fotoVisions

I only have eyes for you

When film was the only image capture medium, I devoted a sizable portion of my photographic artwork to curating collections of images with a common theme. Once satisfied a collection was 'complete' and accepted for exhibition, I made  the prints from negatives, matted and framed them to archival standards, and carefully hung them on the walls for month-long exhibits at selected venues. Personal narratives typically accompanied the images. 

Two of my favorite past exhibits concerned images of basketball hoops encountered during travel (Shooting Hoops ), and the artistry of exterior fire escapes (ESCAPE ART: the urban fire escape). 

So what would happen if I took a new photo to include in one of these 'completed' exhibits, or if I just wanted to write about it and not wait to curate a collection? That's where a web site and this new venture, a Photo-blog  comes in. Once a 'complete exhibit' is posted online, I easily add to it, and I can create a blog post for a new unrelated image or group.

There have been many  additions to my two favorite exhibits since each was last on view in a public gallery. I remain fascinated by these themes and continued opportunities the they afford to present the ordinary as extraordinary. 

My inaugural blog concerns Shoes. They play an important role in my family history. Their images intrigue me and frequently trigger thoughts I want to record. 
Stay tuned.

Treppe

        

Treppe. They were as simple as simple could be - soles hewn of wood with arched ‘Kevlar-tough’ leather hide nailed on top. They were closed or open in the back. Some extended high to ankle or knee. Each week farmers traveled from the outlying countryside to the bustling marketplace of Dabie, a town northwest of the big city Lodz in central Poland to shop for these and other fieldwork essentials.

Treppe from Israel Grünfeld’s kiosk were regularly sought after for their craftsmanship as well as durability. This appreciation of quality did not go unnoticed by Israel's son Joseph, my father, who fully embraced the handwork standards set by his father.

Israel Grünfeld, the grandfather I never knew, began a tradition of craftsmanship with the bar set high. His children adhered to that standard. It remains a model for the generations which followed him.