safe move for a once risky master.
Currently on display at the George Eastman House through February 4, 2007, Empowered by Color is a retrospective of Pete Turner’s 40-year career. A modest collection of about 50 photographs are on display, hung in semi-chronological order with the newest work on the far right wall and the oldest on the far left.
“Times Square,” 1957, is the most hauntingly beautiful of Turner’s older work. A thick blue haze envelops a deserted Times Square at night; a stoplight stands in the middle of the shot, extraordinarily displaying red, yellow and green simultaneously. The long-exposure shot makes the viewer aware of the sad truth that time is fleeting and yet, the lights gives us pause by asking us to do the impossible – stop and go concurrently. It is here that Turner weds surrealism, color and the decisive moment with aplomb.
On the opposite wall is one of Turner’s newer photographs, “Fronds,” 2004, a brightly colored image of palm fronds in front of a bright-orange wall. The resulting photograph is more like a southwestern postcard cover than a Turner masterpiece. The decisive moment is of no importance here and the colors, though extravagant, do nothing to transport us from the everyday world.
When successful, Turner’s photographs exert overwhelming colors and imposing shapes, propelling the viewer into a surreal, Technicolor world. Turner’s ability to create such striking images in a pre-digital-manipulation-world is what makes his older works so impressive and his newer work – for which Turner employs a digital camera and software – depressingly boring in contrast. Turner’s newer work is a boiled down version of the old – the “decisive moment” and surrealism have evaporated and all that is left is concentrated color.

Rochester band Room 30 draws crowds, one fan at a time

Here is an article I wrote for the Rochester Insider on the talented local band Room 30.
Check them out at www.room30.com

Take a little bit of rock music, mix in two parts ska, add some funk and punk, a dash of reggae and you will get this year’s Ten Ugly Men Ugly Idol winner, Room 30.
“It’s nice not to be typecast as a certain type of band,” says Rochester Institute of Technology student Chris Hynes, 24, the band’s singer, songwriter and lead guitarist. “Our music is something different. It cannot really be classified.”
Since winning the Ugly Idol competition last July, Room 30 have had no trouble booking shows. They played over 30 shows this summer, and their fall schedule is filling up fast, including an October 14 show at A-Pub Live with Puddle.

Something New
Booking shows in a city that loves cover bands isn’t easy when you are trying to play original songs, but Room 30 find other ways to draw in crowds.

“Sometimes if you don’t play songs they recognize, you lose them,” admits Hynes, who seems to have come up with a solution. “Sometimes we will play a show with a cover band and that will get people in and then they’ll hear us and think ‘hey, these guys aren’t bad.’”

While Room 30’s music is definitively different, they also acknowledge the bands that have influenced their unique sound. Hynes, a fan of O.A.R. and Reel Big Fish, tries to infuse their styles into the songs that he writes, but he also leaves room for the band’s other members to put their spin on it.

“It’s fun because every song we’ve ever written we all put different elements into it,” says Hynes. “A lot of songs are written open so we can leave room for solos. When your audiences are the same in the same city, it’s nice to change it up a bit.”

Room 30 is psyched about their upcoming fall shows. For their A-Pub Live show they plan to play mostly originals, but Hynes says they may throw in a couple familiar songs for the crowd.

“We like to cover the Sam Cooke song Another Saturday Night,” Hynes says. “It’s one of those songs you don’t think you know, but then you hear it and you suddenly recognize it.”

Even when they are playing the occasional cover song, Room 30 make sure to add their own distinct flavor. Sometimes they will intersperse a cover song into an original to attract the attention of a crowd, which they have done with songs like Van Morrison’s famous anthem Brown-eyed Girl.

“It keeps the new audiences listening and the fans guessing,” explains Hynes.

One Fan at a Time
Room 30 are also wise to the fact that part of making a name for yourself is getting as much exposure as possible.

“Very rarely do we say no to a show,” says Hynes. “It’s one fan at a time. There may only be 10 people at a show, but if one person likes you, that’s good.”

Longtime fan Derrick Bazer, 22, appreciates the distinct sound that Room 30 brings to Rochester

“Most other bands play the same covers and it gets repetitive,” says Bazer, who has admittedly seen all but two of Room 30’s shows. “It’s nice to hear some new music. All of the fans like what they’re doing.”

Proving Hynes’ one-fan-at-a-time theory, Room 30 has a growing group of loyal fans who appeared at every show they played over the summer.

“Their music is very energetic,” says fan Jared McMullen, 23, who admits he rarely misses a show. “They work up the crowd a lot and the music is well-composed. It’s fun to listen to and be around.”

Room 30 also credit their loyal fans for their increasing popularity and success.

“If we were having an off night, they would drink a lot and make the bar a lot of fun,” says Hynes. “They helped us out a lot.”

With no booking agent or manager, Hynes has also taken up marketing for the group. “I carry CD’s around with me everywhere I go,” he says. “It’s that self-marketing thing — the one fan at a time mentality. I just stay after every show and talk to everyone I can.”

Coming Soon…
Currently Room 30 have just a three-song EP of their best-known songs — “Come My Way,” “Here’s to Snap,” and “Melvin” — but in the spring they plan to record and release a full-length CD.
They also want to start booking shows in other cities. Hynes would ideally like to see the group touring up and down the East Coast within the next year.
“Rochester has been great to us,” says Hynes, “But there is only so much you can do in one city.”

While three of Room 30’s members are still finishing up college, Hynes admits he would love for the group to make it big someday.

“We’ve got something going here,” says Hynes, currently pursuing a pre-law degree. “If it came down to it, I would love for this to be my full-time job.”

Meet the Band…
Chris Hynes, 24: Lead guitar and vocals, songwriter. Pre-law student at RIT.
Kevin Matthews, 24: Bass player. Psychology major at SUNY Brockport.
Ben Collins, 24: Drums. Employed full-time with the Sutherland Group.Wes Smith, 21: Saxophone. Student at Eastman School of Music.

Three Reasons NOT to miss the Ebony Fashion Fair

It’s the world’s largest traveling fashion show
The Ebony Fashion Fair is just that – the world’s largest traveling fashion show. This year’s show opened in Chicago on Sept. 6 and will travel to nearly 180 cities before closing in Bermuda in May. The best news of all? Rochester is one of the stops! The Ebony Fashion Fair will take place at the RSMC Eisenhart Auditorium on October 19 at 8 p.m. in Rochester and I have a feeling that tickets will sell out fast. You will not have another opportunity this year (or possibly ever) to see a show of this size and caliber unless you know someone who knows someone who can get you into a runway show in New York City (highly unlikely). With the season finale of Project Runway quickly approaching, this is your chance to get out and see some live runway fashion from famous designers who have already ‘made it work’.
It brings some of the biggest designer names to the area
Let’s face it; unless we’re watching TV, it is not often that we get to see the designs of the fashion world’s biggest names strutted down the runway. The Ebony Fashion Fair has given many designers and models their start in its 49 years, but each year it also boasts an impressive list of the world’s most famous fashion designers. This year’s list of over 70 designers is no different, including names like Vivienne Westwood, Oscar de la Renta, Givenchy, Bill Blass and Yves St. Laurent. This year’s fashion fair is sure showcase the designs of more big names than a season of Sex and the City, and best of all, it’s right in our backyard.
It benefits a local charity
Not only do you get to see high-fashion, hot bods and big names, but the whole evening is also 100% guilt free – it’s for charity! The Ebony Fashion Fair has donated over $55 million to a variety of charitable organizations since it began in 1948. The Rochester show is hosted by Trinity Emmanuel Presbyterian Church and will benefit the community scholarship fund which provides tuition assistance to low-income families. So, how often do you have the opportunity to see a national fashion show while at the same time feeling like you’ve done a good deed? Almost never. Not only are you demonstrating your altruistic side just by buying a ticket, but you’ll also get a subscription to either Ebony or Jet magazine and a chance to win a variety of prizes, including round-trip airline tickets or a new car.

EBONY Stylishly Hot Fashion Fair

I just received word from my editor at the Rochester Insider that I get to write a preview for the EBONY Stylishly Hot Fashion Fair.
How often does a national fashion show come to Rochester? It's even coming to Syracuse -- rarer still. It is after all "the world's largest traveling fashion show," as their site puts it. Check it out here.
I browsed the press releases online and was very impressed by the range of styles represented. I don't have too many details yet, but I will keep my blog updated and add my preview once it is written.
Keep checking back.

My MIX article

The above picture is an image of my article from "The Mix," a special supplement of the Syracuse "Post-Standard." (Read the article at the bottom of this post, OR click on the above image to open in new window and then click lower right-hand corner to zoom.)
Beneath is a picture of the cover which I also designed. The cover incorporates images from the other articles in "The Mix," all written by members of the Goldring Arts Journalism Program, a master's degree program at the Newhouse School of Syracuse University which trains aspiring journalists how to write about the arts.




















The largest photo in this cover, the dancing picture, is one that I took for fellow student at a dance class. See the full image below.



In an unassuming building at the edge of the Syracuse University campus stands the nationally renowned contemporary photography gallery, Light Work. Since its inception in 1973, Light Work has not only been home to a gallery that draws artists and audiences the world over, but also a state-of-the-art community access photography facility, Community Darkrooms.

The approximately 350 members of Community Darkrooms range from hobbyists to professional photographers. Memberships are available at an affordable rate to the general public and Syracuse University students and card-holders. Members have access to all of the equipment in Community Darkrooms; only printing and classes incur extra costs.

While the facility itself is undeniably impressive – Community Darkrooms offers both a color and a black and white darkroom, a digital manipulation and printing lab complete with Mac G5 computers and Epson pigment printers, a large studio room with professional lighting kits, and a variety of courses and seminars – it is the community environment that serves to benefit the members most of all.

“When we say community darkroom, the accent is on community,” said Dale Pierce, a professional photographer and 15-year member. “We have a passion that we share together and we support each other so much.” Pierce not only uses the darkroom to create his own artwork, but also teaches classes at Community Darkrooms.

Since taking his first photography course at Community Darkrooms in 1991, Pierce has exhibited his artwork at several well-established galleries and has published his photographs in various trade magazines.

Currently, Pierce is working on a new photographic process he developed and calls “photo montage.” Pierce begins the process by photographing models in the studio, working only in black and white traditional photography. Each photograph is then printed in two different exposures both of which are cut into approximately one inch strips. He then weaves the strips together to create one image and re-photographs it. The final effect is a multi-layered look that gives the photograph added depth, allowing it to nearly jump off the page at the viewer.

Two-year member Tracey Gotham, 47, began taking photography courses a few years ago as a hobby, but soon realized it could become a lot more. “It’s a passion,” she said. “It’s cathartic, cleansing and therapeutic. You learn a lot about yourself.”

Gotham recently won best-in-show in the annual competition, “On My Own Time,” a local juried arts competition cosponsored by the Cultural Resources Council of Syracuse and Onondaga County and the Everson Museum of Art meant to demonstrate the artistic ability of employees from local businesses.

Her winning photograph, to be displayed at the Everson Museum of Art in October, is a candid shot of a 12-year-old girl in a cornfield, holding several stalks of corn in her arms. Gotham explained that the girl was insecure at first about being photographed, but, Gotham said, “She was very proud of [the photograph] when she saw it.”

A variety of classes are also offered at Community Darkrooms for those who wish to learn photography. Anna Vaivoda, 19, a student at Johns Hopkins University and Skaneateles resident, recently took the intermediate black and white course. “I am by no means an expert,” she said, “but they help with the fine tuning. It is a small class so there is lots of one-on-one time with the professor.”

In October Community Darkrooms will offer free seminars to the public. There will be an introductory darkroom seminar the first Saturday of every month, and on the second Saturday of each month, they will offer free seminars in iLife – Apple software for editing photographs, video and music. “It is a great place to start for those who are beginners,” said Vernon Burnett, Community Darkrooms manager. “You can have a web page up in two hours.”

Members of Community Darkrooms also benefit from the extraordinary artist-in-residence program offered through Light Work. Each year, the gallery invites between 12 and 15 artists to participate. The artists are given a stipend, an apartment in Syracuse provided by the gallery, and access to Community Darkrooms, including a private darkroom. The program has drawn many famous photographers including Carrie Mae Weems, Peter DeLory, Cindy Sherman, and most recently, Suzanne Opton.

“Even though the artists are given a private darkroom, they often interact with the members and students,” said Burnett, recognizing how beneficial the artist’s presence is to other members.

Member Dale Pierce had the opportunity to work alongside Suzanne Opton while she was in residency. “They’re very willing to spend time with the other artists,” he said. “They conduct mini-seminars with members and assist them. They are very accessible.”

Many of the darkroom’s members credit their artistic success to the reciprocal learning effect the community environment creates. “A lot of lasting friendships are formed here,” Gotham said. “We all came here with the desire, but we didn’t have the tools to work with.”

More information about Community Darkrooms, including hours, class descriptions, schedules, registration forms and membership information can be found on their website at http://www.communitydarkrooms.com.

Too much idle, not nearly enough wild

About one-third of the musical “Idlewild” is fresh and wildly entertaining thanks to both the songs (a fusion of hip-hop, rap and jazz, written and performed by the hip-hop duo OutKast) and the fast, cool direction of Bryan Barber, in his first feature film. In these musical numbers the viewer is thrust into a toe-tapping, smile-laden frenzy as the scenes and songs unfold in a high-paced whirl of action. It is then incredibly frustrating and unfortunate that the other two-thirds of the film are left to Barber’s horribly clichéd, historically inaccurate and utterly confused story.
Barber’s story is so uninspired and derivative it’s as if he has actually copied characters, dialogue and motifs out of some cliché handbook – think bullet-stopping bible, gangster with heart of gold, and lines like, “You’re not from around here, are you?” The resulting story is like the bastard child of “Moulin Rouge” and the “Cotton Club” with extra gangster and whore clichés thrown in just to make sure we get the setting.
The film takes place in the 1930’s in the quaint African-American community of Idlewild, Ga., and focuses on the lives of Percival (Andre Benjamin) and Rooster (Antwan A. Patton); a familiar story about childhood friends from opposite sides of the track. Percival, the ‘good’ one, is the son of a strict mortician and Rooster, the bootlegger’s son, represents trouble.
The opening sequence shows the two as children who quickly form a bond; and though the film incessantly reminds us how close they are, they strangely do not share a scene again until the final, forced act. The midsection focuses on the two separately, while Barber simultaneously attempts to see just how many stories he can squeeze into one two-hour film.
Rooster runs the town’s speakeasy, ironically called the Church, where he feels pressure from the town’s corrupt gangster (Terrence Howard) and from his wife who wants him to lead a straighter, safer life for her and their kids. Percival works at his father’s mortuary but dreams of being a famous musician, even though he has horrible stage fright (which mysteriously disappears after the first act). Percival also meets and falls in love with the Church’s featured act, Angel Davenport (Paula Patton).
Even when the story is at its cheesiest, Barber’s eye candy and OutKast’s ear candy are so delicious that we almost don’t miss the mind candy – except when the film falls prey to annoyingly overt factual errors. We can overcome and even appreciate the anachronistic songs, but the fact that this prohibition-era film is set in 1935, a whole two years after the prohibition amendment was repealed, is unforgivable. It is this kind of nonchalant disregard and seeming laziness in Barber’s story that is so appalling in contrast to his obvious flare for direction. “Idlewild’s” fantastic acting, music and directing just go to prove that even with the right ingredients you don’t necessarily have the recipe for success; sometimes you just have pure formula.