2 Photographers Works In Progress: Mike- 1st Post

Monday, August 8, 2011

Mike- 1st Post

A photographic project. This is the start of expressing thoughts and concepts of a project that has been developing for an extended period of time.

The purpose of the project is to explore thoughts and feelings about my early life growing up in a small town in the mid-west of the United States. The town is a little north of Muncie, Indiana.

However, most of the images will be from a more recent time, showing the town as it is today. The thoughts and commentary provided will not be the typical quaint, ‘nostalgic’, seen-through-rose-colored-glasses view of growing up there. This project, while relating to the time long ago, deals more with the period after I left my hometown, and the times I have returned to visit.

These thoughts and feelings and sample images will be presented future blogs. The project and future exhibit will explore both personal feelings and universal concepts of returning to the city and the changing nature of small towns in America.

Mike the Stroup

2 Photographers Works In Progress?

This is an endeavor that presents 2 Photographers, Ron Kern and Mike Stroup, who are pursuing their own artistic ideals, aesthetics and projects.

About the exhibition:

This exhibition is presented as “works in progress.” The viewer is invited to examine the work that has been developed as part of ongoing larger photographic projects. Therefore the work is presented in a informal manner which enables the viewer to consider and contemplate the work without pretense.

2 Photographers Works In Progress will have at least three prongs:

1) The exhibition hosted by

Midland Arts and Antiques:

December 31, 2011 - February 7, 2012

Our exhibition is a part of IDADA's Super Bowl TURF initiative.

Map

2) The sharing of our works's process and direction and thoughts about photography via social networking sites and presentations.

3) Creation of a dialog among the 2 Photographers that will inform our work and enrich our artistic experience.

This description is organic and may evolve over time.

Artist Statments

Ron Kern's Statement:

Having studied the art of photography for over twenty five years, I am a self taught photographic artist. My main influences are Robert Frank, David Michael Kennedy, Aaron Siskind, and Ed Ruscha.

I aspire to discover and reveal the spiritual essence and truth of my environment. For me, photography is a vital element of life; it is esoteric and abstract, yet temporal and existent.

Anything at any time can be subject matter. Often I make images as a reaction to the environment in which I find myself or to something that I observe by looking beyond the obvious characteristics and form of a subject, either instantly or over a period of time.

Mike Stroup's Statement:

Travel to a world of shadows and memories, of images that speak of times, people and places long past. Mike Stroup’s mystical photos are not of the literal world, but attempt to create a timeless mood and feel of inner peace and quiet contemplation.