Getting Pictured

photo of and by J. Shimon & J. Lindemann

We just had our photo taken as part of the J. Shimon & J. Lindemann's Real Photo Postcard Survey Project in the tabernacle of their Manitowoc studio. This is what we saw from the other side of the lens, Julie and Johny at work. Since we have been considering what it is to be linked to a historical continuum, their project, in conjunction with The Portrait Society Gallery in Milwaukee, speaks to connecting to" an ongoing cultural effort, an evolving tradition, to record the individual." We haven't seen the results yet but the process was like stepping back in time.

Working and Waiting and Inspiring

Barbara Crane photo by Charles Osgood, Chicago Tribune / October 12, 2009

Finally, photographer Barbara Crane, who has been working prodigiously for 6o years, is getting due recognition. Barbara Crane: Challenging Vision curated by Ken Burkhart is at the Chicago Cultural Center until January 10, 2010. Director of Visual Arts for the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs Gregory Knight writes, "From the beginning, she has forged her own path of photographic invention, often as the lone woman in a male dominated world."

Carmen Herrera photo by Ted Heisler/TheNew York Times

Meanwhile, the Cuban-born artist Carmen Herrera who after six decades of very private painting, sold her first artwork five years ago at the the age of 89, and is being called the hot new thing in painting. "I do it because I have to do it: it's a compulsion, that also gives me pleasure," she said of painting… "I thought fame was a very vulgar thing. So I just worked and waited." Recognition came after her husband, Jesse's death in 2000. "Everybody says Jesse must have orchestrated this from above," Ms. Herrera said shaking her head. "Yeah right, Jesse on a cloud." She added: "I worked really hard. Maybe it was me."

We know it was.

Nurtured by the Power and the Glory of the Mushroom

special thanks to Duccio di Buoninsegna, ca 1295-1300

So why do people bring Pine trees into their houses at the Winter Solstice....and place brightly colored (Red and White) packages under the boughs to give each other as a token of their love and as a representation of the Love of Mother Nature and the gift of Baby Jesus? In nature, under the tree is where you will find the "Most Sacred" Substance.

The Amanita muscaria mushroom grows in a Symbiotic/Mycorhizal relationship with the Pine tree. This means they grow always underneath the tree. People symbolically place gifts under the tree at Christmas, mimicking the act of Mother Nature who places the mushroom under the tree. Winter brings rains... Rains bring mushrooms...look under the pine trees, and what you will find under them unlocks the Key Mysteries of the Universe.

The mushroom is symbolic for the Jesus' virgin birth. Like the mushroom, baby Jesus grew without seed and his appearance was thought to be Miraculous because of this. Remember that the Reindeer eat these mushrooms, that is how they can fly....so much more Christmas mushroom lore...

Charis Wilson: Pulling Even with Weston

Charis Wilson, model and writer, died on November 20th, aged 95.

"Everything they [Charis Wilson and Edward Weston] did in the 11 burning years they were together was good collaborative work, at least as far as she was concerned. The notion of a muse was nonsense to her, a passive thing. She knew exactly what she was doing"…

The unsung contributions of the collaborator/models who made men's photo careers has always rankled us but The Economist rectifies this in it's tribute to her.

Photo: Charis Wilson, 1937 by Edward Weston

The Unveiling of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling

We commemorated the 500th anniversary
of the unveiling of the Sistine Chapel Ceiling

November 1509 

Vatican City, Italy

with our series Dialogues with Michelangelo.

See more at www.ciurejlochmanphoto.com

Designing the Perfect Holiday

Our fellow changing women, Bette Cerf Hill and Anne Ream,  are hosting a benefit/auction this Friday, December 11 from 8-11pm,  Designing the Perfect Holiday for the Chicago Alliance Against Sexual Exploitation and the Voices and Faces Project. We are donating a print to benefit both organization’s innovative work. Come to shop and sip champagne and eat chocolates as we support their work to stop sexual violence and exploitation.

The Height of Our Powers

There are many ways to view women at the height of their powers, here are two more ways we see ourselves:

Simone Lueck, The Once and Future Queens

http://simonelueck.com/queens_a.html

Cindy Sherman, New Photographs at Gagosian Gallery, summer 2009

http://i1.exhibit-e.com/gagosian/43554380.pdf