Summertime
And the livin' is easy
My goodness! It is hot in Madison today — humid, too.
One of those days when most of your energy is sapped by the heat, and you can barely motivate yourself to do much at all aside from sitting still in front of a fan. But then you see a picture like this, and it reminds you why we love summer, despite the heat: watermelon simply won’t taste the same when it’s in the single digits.
Everything has its season, and I’ll be hunkered down here moving slowly until these ninety-degree days subside at the weekend. In the meantime, I figured I’d share a few photo community updates as we roll into July.
My friends at PhotoMidwest are organizing their biennial juried exhibition in Madison. I teamed up with these folks to organize a series of festival programs in 2024, and I had a blast. I’m taking a break this year because there is just too much going on in my world. Still, I was delighted to see that the Museum of Contemporary Photography's Chief Curator and Deputy Director, Karen Irvine, would be serving as this year’s exhibition juror. If you live in the Midwest, consider submitting. The deadline is July 1.
I caught up with photographer and filmmaker Keri Pickett today, and she told me about her latest project, a documentary about her uncle, figure skater-turned photographer Roy Blakey. Uncle Roy looks fantastic, and I can’t wait to see it. Keri is lining up a handful of screenings this year, and you can organize one in your town. Save the date: Uncle Roy screens at the Facets Film Forum in Chicago on August 31.
Chloé Morrison sends word about Source Photography Magazine’s annual Prize for New Writing About Photography. If you write about pictures, this one’s for you. There is no fee to submit. The deadline is August 1.
This looks terrific: Nora Lalle emailed about the summer issue of Pamplemousse Magazine. Inspired by found vernacular photographs and the act of collecting them, the summer issue features a vintage photo album from the Project B collection, cover artist Cody Bratt’s family archive project, and contemporary analog projects by artists from all over the world. It all looks amazing. Print people, check this out!
Finally, the good folks at Photographic Center Northwest are seeking a full-time Education & Programs Director to oversee PCNW’s education programming. If you’re passionate about arts education and believe in the power of photography, consider applying. I juried a show for PCNW ages ago and fell in love with the place. If I lived in Seattle, I’d probably apply myself. The application deadline is July 28.
One more thing…
My Dad is in the hospital again — he calls himself a “frequent flyer,” and for good reason: he’s been there a lot this year. Getting old isn’t easy, and he’s learning that the hard way. Hopefully, he’ll be home soon. Please send him your good vibes.❤️
Alright, friends, that’s all for now. Take care of yourselves, and have an excellent holiday weekend!
Thank you for the trailer of the documentary on Roy Blakey! I have reached out to UW-Milwaukee's organizers of the Helen Bader "Resilience in Aging" annual event to see if they'd be interested in arranging a screening.
Sending love and healing vibes to your dad; as my dad says, "Growing old isn't for the weak of heart!"
Just bought tix for the "Uncle Roy" film; archives and aging are such important topics for an aging population.