Lets get together! I love getting together with people to discuss photography. I also run workshops. The following is a list of all workshop and event posts. Most are listed first.
Monalog Collective Show at the Stirner Modern Gallery, Easton PA, September 3rd – September 26th
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I am pleased and excited to announce that the Monalog Collective I founded with five other fine photographers less than two years ago is having its first group show! I would have never dreamt that in this short amount of time we would have grown to thirteen members … twelve photographers and a terrific photo historian!
The show is called Expression Through Tradition: The Monalog Collective, and I could not think of a better title given what Monalog is all about … black and white film photography and traditional printing processes. I also could not be happier about where we are having our show and with whom. The Stirner Modern Gallery is a beautiful space and the owner; Jonas Stirner is a terrific artist and a wonderful host! I could not ask for more!
I hope you will join me on September 3rd at from 6:00 – 8:00pm for the show’s Opening. Also, on September 17that 7:00pm there will be a talk by our photo historian Chris Karfakis, and there will be a gallery walk through on Sunday from 12:00 – 5:00pm. The gallery will also be open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 12:00 -6:00pm; Fridays from 12:00 – 8:00pm; Saturdays from 10:00am – 2:00pm and 5:00pm – 8:00pm and Sundays from 12:00 – 5:00pm.
The show is also co-sponsored by The Halide Project as part of the month long September Philadelphia 20/20 Photo Festival.
To learn more about our show and the Stirner Modern Gallery go to www.stirnermodern.com. To find out about Philadelphia 20/20 Photo Festival go to www.2020photofestival.org, and to see information on our show go to https://www.2020photofestival.org/satellite-shows. Finally, to learn more about The Halide Project go to www.thehalideproject.org. And if you have any questions please feel free to contact me at info@michaelmarksphotocom or info@monalogcollective.com.
In the meantime take a look at the exhibit announcement below and I look forward to seeing you at the show!
Stirner Modern Gallery
Presents
EXPRESSION THROUGH TRADITION
An Exhibition of Photographs
By
THE MONALOG COLLECTIVE
The Monalog Collective is a group of like-minded photographers that formed to promote Black and White photography and the industry that supports it. This exhibition of photographs, made by twelve Monalog Collective Members, includes modern and historic applications of traditional emulsion-based processes. All images are original and hand-made by the artist. Each photographer has selected a specific process that best captures and expresses their vision of and feelings for a desired subject that is then revealed and shared via a tintype, ambrotype or print.
Stay well,
Michael
My Work is Being Exhibited at The Halide Project Subjective Processing 2020 Exhibition, Philadelphia, through April 30th, 2021
Recently I became a member of The Halide Project in Philadelphia, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting traditional and historic photographic processes. Not only does Halide do tremendous work to support analog-based photography, through its programing and gallery, but it will also be opening a community darkroom and photographic equipment lending library! I have met most of the fine photographers that run Halide and I am proud to be a part of it! I am also very pleased to announce that my photograph Memorial Day Parade, 2020 is being exhibited as part of The Halide Project’s Processing 2020 Exhibition. The show runs through April 30th and presents work made “using analog processes in response to the personal and collective events of 2020”. You can see it in person or check it out virtually at https://www.thehalideproject.org/processing2020/
There will be a virtual Public Closing Reception on Monday, April 26th you can attend at https://www.thehalideproject.org/events/processing-2020-virtual-closing-reception/
My photograph is part of my series on Covid-19 I made last year. It means a lot to me and I get great pleasure every time I look at it.
Stay safe,
Michael
My Work to be Exhibited at the Da Vinci Art Alliance Subjective Perspective Members Exhibition, Philadelphia, March 11th – March 28th, 2021
I am very pleased to announce that my photograph Cowgirl, Middletown Grange is being exhibited as part of the Da Vinci Art Alliance Subjective Perspective Members Exhibition at their gallery in Philadelphia. The show runs from March 11th through March 28th.
There will be a virtual Public Opening Reception on Sunday, March 14, 2-3pm you can attend at https://davinciartalliance.org/subjective-perspective
Here is what DVAA says about the show. “The constant stream of news, record breaking Covid statistics, and philosophical battles to fight have created an atmosphere of constant engagement. For better or worse, this shift has brought more people off of the sidelines of politics and plunged them into the fray of social discourse. In doing so, we all became active participants with unique ideas, backgrounds, and unshakable beliefs, our own subjective perspective. This exhibition by the DVAA membership presents each work of art as a unique and valuable perspective as experienced our artists.”
We all need to find something to smile about these days. The photograph I chose makes me smile every time I look at it. I can’t ask for anything more than that!
I hope to see you at the opening!
Stay safe,
Michael
Monalog Collective Photographers Virtual Sharing and Learning Experience – Your Covid-19 Photographic Life, Saturday, April 3, 2021 at 2pm EST
I am excited to announce the first of Monalog Collective’s Virtual Events to be held on Saturday, April 3rd at 2pm EST. And this one features yours truly! This event is open to all and hope you can attend!
The following is from our announcement.
Covid has caused all of us to be creative in ways we have not been before. Because it is not currently possible for Monalog to schedule in-person photographic events, the Collective will be hosting a series of exciting virtual events until we and our fellow black and white analog photographers can get together.
Your Covid-19 Photographic Life is the first of Monalog’s virtual events. This Zoom-based seminar will be an intimate discussion with Monalog Collective members Michael Marks, Paul Margolis and David Haas concerning the photographic challenges they have faced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Monalog Collective member Drew Wagner will host the event. Presentations will include:
- Member background, type of photography, description of their work, format and materials used
- Each member’s story of what they have done photographically during the pandemic and how the pandemic has affected their the work and creativity
- What motivates each member to create during the these difficult times, and what have they done outside of making and printing photographs to “keep their head in the game” and maintain interest in creating and being creative
Total program time will be approximately 60 minutes.
This and future events will take place on Zoom and will be free of charge. Those who register to attend will receive an email with a link to join the lecture prior to the event start time.
Note: Audio, video, and other information sent during these Zoom sessions may be recorded. By joining this session, you automatically consent to such recordings. If you do not consent to being recorded, you can turn off your video sharing within the application or consider not joining the session.
We look forward to seeing you at these upcoming seminars!
The deadline for sign up is March 27, 2021.
For further information and to reserve your place in this event please contact Michael Marks at: info@monalogcollective.com
Stay safe,
Michael
My Inclusion in the 2020 Photo Review 36th Annual International Photography Competition Exhibition
At long last the photographs selected to be included in the 2020 Photo Review 36th Annual Photography Competition have been posted on the Photo Review website for a virtual exhibition. You can see them here: https://www.photoreview.org. The 2020 competition was juried by Kathy Ryan, Photo Editor, and Jessica Dimson, Deputy Director of Photography, of The New York Times Magazine. There are a million competitions and you could spend all your time just working on that, so I try to focus on those that interest me for a particular reason(s), including who the jurors are and how competitive they are. That was the case here.
It’s sometimes very surprising what photos will be selected when you submit several and I have been pleasantly surprised those that have been chosen for the last several shows I’ve been in. I am particularly happy about my selection for this show. It speaks strongly to me about the ambivalence for many concerning the times we live in. I thought about that when I made the photograph a couple of years ago and I still feel that way now. Perhaps the jurors felt the same way.
Stay safe,
Michael
The 2020 Davinci Art Alliance Members Exhibition Opening Reception – Was I Being a Contrarian?
It was fun to attend and participate in the opening reception via Zoom of the 2020 Davinci Art Alliance Members Exhibition. The staff really did a nice job of showing everyone’s work and a number of the exhibitors (including yours truly) spoke about their submissions. All and all a very nice time! As previously mentioned, DVAA said the “exhibition reflects on light in what has been a dark year.”
When I saw the other work and heard what the artists had to say, it really was pretty much light and full of optimism. What I presented and what I said about it was far from light and cheery. But it needed to be shown and said; at least I thought so. We have come through one of the darkest times for our country I can remember. And as much as I am thrilled about the outcome of the election, I know that every day will be a challenge, in terms of governance and fighting the pandemic. Yes, the vaccine is coming, but we will also have close to 500,000 dead by March 1st no matter what. And it could be worse if strict measures are not enacted and adhered to.
So was I wrong about showing Our American Gothic and being a Debbie Downer amidst all the good cheer that was visually presented and spoken about? I don’t think so. Looking and talking about what we are living through will help us see the light at the end of the tunnel and get to the other side more quickly and less painfully.
Believe it or not, I’m a glass half full kind of guy. Really! I am hopeful we will get passed what 2020 brought us, but it won’t be easy and it won’t be fast. So while I am usually an optimist, I also consider myself a realist. I will continue to look for the good … look for the light. I did that when I made my Covid-19 series of photographs earlier this year, but I know that if we don’t work together, make the sacrifices that need to be made, and hold all of our elected officials accountable, then my friends we all will be SOL.
I’ll make the pictures I see that move me and make them in a safe way. For now that means very few candids, just as it has been since about March, but that’s all right. For me there has been a silver lining here … photographically that is. I’m thinking much more expansively than I was pre-Covid in terms of the types of pictures I am looking for. And that’s a good thing. So while Our American Gothic was dark and what I said that night was too, I am hopefully optimistic for brighter times ahead. Photographically speaking, I am seeing more of the light, even if my photographs may not always depict it.
Stay safe,
Michael
My Work to be Exhibited at the 2020 Davinci Art Alliance Members Exhibition, Philadelphia, December 2nd – December 20th, 2020
I am very pleased to announce that my photograph Our American Gothic will be exhibited at the 2020 Davinci Art Alliance Members Exhibition, held by appointment only at the DVAA gallery in Philadelphia and virtually on line at https://davinciartalliance.org/light
There will be a virtual Public Opening Reception on Wednesday, December 2, 7-8pm you can attend at https://davinciartalliance.org/calendar/light-opening-reception
Here is what DVAA says about the show. “The exhibition reflects on light in what has been a dark year. From the looming threat of COVID-19, to nationwide protests against racial injustice, to the election, this year has taken an enormous toll on all of us. And even though isolation and uncertainty has become the new normal, a hope for a better tomorrow remains. There is still light through all of this darkness, the trick is getting there (together).”
I was happy to have the opportunity to show one of the photographs I recently made (sorry, it’s dark) that spoke to how I felt and still feel about the state of our country during these difficult times. I’m hoping for brighter times ahead and I see glimmers of “light” at the end of the tunnel, but there is much work to do, and nothing can ever be taken for granted again.
I hope to see you at the opening!
Stay safe,
Michael
Inaugural Monalog Collective Photographers Outing, September 10-12, 2020, Easton, Pennsylvania
That’s right everyone … announcing the Inaugural Monalog Collective Photographers Outing!!! Now is the chance you have been waiting for to meet up with yours truly and other likeminded black and white analog photographers and do what we love … photograph! But there’s so much more! I’m so excited about this opportunity to get together that I can hardly contain myself!!
The Monalog Collective Photographer’s Outing is a chance for black and white analog photographers to meet, make photographs and have a great time. It is also an opportunity for photographers that are not members of Monalog to interact with and learn more about the Monalog Collective. The Outing is limited to 25 participants and will be based in the picturesque town of Easton, Pennsylvania situated on the shores of the Delaware River. Easton is nearby beautiful Bucks County and the Lehigh Valley and is close to many small river towns, as well as Bethlehem and Allentown Pennsylvania. This means that there is an abundance of diverse subject matter to satisfy every photographer. It is easily accessible from Philadelphia, New York City, Allentown and Newark. There are a number of local hotels and bed and breakfasts, along with plenty of restaurants in the area.
We will begin our event with a group “get to know you” diner at a local restaurant (TBD) on Thursday evening.
Friday will be devoted primarily to making photographs. We will all meet at 8:30am at a central location and take it from there. No pressure and no expectations. The idea is to be with other photographers, have fun and be mutually supportive. We will have a number of locations scouted out where participants can meet up, or you can go your own way freestyle, as there is no shortage of subject matter to be photographed.
On Friday evening at 7pm we will all meet for a talk by Monalog Collective member and analog photography historian, Chris Karfakis. The talk will be held at the beautiful Stirner Modern Gallery located in downtown Easton.
On Saturday we will meet again at 8:30am, then depart for more photographing. At 2pm we will reconvene at the studio and darkroom of Monalog member and working photographer Ed Eckstein located above the Stirner Modern Gallery. The concluding session will include a tour and discussion by Ed about his work, as well as participant feedback, thoughts on possible next steps, upcoming events and how to get involved with Monalog.
We will adjourn at 4pm so participants can begin to head home or stay in the area for dinner.
Come join us and be part of this exciting Monalog inaugural event! There is no cost, but you will want to sign up early to ensure participation.
I look forward to seeing you in September!
For more information contact me at:
info@michaelmarksphoto.com; info@monalogcollective.com or 215-348-9171
Stay safe,
Michael