Art is for everyone
Noah David Smith on Robert Janz's ephemeral art
I studied media in college and have been fascinated with the stuff for as long as I can remember. For the most part, that has served me well in my creative projects, including FlakPhoto Digest — I’m as interested in the platforms where we experience photography as I am in the pictures we present. But occasionally, I can get too far down that rabbit hole, and I know it can be overwhelming for some folks.
You read FlakPhoto for photography, not social media analysis. So, I figure a palate cleanse is in order after back-to-back posts about Instagram algorithms and their impact on the photo community. If that stuff interests you and you missed those posts, you can catch up on them here:
I’ve been meaning to write this post for months, and it was on my mind when I woke up this morning. For better or worse, I think in public all the time. I love doing it because it opens me up to new images and ideas. That happened when I posted this in my Notes earlier this year:
Photographer Rob Stephenson (who writes a terrific photography newsletter, The Neighborhoods) replied:
I recently saw this fantastic short video of artist Robert Janz working in a small corner of Tribeca around Duane Park. The film shows Janz painting letters on a building facade with nothing but a bottle of water and a brush. Art for art’s sake.
I was happy to follow Rob’s suggestion, and it didn’t disappoint. Moreover, it delighted me. Art for art’s sake, indeed! We need more of this kind of creativity in the world — public expressions of artistic passion for no other reason than the experiences they offer the people who witness them. That, and the pleasures that come from making them. I loved this little film and know you will too:
Because I’m curious, the first thing I did after I finished watching Disappearing Man was look up the filmmaker, Noah David Smith. And, since I couldn’t help myself, I emailed Noah and asked him to tell me about the movie. What inspired him to make it? He writes:
I met Robert Janz at dusk on a spring day while photographing the waning light in Lower Manhattan. Drawn to the threadbare glean of his shirt and the translucent nature of his skin, I followed him and we talked. He carried a jar of coins that he left around the neighborhood for those less fortunate.
I made a portrait of Robert. He spoke about his current, site-specific artworks that combined everything he wanted to express — his philosophy, love for humanity, and awareness of his own mortality. I felt inspired to help Robert capture his fleeting works in Disappearing Man. Today, as I travel through Duane Park in Tribeca, I always think of Robert and the synchronicity of his life and work.
Isn’t that beautiful?
I wasn’t aware of Robert Janz before seeing Noah’s film, but I do love everything he seems to have stood for — generosity, compassion, and a relentless wellspring of creativity. We can all hope to embody these qualities. Robert died in 2021 at the age of 88, so Noah’s film is a loving tribute. Rest in peace, Robert.
Not surprisingly, Noah is a photographer and a good one. So, now Rob’s recommendation turned me onto two artists. Lucky me! This is what happens when we ask questions of the digital void with open eyes and mind. Social media isn’t all bad — I need to remember that when I’m feeling grumpy. If you aren’t yet familiar with Robert Janz, you can learn more here. He is wonderful.
One more thing…
I’m still figuring out how to structure the weekly photographer feature I wrote about earlier. I’m thinking it could be fun to do this on Sundays, a “Sunday Spotlight,” if you will. Perhaps that would be a nice, creative way to share a new artist with you each week. We’ll see. Let me know what you think.
Until then, make some time to explore Noah’s website. He’s very talented, and there is a ton of great work to see there. Based on my recent ramblings about Instagram and algorithms, I think more of us would benefit from spending time on each other’s websites. I plan to do more of it and hope you will too.
Noah writes a Substack newsletter. You can follow him on Notes atNoah David Smith - Photography and here on Instagram. Here’s a taste:
That’s all for today. Have a great week!
Great post! Glad you dug deeper. Love Noah's work which is in turn a new find for me.
Thank you, Andy.
I seem to require repeated reminders that, in addition to unspeakable horrors, the world contains so many moments of beauty and so many lovely people.