RESIDUAL REALITY

The residual reality show was an eye-opening experience for me. I learned a lot about not only the artists that were present, but also how photography is perceived. I felt this exhibit was quite worthwhile and I was happy I was able to attend. I had a chance to speak with two of the artists whose work I admired the most. It made for an eventful night. I felt the purpose of this exhibit was to connect the onlookers with photography and the many forms it comes in. I talked to Daniel Kaufman who also expressed how one of the best things about the show was that it will open the eyes of the community into what photography really entails, which isn’t just an ordinary picture.

I was happy I got a chance to speak with Ken Josephson too. I really appreciated his post cards and they were probably my favorite pieces in the show. I like how time was combined in a way with his work. The time lapses varied in each post card piece, but the way the old and new in the photos blended together made it very interesting. In the Chicago Bus station post card for example you were able to see what had changed just in a 10-year span of time. I felt the pieces of the photos were put together very well. The buildings from the new and old photos fit together perfectly. Josephson mentioned to me that Chicago was a place very near to his heart. He also loves Europe because of the history they have and the fact that they appreciate the history that they have, and the art they enjoy as well. He’s even been invited by the French center of Photography to work on various projects.

Seeing the art is one thing, but I was especially pleased to have met the people behind the pieces as well and get their take on their own work. I love learning about people and was very excited to have had the opportunity to meet such interesting people who have created such unique pieces. This show was very worthwhile as it has opened my eyes to what photography can be and I hope it has done the same for others as well.

2009-09-14T08:44:00.002-05:00

The Residual Reality photography exhibit included a diverse and well rounded group of artists. Their work differs significantly in scale, meaning, and process. Even the forms varied considerably, from Robert Heinecken’s cardboard cutouts to Scott Rankin’s video and Jyl Kelley’s pinhole camera instillation.

Despite these obvious differences however, there is clearly cohesiveness among this group. Each of these artists toy with the traditions of photography. They are occupied with questioning the notions of photography as documentary and images as the recreation of reality. Some are even negating the need for conventional photographs in the work o f photographers. Robert Heinecken describes his perspective on photography by saying, “Many Pictures turn out to be limp translations of the known world instead of vital objects which create an intrinsic world of their own. There is a vast difference between taking a picture and making a photograph,” (1).This curiosity, playfulness, and untraditional perspective among the artists resulted in an exhibit full of wit and sly humor, most predominately in Joyce Neimnana’s pieces, such as Back of a Famous Photograph, and Daniel Kaufmann’s sneaky and alluring House Home images. Even the work with less emphasis on witty experimentation was imaginative and unique, like Ellen Brook’s images shot through a screen.

More than the conceptual unity joining them, there is such an obvious personal connection between these artists. Especially during the artist’s forum, it became clear that Robert Heinecken and Ken Josephson’s legacy and artistic spirit is flowing rampantly and developing through these successful artists.

1. New York Times, May 26,2006. http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/22/arts/heinecken.html?_r=1

2009-09-14T08:32:00.000-05:00

I found the exhibition, Residual Reality, to be very interesting and unlike many exhibitions in the past. What set this experience apart for me were the atmosphere and the true connection that was available for students and other observers.

The atmosphere, like many have stated, was full of energy and life. For some, this was a first time experience. It was easy to tell that this group had many mixed feelings. The reactions seen opening night and on this blog prove that an artist has the ability to change people's perspective. As an artist, it is inspiring to see this kind of reaction. For others more accustomed to art galleries, this experience still had a raw factor as well. It was interesting to see the different media vehicles used to help portray photography in a different light. Also, the interesting theme left the unanswered question in the audience's mind and helped set a tone for the exhibition. This theme guided the audience to really take a deeper look into the artwork to be able to see that different reality.

As previously stated, this exhibition was also unique in that the artists were very willing to interact with the crowd. These artists were very down to earth and I think that helped the audience to actively engage with them. I had the opportunity to talk to Patrick Nagatani and asked him how he thought the exhibit looked. He seemed to really enjoy how interested everyone was.

A further expansion of this connection came from the Round Table Discussion the next day. The discussion highlighted this artist lineage that should not be taken lightly. There is a deep connection and, being a part of Jyl's instruction, it is continuing. For me, everything from helping set up, going to the show, and finally seeing and hearing the artists speak at the discussion really motivates me to one day showcase my work in this fashion. I was moved by this exhibition as a whole and am glad that I was involved with history that night.

Residual Reality Thoughts

2009-09-14T00:22:00.003-05:00

After researching each artist and attending the show, I had a good grasp on each artist's style and technique. I did not, however, completely understand the meaning behind each piece of the various artists. I was looking forward to the roundtable discussion for an explanation of the thought processes involved in some of the artwork on display. The major focus of the roundtable discussion was the lineage behind conceptual photography that began with Ken Josephson and Robert Heinecken. I thought this was very interesting and displayed the power of the mentor and student relationship. I could only stay for a couple questions from the audience that helped explain particular pieces but I had wished there had been more time alotted for questions. Overall, I was pleased with the experience.

I really liked Robert Heinecken's sequences of Polaroids, especially "Lessons in Posing Subjects/Fantasy Narrative." This piece told a narrative story behind the body language of a couple from the time they met, began to feel comfortable, and fell in love. Anyone who looks at the sequence could make up one's own interpretation maybe based on one's own experience but also one's fantasy. Patrick Nagatani's taped Buddhist piece were very appealing. From a distance the image is softened by the tape but up close and personal the image shows its complexity and dimension through the tape. I admire Nagatani's dedication to his life's work and his work effort. From the roundtable, it definately sounds like he is well respected and admired.

Residual Reality Reflection

2009-09-14T00:20:00.000-05:00

With a show so rich in diversity of artists and ideas, it is hard to figure out where to begin discussing such a well put together show. While linked by contemporary photography, the show at first glance seemed kind of incoherent otherwise. It was not until the gallery talk the following day that I truly understood all of the amazing connections these artists had and what their work really meant to them. I agreed with Patrick Nagatani at the gallery talk and his explanation of the value in interpersonal relationships—not only in art but in life. Every artist had their own unique ideas but they were so inspired from one another’s hard work and passion for photography. Those were the things that carried them past the failures—not just their work alone. This makes me want to stay involved in the art community and value the advice I get from peers and mentors while it is at my fingertips.

The way the gallery itself was set up was very appropriate for the works displayed; I hope more shows continue to be set up this way. Just as far as set up goes, whether intentional or not, I found it very intriguing that most artists works were placed together except for Robert Heinecken, who was the overarching inspiration to nearly every artist who spoke at the gallery talk, was scattered throughout the entire show; this was a great way to symbolize physically the web these artists wove. As these artists learned so much from each other, and especially from Robert Heinecken, I also tried to find bits of artists works that spoke to me based on my personal art works so that I could try to learn from these artists. I wish I could have spoke to more of the artists but it was quite busy at the show when I went; I feel like you always learn more about an artist by hearing directly from them, although its nice to make your own connections as well.

In Joyce Neimanas works, like “Back of a Famous Picture” (2009), I related most with the texture and intimacy of the pieces. With Patrick Nagatani, and works from the show like “Jizo” I most appreciated the detail especially when close up to the surface and the use of mixed media. The one artist I was lucky to talk to and also really admired his work was Daniel Kaufmann. I really love using collage in my own works and I learned that he organizes his pieces by cataloguing on his computer all of his imagery which are personal photographs from stores and rooms. He told me that he “became the target of conventions” when he got married and had children, and his life and artwork started to become intertwined and found he could not separate the two. I really enjoyed how in Kaufmann’s work one also needed to look close to see the full effect of the photo, like “#6 House Home Series” (2007), otherwise it fooled the eye. These three artists used a sort of ‘trickery’ and had a sense of mystery in their works that made me want to dig deeper, which very much fits the title of the show “Residual Reality.”

Jenny Herman

Residual Reality Show

2009-09-14T00:17:00.002-05:00

I will say, for the must part, I really enjoyed this show! I think it's so cool to see how different artists can put twists on things like photography and video and make such unique creations.

I think my favorite pieces were Ken Josephson's post card series. The ones on display were all from Chicago. I especially liked the one of the fountain. I would really love to se some of his other post card works from other places. I had an opportunity to talk with him and the show and he was so friendly and willing to share about his art.

I also had the chance to talk with Daniel Kaufmann. We talked about his home series where he searched and pasted different items to create a room. I couldn't believe it took him about a year to complete one of his pieces. He said it made him feel somewhat like an interior designer putting all those rooms together. Daniel explained to me that his pieces resemble what we might see in a magazine. Something like a picture perfect home that we see and we want to have. I even feel this way with my dorm room. Like I need to buy all these things to make it look like that. But the truth is is that no one's home is really like that, because it's all staged. It's just a model that they took a picture of. But we are consumed by this desire to try and create our own perfect home and perfect room like we see in the media, like so many other things.

I think this show was a fun way to start out the semester, and I'm really glad I was able to attend and speak with a few of the artists.

Observations...

2009-09-13T23:32:00.000-05:00

I am really glad I had the opportunity to attend the Residual Reality exhibit. The artists, along with their pieces of work, were truly amazing and inspirational. The gallery itself looked great. I could tell that everyone worked really hard to put this show together. In addition, the turnout at the opening reception was awesome! Although I liked all of the pieces, there were definitely a few that stood out.

First of all, Ken Josephson's Postcard Collage series were some of my favorites. I love how he used color to create a focal point. In addition, I really liked that he combined the postcards with the actual pictures to create this illusion of the different places. While standing in front of these pieces, I started to think about traveling. I have not had many chances to travel but I do plan to in the near future. His work is definitely creative and timeless.

I also found that Daniel Kaufmann's room series were very intriguing. When I saw room #6, I immediately thought about college life and college kitchens. It almost looked like a typical college apartment with the galley kitchen, mismatched appliances, and the random placement of things. I really like how he chose to have a top view of the kitchen; it gives a different perspective. Although I had to tilt my head here and there, I really like that he chose to distort certain parts of the kitchen. In addition, room # 5 was also very interesting. I am a big fan of HGTV and this room definitely reminded me of the different home makeover shows. This was a very "real" photograph. I almost felt like I was either in the room or looking through a window. He has a really unique way of portraying different rooms.

Overall, I had a great time at this exhibit. Not to mention, the round table discussion was also very beneficial. I wish I could have stayed for the whole thing. I feel like the discussion helped me better understand the artists even though I did not have the chance to actually talk with them one on one. The one thing I really found powerful was the fact that all of the artists were connected in one way or another through mentoring. I feel that this event served as a source of motivation and encouragement for students. This was a very enjoyable and worth wile experience!!

residual reality experience

2009-09-13T23:29:00.002-05:00

The exhibit was a great experience. I really enjoyed that there was such a variety of different types of work. After walking around I found myself interested in Ken Josephson's postcards. I am an art major with an emphasis in graphic design, so this type of collage really captured my interest. I loved how he took the same setting from two different generations and combined them into one. ANother work that caught my attention was Patrick Nagatani's work with masking tape. Looking at this art, I can just see how much time went into this idea.
As I list my two favorite pieces, the other amazing pieces are not forgotten. I cant say anything bad about the entire show because I thought everything was so interesting in its own way. Such as: Min Kim Park's "superhero" collection, the color against the black was eye grabbing and Joyce Neimanas's pieces really made my mind wonder, especially the photo that was backwards. I also want to mention something about Gillian Brown's pieces that was in the dark room. At first, looking at it I was unsure about what it was about and what it even was, but as I studied it more and more and got closer and listened more intently I really understood the piece. Overall, I had a great time at the artshow and saw some inspiring pieces.

Residual Reality Reaction

2009-09-13T23:14:00.000-05:00

I really enjoyed the “Residual Reality” show. Joyce Neimanas’ art caught my eye right away upon entering. Her “Book Spine” piece was one of my overall favorites in the show. It reminded me a lot of my family who loves to read. I also loved her “Chorographical Footage” on the big screen. I really related to that because I danced for several years.

After walking around and observing more pieces, I had the privilege of speaking with both Danny Kaufmann and Ken Josephson. Both artists were incredibly kind and open in sharing about their lives and art.

Danny Kaufman told me that his favorite piece of his at the show was “From House to Home” from Series #5. He explained that the images were “photographic samples” and take about a year to create. He described his pieces as playful. Even from my brief conversation with Mr. Kaufman, I could really tell that he loves creating art.

Ken Josephson created the postcard pieces. My friends and I thought these pieces were really unique and creative, so talking to Josephson was very exciting for us. All of the pieces at the show were from Chicago, but Josephson told me that he had done similar pieces in Buffalo, St. Louis, and a variety of other places. He explained that his inspiration came from photographs that were taken in the same place at various times. I asked him about the time difference in the art he had layered. In the leftmost picture, the black and white shot was from about 1970, and the postcard was from about 1950. The greyhound picture had about 10 years difference.

Residual Reality Observations

2009-09-13T22:28:00.004-05:00

Joseph Mougel's video installation was very interesting to me because I am very interested in who these people are and what they are communicating. I just think that the idea is very abstract and its cool to see that photography does not not need to be confined to a certain look or idea. I really like the people just talking on the monitors and hangin from the ceiling like they are just hanging out.

I really havent been to an art show or forum following but it has been a very interesting experiance and I definitely have alot of respect for these artist for not only creating these awesome photographs but also having such good community and mentorship with one another. I think that it is sweet that all of them came together for this show with all different types of photography and meet with us and talk about where they came from and what there inspiration comes from.

Ryan Cegelski

Residual Reality Show

2009-09-13T22:16:00.002-05:00

My favorite pieces in the show were Patrick Nagatani's works with the masking tape. I can't even imagine the number of hours he must have spent working on these pieces but they turned out beautifully. I especially enjoyed them because of their originality. I also was very impressed with the variety of the pieces Robert Heinecken had in the show. He had a wide range of art that each had a unique feel to them. Another artist whose work intrigued me was Daniel Kaufmann. The bathrooms seemed to be just a photograph until I took a closer look and saw how things were actually placed in like a collage.

I didn't get much of a chance to speak to the artists at the show but I liked hearing about their backgrounds and hearing their stories at the roundtable. I found it interesting to see how a lot of the artists were connected to each other from school or mentoring one another.

Overall, I really enjoyed this show! I thought it was very well put together and every artist and piece added a unique aspect.

Residual Reality

2009-09-13T21:51:00.003-05:00

When the concept of the Residual Reality show was first introduced, I questioned how photography was being used and if I could understand the ideas these artists were using. However, after seeing some of the artwork at the opening, my mind was changed. The impact of some of the pieces were just as strong as of other conventional photography I have experienced. Patrick Nagatani's Quan Shi Yin initially drew me to it because its aesthetic quality from across the room, I noticed as I got closer than it was constructed using masking tape. This process was noticably meticulous and time consuming. It seems that Nagatani gained respect from his viewers unintentionally simply for his patience and skill in his technique. All of the artists in the show produced beautiful works and I only appreciated them more hearing from the artists themselves at the round table discussion the following day. The hard work and emotion put into this exhibition really allowed it to be impressive and impactful on me as a viewer.

The work of Nim Kim Park was particularily interesting to me to me for several reasons. First, as a woman, its easy to respect another woman portraying our strength. Her use of superhero costumes and real women posing in her work was especially impactful. It portrayed women as having any place in society they choose and having the strength to get there. I also think that preserving and respecting heritage is a valued concept and Park also openly uses her culture as inspiration and meaning behind many of her works. In Residual Reailty, her pieces immediately grabbed my attention and focus. Overall, I'm glad I got to experience this exhibit and I was truly impressed with the hard work and emotion the went into every piece.

Residual Reality

2009-09-13T21:47:00.002-05:00

Attending the Residual Reality exhibit was an entirely new experience for me. I have never been to a photography exhibit, much less one that focuses on using preexisting photos to create art work. The artists in this show provided a diverse sample of what kind of art photographs can create. It was especially helpful to have seen the work in class and on the website prior to actually going to the show. Knowing a little about the artists also helped me better understand what each artist was trying to accomplish.
Min Kim Park was my favorite artist in the show. Her prints were so large and captured my attention longer than any of the other exhibits. I particularly liked her "Jin Young" photo for it's seeming simplicity. I wasn't sure what Park was trying to convey, but the subject's facial expression, posture, and clothing captured my imagination. Another exhibit I liked was Mougel's "In Character" display. The people standing in their individual boxes reminded me of what it's like to look at a stranger in public, but with out the shame of staring too long. It made me think of people in our society and what's acceptable or not regarding face to face interactions with one another.

Residual Reality Art Show/Roundtable Discussion

2009-09-13T21:46:00.003-05:00

The whole experience of attending an art show, let alone taking an art class is a whole new ball game for me. Plus it doesn't really help that I am a Public History major and the bulk of information that I learn about is all factual information. The Residual Reality Art Show/Roundtable Discussion was a new experience that opened up my view of art and what it may mean to each artist. We learned in class that the term Residual Reality was coined by the late Robert Heinecken and was quoted to have said, "Some of my enthusiasm for the (found) photograph was based on the fact that there was some residual illusion of reality in it always, no matter what I did to it." I still fully don't understand the full meaning of this statement, but I don't know that the meaning is supposed to be an obvious thing. What I have learned so far, from the show and discussion is that art, what it means, and the artist's influences are different for everyone.
It was interesting to learn that the Residual Reality Show was about a lineage of artists and their influences during the roundtable discussion. It was one thing to view the art and see and talk to the artists, but to hear who their mentors were and their influences was a whole new thing entirely to understand. For example, Patrick Nagatani's discussion about his mentors and influences really hit home for me. It was incredibly interesting to hear that just from having a lot of stories and influences can create such amazing and unique art. His views that art is all about interpersonal relationships was a new perspective that was new to hear. Until I heard him speak about his perspective I had never really thought about art in that type of emotional and personal sense before. It really made me realize that art isn't just something to look at or try to understand. From a history major perspective, I have now learned that the artist's work is are not documents of the world as most think of photography.

My Residual Reality Experience

2009-09-13T21:41:00.002-05:00

My Experience at the Residual Reality Exhibition was great. I was tentative at first because I didn't feel like I understood a lot of the artwork that was presented to us in the "pre-show" that we had a few days before. When we walked into the show on opening night, the gallery looked very different. Instead of one big open room, there were walls portioning off the gallery, giving it a different appearance than what we usually see when we enter the gallery. This difference of appearance gave the room a different atmosphere because we were unsure of what was behind those walls.
I got the chance to speak with two artists at the show. One was Joyce Neimanas. She was so nice and was very excited to listen to and answer our questions. She told us a lot about her art work and also offered us information about Robert Heinecken, which was very interesting to hear. Joyce told us a lot about her art work done with a scanner, and from the way it sounds she has a pretty fancy one! We also talked to Patrick Nagatani, who shared with us some of his secrets to spending so much time working on his taped pieces. We learned a lot about the artists speaking with them this way, and they even opened up about their personal lives as well and not just their lives as artists. There were a lot of candid stories that people usually don't hear when they go see art exhibits and I think this is what set Residual Reality apart from the rest.

Observations....

2009-09-13T21:17:00.002-05:00

Art show

2009-09-13T20:15:00.000-05:00

I saw a lot of new, interesting things when I went to the Residual Reality Art Show. The different pictures and artwork were interesting and cool to look at, but the artist’s backgrounds that were discussed in the auditorium the next day helped me understand their perspectives better. Each Artist mentioned their struggles that came with the art that was displayed. I didn’t realize how much work was put into this art until the meeting with each artist. Each person has influences in their artwork, and in this case the major influence was Robert Heinecken. He helped the people to get through their struggles by giving them advise.

Min Kim Park spoke about her struggles specifically with her artwork and how she had second thoughts about whether or not art was her thing. After looking at her superhero themed artwork, I think that it’s good that she stuck to being an artist because her artwork was interesting to look at. She spoke about Joyce Neimanas telling her to take a risk with her artwork and it’s easy to see that she was risky but creative with her artwork.

Josh Hanzlik

2009-09-13T20:09:00.002-05:00

Residual Reality was a really good exhibit with a wide variety of work. Like many others have said already, I also prefer more conventional photography. I had a hard time understanding some of the meaning bbehind some of the photography. But it was interesting to see a different side of photography that I have not seen before. There were some very interesting pieces there.

I was impressed by Gillian Brown's work, "Beginning of Language." It was a very unique piece of art and really stuck with me as I viewed the rest of the exhibit. The picture of the doves moving through the vocal chords and a voice coming through, just really made this an interesting one to see. Looking at Brown's personal blog, it seemed that "Beginning of Language" is quite different than anything Brown has done before.

-Kailey Mezera

Residual Reality Exhibition

2009-09-13T19:53:00.002-05:00

First, I was really impressed at the attendance of this exhibition. I think this is every artist’s dream; a packed gallery filled with so much excitement and people from different walks of life. The diversity was mirrored in the artwork, and really sparked a lot of passion and interest from students and faculty alike, and I overheard several conversations between students who were excited and talking about the meanings behind the images they were seeing. And what an opportunity to be able to rub elbows with the original (and highly acclaimed artists) themselves, standing right beside the work they had created.
I thought the Q & A panel the following day was great follow up to the previous night’s gallery opening. Before this exhibition I’m not sure I truly realized how one artist’s (Heinecken) teachings could really affect the work of so many-all connected by the lineage, but very different from each other. I really appreciated the artist’s personal stories (and connections) to Robert Heinecken.
I was really struck by a comment Ken Josephson made at how “all of these stories are about interpersonal relationships” and that that was what making art “was all about”. I really appreciate the idea that although formal and technical training is crucial in creating our art, it was ultimately tempered by our individual perspectives on life, and those who influence those views. I was a little disappointed that we ran out of time in the first half of the panel Q & A, but really valued the experience, and considered this exhibition a true success!

2009-09-13T19:41:00.000-05:00

Prior to the opening of the Residual Reality exhibition, I was a little apprehensive about going into detail about how I felt about it. Given the name “Residual Reality,” I didn’t know how well I would be able to comprehend the meanings and purposes of the photographs, much less form a positive opinion of them, as it generally takes me a little longer to interpret art. However, I was proven wrong. As I stepped into the gallery, I was immediately brought into a different perspective. I started to understand some of the meanings, and appreciate the work the artists had to go through in order to create such ornate and creative pieces.

Patrick Nagatani’s tape-ist works immediately took my attention. My initial thought was that he just took a previous photograph and then covered it with tape, a sort of minimalist approach. However, as I looked closer, it revealed the intricacies and each little bit of work that Mr. Nagatani had to endure in order to create such a piece. I was blown away. I actually had a chance to speak to Mr. Nagatani for a short time at the exhibit opening and if I hadn’t been introduced, I may have taken him for a regular guy enjoying the exhibit. Speaking with him, he was so modest and humble, it was astounding. I thought this was particularly interesting. A second part of the exhibit that I particularly enjoyed was Ken Josephson’s work with postcards. I think it was such a unique, interesting, and appealing form of art. It was great how he took bits of what everyone sees in postcards, and places them in his own photos.

Overall, I felt like the Residual Reality gallery sort of opened my eyes in terms of interpreting photography. Because of what I learned about the artists and their respective works, I feel like I was better off making my own interpretations after gaining a little bit of knowledge about it beforehand. Great exhibition!

2009-09-13T19:36:00.002-05:00

I didn’t get a chance to attend the opening on Thursday, but I did get to go to the round table discussion that was held Friday. I have never been to anything like this before and I found it to be very interesting and intriguing. I found it most interesting that in some way all the artists were connected either through mentors, schooling, or because of their unique artwork.
I’ve never thought of photography as most of these photographers perceive it as. It’s always just been a way for me to capture my memories. For these artists it’s more of artwork, some even use many photographs to make one. To see this different side of photography makes me think about the many options you could do with just one photograph. Through my years of school and art classes I've always thought too much about the art I was doing. After listening to the discussion I realized that the art we do is our way of showing our style so anything can be art.
Ken Josephen's style is my favorite. The way he uses many different scenes and photographs for one is incredible. I'm sure everyone that looks at his work perceives it differently. All of the artists stories were interesting to hear and I wish I could've stayed for the whole discussion to hear more. I'm looking forward to learning more about art in a different way than I've thought of it before.

My Residual Reality Experience

2009-09-13T18:44:00.003-05:00

I found the Residual Reality exhibition to be fascinating. To be honest, growing up I was not very fond of my art classes. I personally felt like it was wrong for a teacher to grade a student’s art work because it is all based on opinion. Since then I have always looked at myself as non-creative or “bad at art”, when really there is no such thing. The wide arrangement of work in this exhibit helped me gain a better understanding of this. This was the first time I had ever been to a photography exhibit and I didn’t really know what to expect. With many of the photographs, I was confused and almost frustrated because I could not figure out what the artist was attempting to portray. However, as I looked around and experienced all of the diverse artwork in the room, I realized that sometimes art is not meant to be translated into words, and I think that is the beauty of it. With every picture and every piece of art work there are a million possible interpretations of what it is supposed to imply and none of them are wrong. Going into this exhibit I felt nervous and unsure, and I left with a sense of gratitude and amazement.
Min Kim Park’s work really stood out to me. Her uses of colors were extravagant. I really liked that her photos seemed as if they were coming out of the wall, as if they were 3D. I was intrigued with how she got her models to do certain things. As well as viewing her art, I really enjoyed hearing her speak at the Round Table Discussion. Something that really caught my attention was when she stated, “Use your body to perform.” As she said this I could clearly picture her photography and the way she made the human body look, particularly women. It’s like the human body can always be looked at as a performing piece of art. Another artist that stood out to me was Daniel Kaufman. I especially liked his work because I have done some similar things like that in the past. It is interesting how he takes images from all over and arranges them in a way that, to the viewer, seems as if it is a real room. It was especially interesting for me to see, experience, and research these artist’s works; yet I was fortunate enough to be able to hear their personal thoughts and opinions. All in all, the exhibit and the Round Table Discussion were a great experience and I definitely look forward to learning more about photography.

Residual Reality

2009-09-13T18:28:00.003-05:00

This was one of the most unique set ups I have seen for an art gallery so far. I enjoyed how it was sectioned off at different parts to put emphasis on each piece of art work. This art show really inspired me because there were so many different unique pieces to look at. It really got my mind working trying to think of different cool ideas for photography because I enjoy it so much! I thought that every artist had a distinct message shown through their artwork and it was very interesting to see all of the different pieces. I did not find any of the art boring or bland because everything brought its own flavor to the art show and it was all so beautiful in its own way!
One of my favorite collections was Min Kim Park's photographs. In each of the photos the models were in intricate poses and their faces were so fierce. I actually got a chance to talk to Min Kim Park and she said that each of the poses she had the girls do were very painful, so she was very thankful that they were so cooperative. I asked her how the models kept a straight face because if I was doing something like that I would have been laughing because the poses were so different. She said that she snapped the camera at "just the right time" to get their fierce looks on their faces because the models were laughing and fooling around.
I also got a chance to talk to Ken Josephson about his work. I thought that it was so cool how he integrated different photos into one. All of his photographs were taken in Chicago and i thought that there was a good contrast between the black and white parts of the photos with the color parts. He said that he got his inspiration from just taking pictures of the same picture that was on a postcard and then working from that. In some of the photos there were things missing that were in one of the color photos but not in the black and white, so it was cool to see what had changed from time to time.

Creating Environments

2009-09-13T16:50:00.002-05:00

The entire show was well done and incredibly fascinating. There was an incredible amount of variety and manipulation done from all artists and angles. I found myself paying more attention to details, craftsmanship, and realizing that most of these artists have this unreal ability to create an entirely new environment or atmosphere. I liked the combination of being in a super small and dark room and listening to a soothing voice while watching images of birds and graphics, and then moving on to an enlarged photo of a used legal pad.

Having the opportunity to have done research before entering, see work I’ve only ever seen in books or online, in person, and then listen to the artists speak was all around a captivating experience. Patrick Nagatani’s work left me feeling relaxed and inspired. I loved being lost in the lines and borders, following them as if they were a path, or trail. How I personally reacted to the tape was tell tale in how he may want his audience to react.

I felt like I was the audience he wanted. The craftsmanship in his tape use was important. One small whoops or nub that stuck out inappropriately would have ruined that type of experience. I also enjoyed the subject matter. It goes hand in hand with Zen, meditation, and being lost in lines and thought.

Residual Reality Experience

2009-09-13T16:43:00.002-05:00

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the gallery! I knew I would like it, but there were a few pieces that really intrigued me. Min Kim Park's series "Zumarella" spoke to me on a more artistic level than feminist. I really enjoyed her use of color in her photographs. The women looked so saturated in contrast to the simple black background, giving me the impression of a comic book. I unfortunately didn't get the opportunity to ask the artists my questions, but I was wondering how much of the photograph she choreographs, and how much does she leave up to the women in her portraits? "Maggie" was my favorite of this series. Her face looks so determined and focused, though I know that pose to be extremely difficult (thanks to Min Kim Park's video).

Overall the show was a great success! Opening night was great to experience because I got to see other people's interactions with the art. I enjoyed watching the interaction of people in the room with Joseph Mougel's "In Character" because many people weren't sure how to act. Some individuals spoke to those in the little screens, hoping perhaps they'd say something back or make some movement. Eventually the little screen people would comply, but they gave such an awkward performance it was uncomfortable to stay around them too long.

The theme wasn't at first apparent to me when viewing the gallery show, but the round table discussion made one clear to me: mentors. Every artist could talk in length about who inspired them, who drove them to think outside the box, who overall was a great support in their success. Many of the senior artists quoted Heinecken as their mentor, while the younger artists tended to state those artists at the show who had worked with Heinecken! It was fun to compare the art of the Heinecken artists to those they inspired, both in what direction they took their art and what new technologies they younger artists would incorporate that perhaps the more senior artists wouldn't. The advancement of ideas and technologies is fantastic!

The Reality of it all....

2009-09-13T16:23:00.003-05:00

I have never had the opportunity to attend an opening at an art gallery, so when I had the chance to see the opening of Residual Reality, I was excited for the experience. I kind of knew what to expect, but still had that sense of wonder. Upon walking into the gallery, I was quite impressed with the way things were set up. Everything was organized, the mood was calm and collected, and I was anxious to begin looking around.

Things started off a little slow for me, but the excitement was stimulated once I got in contact with a few of the artists. I soon spotted Ken Josephson talking to a young woman by his artwork and casually came into the conversation. The young woman asked Ken about his travel. He explained that travel for him is stimulating and it is one of his true passions, as it brings new perspective to things. Ken's photography was based on the aspect of time. He would take a photograph from the past and future and mesh parts of them together. This concept looked cool with the contrast of the black and white images with color, as well as the contrast of contemporary and modern architecture. Ken commented on how he found the differences between buildings/establishments interesting and the idea of how things change over time. Ken's mindset got me thinking how travel can influence my future goals for my career.

After talking to Ken, I had the pleasure of meeting Joyce Neimanas. She was spunky and very eager to tell me about her work. Joyce's art is done using a scanner and computer technology. This was a different take on photography, but opened my eyes to all the possibilities. Her pieces, one being 'Yellow Legal Tablet', showed a great deal of texture and detail. I also enjoyed her projection of the different types of feet. These were still shots of several foot positions/movements that were composed together as a slideshow, making it seem as the feet were dancing. This concept was something new and interesting for me to see.

All in all, I had a great experience at the opening of Residual Reality. I was impressed with not only the turnout of people, but the many artists who were able to be available to talk about their work and provide answers for questions that anyone may have had. This showcase was a great introduction to the class as a whole, being that it exhibited different forms of photography and gave us some insight to older and more recent artists.

Ken Josephson

2009-09-13T16:19:00.002-05:00

Ken Josephson's work was very influential, to say the least. He took ordinary images and gave such a depth to them that it sky-rocketed their interest and the creativness of them all.

I really adored the one of the Grey Hound Bus Station, because it showed a glimpse of time passing. It is one thing to layer pictures together that are from the same time period, or even around the same time, but layering different times on one another is ingenious to me. He utilized a common occurence and ran with it. To tell you the truth, I am brain storming right now how I can create work that is influenced by that same concept.

--Jenna Wiedmeyer

Min Kim's Work

2009-09-13T16:14:00.003-05:00

I absolutely loved Min Kim's work. She used conventional photography, which I personally enjoy more than unvconventional. The whole story behind the superhero theme was amazing because she took ordinary women, not models, not women who are famous or anything, and photographed them. She believed that they were super hero's just by being themselves. This may be the feminist in me, the small bit that is there, but she inspired me.

Listening to her in the round table, I took note of one thing especially, that she puts herself in every piece of work she does. She makes it about herself and not just the subject. Some say creating art is selfless, but in reality, it should be selfish. You should put yourself in every piece that you do and make it about you and your vision and do not compromise. INSPIRING!!!!

--Jenna Wiedmeyer

Residual Reality

2009-09-13T16:13:00.002-05:00

I've only been to one other exhibit in the Haas gallery last year, but the Residual Reality exhibit was by far my favorite of the two. Overall Heinecken's "Cybil Sheperd: Phone Sex" was the first and most memorable of his works to me. I think he was really making a statement about the attraction a photograph can hold. The fact that the guy holding a phone sex hotline pamphlet has his face cut out adds to the anonymity of his identity. I think it's just a strong and direct example of how everyone buys sex in one way or another because it sells. That's why I think the guy with his face cut out can stand for all of us. Images and advertisments in magazines can reach anyone, yet they are anonymous. Much like the anonymity of a phone hotline. You can't see who you're talking with yet some people pay good money for them. Why? I imagine that they are buying into the images the companies use for advertising.
It's a strange thought that pretty much everyone knows what Britney Spears or David Beckham looks like for example and yet they could not recognize us (nor could most other people if our faces were on a mag). Although Beckham is a great soccer player and Spears has talent a part about what sets them apart and makes them so interesting is their image. So I might be completely off but I think Heinecken was examining this realationship of viewer and image.

I was also very impressed by Patrick Nagatani's work. I examined "Nyorin Kannon" first and it appeared to be a four armed deity (?) perhaps. It appeared to be on top of a massive lotus flower, or what I assume to be one. I instantly recognized the eight spoked wheel. I believe it stands for the eightfold path of Buddhism, which I checked to make sure here... http://www.thebigview.com/buddhism/eightfoldpath.html

I spent some time wondering why certain parts weren't taped over though. You could read into it all sorts of ways but I think he wanted to focus your attention to those spots. For instance on his work "Miroku" I wondered why the right hand was not taped. So I figured I'd google it and see what came up. Images from the anime InuYasha were the first to pop up. I instantly recognized them because I had watched the show when I was younger. Miroku had been the name of a primary character on the show; he had had a cursed hole in his hand that when uncovered had the potential to comsume everything around him... inevitably himself. You can find info on the anime here...
http://www.inuyashaplus.com/characters/miroku.html

I also found that Miroku is another name for Maitreya Bodhisattva who is a phopecized Buddha that will appear sometime in the future. You can find more online here...
http://www.shingon.org/deities/jusanbutsu/miroku.html

So coincidence or not as far as the anime storyline goes I cannot be sure. But Nagatani's work did make me think. There's just so much meaning and so much that can be read into when you use some imagery...

My Residual Reality Experience

2009-09-13T16:04:00.006-05:00

I had never been to an opening of an exhibition before so when I heard we were required to go for my class I was a little nervous. To my surprise the second I entered the exhibition I found myself interpreting the pieces on a deeper level I knew myself capable of. I really enjoyed interpreting Joyce Neimanas' work. My favorite was "Yellow Legal Tablet" because I looked at it as a piece of history. It was a blank notepad but parts of the yellow ripped out sheets remained at the top. I envisioned a writers struggle and frustration of writers block; sitting there trying to put together a story and ripping out the pages after each failed attempt. Each of Joyce's pieces seemed to be a memory of some sort (the Grandma/Grandpa letters, the book spine, and the calendar). Another favorite of mine was "Keeping Time" by Masumi Shibata. I viewed the big inhales and exhales to represent deep breathes while the little inhales and exhales in-between might be short breathes, almost like hyperventilating. I thought the hour hand was creatively placed right before the next exhale, never allowing the person breathing to exhale therefore holding their breath forever.

In the back corner I noticed people were entering a room behind a black curtain and I was a little nervous to see what was behind it. I walked in and saw the lighted doves then realized they were coming out of a structure shaped into a human neck and head. I right away thought of peace, being symbolized by doves, but then also how we need to speak out. Everyone has a voice and peace can only come from within. I thought this was a perfect symbol of this. I also want to share my interpretation on Jyl's "Pinhole Camera Apparatus". I related the cameras to a group of people that have to work together. The cameras are all connected and are opened at the same time. They all see the same thing but from a different angle or perspective. Just like different minds see things in unique ways when asked to view the same thing. I now have a better appreciation for the piece. Overall I enjoyed the exhibition more than I expected.

One subtle theme

2009-09-13T16:00:00.001-05:00

One major theme I discovered through attending the exhibit as well as the round table discussion was the importance of Robert Heinecken in many of the artists’ lives. When I viewed all of Robert’s pieces in the exhibit, I wanted to speak with him; I had so many questions! However, I was disheartened to learn that he had just passed away two years ago. Upon auditing the round table discussion, I heard artist after artist mention Robert in the making of their careers. Patrick Nagatani, who I had spoken to the night before expressed how wonderful Robert had been in his life and what a great mentor he had been. When one of the artists, whose name I neglected to catch, began to tear up when reminiscing about Robert, I really recognized his significance in the lives of the artists’ but photo history as well. As much as the exhibit displayed twelve artists’ talents, I felt that the subtle purpose of the exhibit was to honor Robert. He influenced many of the artists at the exhibit and therefore, I think there was a little bit of Robert Heinecken in each piece.

Speaking with the artists

2009-09-13T15:57:00.000-05:00

The Residual Reality exhibit to me was tremendously interesting. From first seeing the photos on the power point Jyl showed in class, it seemed to me that the pieces that were going to be in the exhibit were not that spectacular. However, that power point did none of those pieces justice. In person, I stood in front of some of the photos for minutes on end, analyzing and interpreting what the artist could have envisioned. My favorite out of the entire exhibit was Daniel Kaufmann and Patrick Nagatani, both of which I was lucky enough to speak with. Out of curiosity, I asked Daniel Kaufmann how he came about creating such real and fluid photos, how long it usually took him, and what materials he was using to put them together. Most interesting to me was that he stated he actually goes into stores and takes photos of objects. It’s from those photos, not magazine clips (which is what I had thought) that complete each of his pieces. I also spoke with Patrick Nagatani, who I felt was the most intricate artist in the exhibit. He told me how the layerings of the masking tape must be very precise and how meticulous it gets around the very small details like crowns and necklaces/bracelets. He explained how he scours magazines, museums, and anywhere possible to chose the figures for his pieces. I also wanted to know how he chooses which objects in the photo he leaves without taping. He replied that there is a significance of each item to the history of the original photo and to the background of that culture. The exhibit as a whole had me talking long after I had left.

Residual Reality Foster Gallery

2009-09-13T15:46:00.002-05:00

As I observed the artwork at Residual Reality, I thought about how I would have never placed some of these things as art. They are so ordinary, yet when I looked at them they didn’t seem ordinary at all. I think that is why I like photography so much. I love how you can use so many kinds of media to document objects, people, or actions in everyday life. I feel this exhibit pointed out that almost everything in life can be art. For example I loved Joyce Neimanas’s scanned objects. I love how she takes ordinary objects and turns them into amazing photographs. Her pieces point out this very idea of everyday life being beautiful.

The next day at the round table, as Jyl Kelley was introducing the panel, she said that this exhibit shows a different way of thinking of photography. I wrote this down because this struck me to be very true. I would have never thought about the pieces in this show as being photography. They aren’t just a picture taken of something. They are much more than that. They are done with scanners, or using someone else’s photography like most of Robert Heinecken’s pieces in the show. Residual Reality broadened my view of typical photography and from now on I will view photography in a whole new way.

Gallery Observations

2009-09-13T09:17:00.003-05:00

Having worked in the gallery on campus for a semester and running on my third year as a student here, I've been to a couple gallery openings and seen most of the exhibits on campus in the last 3 years. In comparison to past exhibits on campus, I found myself enjoying the work shown more so than in prior experiences. I felt as if this exhibit had a well defined flow of movement about the floor and that the gallery set up allowed for most of its pieces to draw the viewers in. I also had better luck talking or at least being able to hear the artists interact and answer questions in prior experiences.

The work I found most interesting was that of Robert Heinecken. I find that what some might consider distasteful imagery to be a pleasant twist to commentary on American culture. It reminded me of the type of twists I've seen in graffiti work. The use of pornographic negatives in layering allowed for me to leave the distasteful representation of women behind and take a look at the compositional characteristics in each work.

Preparation process

2009-09-13T03:36:00.013-05:00

Students are making ready Residual Reality

It is a quite filigree work

Exchange student from Latvia

It is good to be tall and help putting posters

2009-09-12T23:17:00.017-05:00

Artist Jill Brown watching Min Kim Park's "Zumarella"video

Artist Daniel Kaufmann with student

Foster Gallery Opening Crowd

Artist Joyce Neimanas with students

"ResidualReality" installation by UWEC Art student Kaleb Durocher

Student Kaleb Durocher with Patrick Nagatani

Artist Ken Josephson discussing 'Postcard Collage" series

Andrew Kaiser and friends

Joseph Mougel's "In Character" video installation

Students viewing Daniel Kaufmann's HOUSE HOME series

Residual Reality Artists Min Kim Park, Patrick Nagatani and Masumi Shibata

Artists Jyl Kelley and Ken Josephson

Professor Wanrudee Buranakorn and Artist Jill Brown

Artists Joyce Neimanas and Scott Rankin

2009-09-12T23:10:00.004-05:00

Residual Reality Experience

2009-09-12T20:35:00.001-05:00

I found the Residual Reality exhibit very interesting. I usually tend to like more conventional photography that is more of a documentation of events or people but I liked the different approach and way of thinking these works had. This was my first exhibit that I have seen on campus and found the whole experience very enjoyable. I liked the way the exhibit was set up and how everything just seemed to flow together. I usually have a hard time interpreting art so I really enjoyed being able to hear what the artists had to say both at the exhibit and at the Artist roundtable. It was interesting to hear their meaning behind the work. I enjoyed how the exhibit was cohesive not only because it was the same form of photography but also how all the people were intertwined and connected through teachers, students and mentors. I feel that element adds more meaning to it.

The photographer I found most interesting was Ken Josephson. I really enjoyed his series of post-cards. I like how he took a traditional post card and made it unique. I really enjoyed how he made one cohesive picture by using technology but also brining some past into it by including both color and black and white in the same piece. I also tend to enjoy photography that show places so I really enjoyed his new spin on showing a place rather than just taking a picture of a building or place he made it more interesting by digitally adding other effects. The other artist I found interesting was Joseph Mougel I found his different approach to art interesting by using multi-media to display his message in addition to the photographs that were in the exhibit. I feel like they added another personal element to the exhibit.

Questions from the Gallery

2009-09-12T16:22:00.002-05:00

While at the gallery opening viewing all the pieces of art, which the artists had gone to great lengths to create, I had a nagging thought come to mind as I approached certain pieces by Robert Heineken. Some of his work on display seemed quite distasteful to me, in that he had a few pieces involving images that were pornographic. I will not pretend to have any speculation as to his motivation in creating "art" with these images, but I believe that it was distasteful. However, not wanting to shut out any provoked thoughts from these pieces, I considered possible conclusions I could draw from it. Perhaps Heineken was exposing a problem in society through art, in no implied distaste whatsoever. Perhaps he was drawing attention to the human form. While either of those could be true, my conclusion rested on my first reaction. All I see from my lens of perspective are layered images of pornography, some including text. I realize that nudity in art is a very common thing, and that many artists admire the human form in their work. Many classic sculptures and many classic paintings feature humanity in the buff. However, the images Heineken used crossed the line into obscene territory. Other viewers may argue that I'm being too conservative or that I am too close-minded to see the artistic value in such imagery. I believe that certain things are sacred, and the images Robert Heineken chose to use defile something sacred. I respected and appreciated many of his other works, especially "Security Officer" and "Lessons in Posing Subjects/Fantasy Narrative #1," and he certainly deserves credit for creating what is known as Residual Reality. All art is subject to criticism, for criticism helps shape what we call "art."

Roundtable Discussion

2009-09-12T13:20:00.002-05:00

After going to the gallery opening, I was really looking forward to being able to listen to what the artists had to say, especially considering I did not have the chance to speak with them at the opening. As Patrick Nagatani stated at the roundtable, there was a "wealth of stories and experience" among the artists, and I feel like that entirely summed up what was happening. Each artist brought a new perspective about an artist or an experience and I genuinely appreciate to have been able to be in the presence of these people.

"Community" was a word that was brought up a great deal. The artists have built great relationships with one another over the years and continually stressed the importance of keeping these relationships strong to build your community. With stories like Ken Josephson's about the 50-day soup and Masumi Shibata's about always seeing Nagatani's truck parked outside his studio, it was hard not to see the great sense of camaraderie between them all.

My Experience at Residual Reality

2009-09-12T09:35:00.003-05:00

Residual Reality was a unique experience because I have never attended an art gallery or looked at artistic photography. The gallery really opened my eyes to the scope of photography as an art form.

I had always thought that using photoshop or another type of editing of pictures was almost cheating because it wasn't the orginial picture. Residual Reality showed me that pictures can be edited in order to add cultural observations such as Robert Heinecken's cardboard cut-outs of magazine ads.

Heinecken's work in general was very shocking, but in particular the cardboard cut-outs that were throughout the gallery really put a new perspective on magazine ads. The orginal polariod ad was using sex appeal to portray that if you use a polariod camera you will look sexy and pick up chicks. Heinecken added a penis to the add ad and mocked the purpose of the ad in a shocking and creative way.

I also found Joyce Neimanas' work to be interesting because she showed different sides of everyday objects. The notepad with all the pages torn off left me thinking about the lost ideas on that paper, or where the paper is now. I interpreted the photo of back of the portrait meant that not everything should be taken at face value. Overall her work just made me think.

I enjoyed my experience at the opening and the round table discussion because I have never really met artists up close. I kind of expected artists to smoke cigarettes out of a Cruella Deville cig holder. They were much more personable and they shared some very interesting stories at the round table discussion. Also it was very clear how much Robert Heinecken had meant to all of the artists.

Residual Reality

2009-09-11T15:09:00.002-05:00

Residual Reality opened with a montage of artwork and a flourish of people. All of them were different in their own sense, both the people and the artwork. I had never been to an art show opening, nor to many art shows for that matter. At first I was uncomfortable with it all, I felt as though the people around me would know that I was a farce, that as I looked at the art, I really had no idea what I was looking for. Every piece I looked at was different, not so much from the previous piece, but in the sense that it was different from the reality of the world I live in. The tree was still a tree but it did not look like the one outside the building. But then I remembered the name of the show, Residual Reality. It all started to come together for me. Everything I was looking at still held on to a piece of reality, but each of us looking at it that night probably found a different piece of it. Now, I still don’t have any idea what some of the artworks represented. Maybe their only purpose was to “get us” to take a new look at the world around us. But I felt a strange connection to a few pieces, almost like the artist had been looking at the world through my eyes, like the piece by Joseph Mougel, “In Character”. Some times when I walk through a large group of people I feel like you can’t see “who” an individual person truly is because of all the others around. Much like “In Character”, when you looked at the piece as a whole you could not really see each person for who they were, but if you leaned in and took a closer look you could hear and see each person and their unique traits. I felt reminded to take the time to lean in and listen.

My eyes searched the room for the artists themselves, but when you have no preconceived idea of what an artist looks like, it can be hard to find them. It’s not like artists walk around with the little French berets on their heads that scream, “Hey, I’m an artist”. Thankfully the curator, who happens to be my professor, introduced me to a few of the artists who were there. The artists were not as I expected them to be. For the most part, Patrick NAGATANI was more interested in talking about how he and my fiancé had both lived in the same part of California than talking about what had inspired him to create his masterpieces. Patrick said I might as well ask him his philosophy on life when I started to ask about his art. That’s when it hit me, and after the Round Table discussion, the thought was solidified in my head. Artists are people who have lives, and they would rather for you to know them instead of just the representation of their thoughts. Although their art expresses a part of who they are, I believe that I understood it truly, and only, because I took the time to get to know them. In the end, the show for me was more about the artist than the art.

Surprisingly Interesting

2009-09-11T11:50:00.002-05:00

So when we were told we had to go to an art exhibit I was less than happy...I like looking at all of the art work and pictures, but looking deeper into the meaning of things and trying to figure out why the artist took the picture that he/she did is not part of my "enjoyable things to do" agenda. Generally I look at a picture and think, "Why in the world would someone want a picture of that?" But, when I got to the exhibit, I was overwhelmed with how enjoyable it was. I went into the room with a "hurry up, look at everything, get out" attitude. Surprisingly, I actually began to look at the pictures and found myself trying to get more meaning out of them rather than just quickly passing by them.

I would have to say that Ken Josephson's work with the postcards really was quite interesting to me. The idea of bringing the past to the present and showing how even through technology and all that society has come through, the past and present really are not that different. I felt that by taking pictures of scenery from now, and incorporating the old pictures into them, really brought out the idea of how we need to look back to appreciate the way things can last.

One of the other artists I was very surprised at was Joyce Neimanas. We were shown pictures of the artwork in class before hand and when we saw the picture of the back of the picture ("The Back of Famous Artist Photo"), I was confused. Now WHY would someone want a picture of the back of a picture, or of a legal pad with torn out pages? But when we got to the actual exhibit, I was amused at how incredible these actual photos were. The idea of taking a picture of someone, and "looking at the other side of things" reminded me of not judging a book by it's cover. We see pictures of people all around us, yet we never look at the back of a picture. Why would we? It's the back, yet Joyce captures the essence of looking behind the picture to get the full experience.

In many ways, I feel as my initial feelings towards this exhibit were like my feelings towards Joyce Neimanas photo of the back of the picture. I was only looking at the surface or the front of these artist's work. As I wove my way through the entire exhibit, my eyes were opened to the "back" of the photography world. Not only was a looking at the front of these works wondering why I had to be there, but by the end (or rather the middle) I was realizing the greater meanings to these pictures and perhaps one reason why the artists felt compelled to share these works with others.

Residual Reality Opening

2009-09-11T11:32:00.007-05:00

The Residual Reality exhibition in the Foster Gallery was a very enjoyable experience. This was the first exhibit that I have attended on campus and I found it very interesting. I never thought of photography as so diverse before. I thought it was amazing that the gallery was actually physically changed to help suit the artwork being displayed.

My favorite piece was Gillian Brown's "The Beginning of Language." This piece was particularly interesting to me because I am an English major and we do quite a bit of study on phonetics and the movement of the vocal cords when speaking. The very day of the opening we were discussing how vowels are formed when we speak. The way the vibrations turned into flying birds was absolutely beautiful. I also found Masumi Shibata's "Keeping Time" very thought provoking. Each point on the clock was replaced with either the work "inhale" or "exhale." This piece made me think of how much we depend on time and how our lives are based on a schedual. I truley enjoyed all of the peices in the show and am very glad that I was able to experience them.

Experiences at the Residual Reality Show

2009-09-11T11:32:00.005-05:00

When I think of art, I think of paintings, sculptures, sketches, etc., but I never thought of photography being an art. When I walked into the Residual Reality show, I realized that photography is indeed a kind of art; as much as an art as painting or sculptures. As I looked at the paintings, I knew it would take a lot of brilliance and creativity to create pieces of work such as I saw in the show. I believe shows like these are very important for the public to see, because it expresses artists thoughts and ideas into a piece of art, and it causes the people of the public to think about each individual piece of work.
Sometimes it is very difficult to figure out what an artist is trying to convey in their art. I found this out at the show last night. People come up with their own ideas about what they think the theme is and they could all be right. Maybe the artist makes it difficult to understand the theme in their art to see what other people come up with. It was very interesting to look at the photos last night and try and figure out what the idea in them were. I think it was very worthwhile.

Residual Reality

2009-09-11T11:12:00.003-05:00

Although I'm in my third year as an art major, I have to admit that this was the very first gallery opener that i've attended and I'm so glad that I did! The atmosphere was lively, the gallery was overflowing with people and overall, I just really enjoyed seeing the final product of everyone's hard work.

The piece that captivated my attention the most was by Robert Heinecken; entitled TV Dinner. I found it very interesting in how Mr. Heinecken was able to photograph a TV dinner, bring it to a three dimensional form, and top it off by incorporating real cigarettes and ashes. For me, it was just a whole new way to think about photography in comparison to just snapping an image and voila there you have it.

Another piece that I found quite interesting was Miroku, by Patrick Nagatami. It is difficult to try to fathom exactly how much time must have gone into creating that piece. Layer after layer of maticulously layed tape strips cut away into a beautiful mask for viewers to look through. It was beautiful to say the least.

Overall, my experience with Residual Reality has been a learning experience that I can take away and apply to my own future works and I am thankful for that. I would like to add that through attending the gallery opener I found myself wondering what the artists might be like. Through their work, I understood that they were very passionate about what they do. However, it wasn't until this morning, during the round table discussion, that I was truely able to understand how passionate they really are about their work, how they apply it to everyday life, and ultimately how they pass on their trade.

Residual Reality and Round Table Discussion

2009-09-11T09:38:00.002-05:00

The Residual Reality display along with the Round Table discussion really opened my eyes to photography as this was the first art show I have ever attended. It was interesting to me how each of the artists related and influenced one another. This was very evident in the Round Table discussion as the artists shared their personal stories and how they valued their relationship with each other. They were so understanding of one another and shared an incredible sense of community. What was amazing to me is how closely related the artists were and how different each individuals work turned out.

Before attending this event, I thought of photography as just taking pictures with a camera. This belief was changed immediately as I walked into the gallery.The gallery itself contained work of so many mastermind artists. From scanned images of Joyce Neimanas and projection illusions from Gillian Brown to the Confessions of a Tapist by Patrick Nagatani, the talents of these artists continued to surprised me as I made my way around the perimeter of the room.

The two most interesting pieces to me were the Postcard Collage Series of Ken Josephson and the digital talking characters by Joseph Mougel. The Postcard Series must have been truely challenging. To find the exact location of a postcard in the first place would be difficult for me nevertheless find the correct angle and distance of the target. Joseph Mougels talking characters were very unique as each of them possessed their own attitude and personality. I was unable to discern the exact message being portrayed by them but was awed by their complexion.

Overall this event was one of a kind. I wish I could've had more interaction with the artists as I had so many questions to ask them about their work and lives but with a packed gallery and short question session at the Round Table, I will have to meet up with them at another show!

Residual Reality

2009-09-11T09:06:00.002-05:00

The exhibit was wonderful! I have had very few experiences like that and am so happy I was able to go! I was particularly amazed with Ken Josephson's work! The different types of work displayed were wonderful and really gave me an idea of the variety that is out there. I really had no idea of much potential photography held. The work that went into the show must have been incredible. With the variety available it was great to be able to walk through and really observe all the work that went into each individuals piece of work. The opening was a great event!

I have to talk about Ken Josephsons work again because I felt like I could look at it forever and still not see everything. I love the idea of have pictures in a picture. The meaning each one holds for each observer would be very different. His works really show how reality isn't straight forward and often contains different views. I was truly amazed with his work!

I also very much enjoyed Ellen Brooks work. Following the show I learned that she also does sculptures. I have to admit I was first drawn to her work because of the style, but also because my mom loves trees and I knew she would want to hear about them. Her work contains so much detail I could continue to see new things everytime I look at them. This show was a great opportunity! Thank you!

media

2009-09-11T08:28:00.002-05:00

I was amazed to see the many different kind of media used in the show. Not only were there unique to change photos but some of the artists went away from that all together. Gillian Brown's display was so innovative, I really felt like language was being invented in front of me. The visuals to go along with the sound was beautiful. Joseph Mougel's "In Character" was also quite interesting. All of those hanging screens were different and the sounds coming from them as well. It reminds me that there are many people in the world who do make up characters online and are quite attached to them. They also reminded me of the Sims. All different all making different sounds, some standing waiting for the creator to tell them what to do next. The show overall was amazing. I really enjoyed taking in all the the works and what I think of as groundbreaking techniques to get to the same goal of Residual Reality. The show was definitely worth seeing and I am quite happy I got to experience it.

Color

2009-09-11T08:20:00.002-05:00

While walking through the show, I found it hard to not focus on the different way that color appeared in each artists work. Min Kim Park's pictures of "superwomen" were not only striking because of the determined looks the models had on their faces but also the bright colors they were dressed in. The colors made perfect sense to see on a superhero, it made it all the more believable. Ellen Brooks' pictures through a screen made the colors fuzzy, less real but very eye catching. Patrick Nagatami's works were amazing to look at. He used incredible detail and I am sure much time carefully placing the masking tape over his pictures underneath. The colors became muted, more pastel looking and very unreal which worked well with the fact that the pictures were of deities. It was amazing to me how unique everything was and the ways that the colors in the spectrum can be changed in ways most people would not think of.

My Residual Reality Experience

2009-09-11T00:26:00.002-05:00

I've never been to an art show before. I've been to museums with art but this was definitely different; it was a wonderful experience. I have a great respect for art and artists because I occasionally paint or take photographs just as a hobby. The 2 works I liked the most were of Ellen Brooks and Ken Josephson. The way Josephson integrates the postcards into the photos was interesting; I have an interest for graphic design and Josephson's "Fountain" reminded me of a project I did for a scholarship my senior year of high school. I really enjoyed that work. As for Ellen Brooks' pieces, I could just stare at them forever. Though I had and idea of how she created the pieces that were at the show I looked into her work. On her website (www.ellenbrooksart.com) you can browse through her works and she has a description of the different types of work she has done. The pieces that were at the Residual Reality show were from her "Screens" collection. She gave a thought-provoking explaination of what they were about and why she did them. Here is the statement from the screens collection off of her website:

"These photographs are addressing issues of cultural longing, the images having their origins in the natural world but removed from nature, firstly through the artifice of over-cultivation and grooming inherent in the imagery —golf courses, night-lit landscapes, gardens, artificial waterfalls, bonsai trees— and further through the media packaging of beauty as presented in magazines and theme calendars. By re-photographing these subjects from the glut of existing images in our culture, the photographs become reflective of the culture, simultaneously fulfilling a contrived yearning for beauty while denying the direct experience of it. The issue of adapting imagery from pre-existing sources is not one of appropriation or authorship but of utilizing popular imagery as metaphor for a condition of cultural desire—images of sushi as icons for the popularization of the exotic. The source images are painted over to enhance and exaggerate or repress areas, and then re-photographed through a dense screen, transforming the imagery into a “crystalline composite of color”. The familiar becomes elusive in the struggle to regain a recollected orientation to what is now generalized in a molecular surface, the screen acting as a “leveler of the language”. -1987 "

I love the way she expresses her view of our culture and how they are extracted from the natural world.

Overall I enjoyed the show. These artists have the most creative minds. It was very refreshing to see that.

Deeper in to the duality

2009-09-11T00:15:00.012-05:00

There is a saying that the “Court jester is the most serious man in the kingdom.” I kept thinking of this phrase since I first saw the artist works in the exhibition. Why? At the first sight, the whole exhibition looks like a totality of colors, jokes, transformations and cheerfulness. Even people at the opening looked very joyful and touched by the beautiful lines, and funny images (and the chocolate fountain, of course :)) If we look closer and bit longer, however, we see that it is not only about beautiful images of superwomen (Min Kim Park), colorful interior (Daniel Kaufmann), or sharp - tongued stories about supermodels (Robert Heinecken). Even though everything stands in an absolute harmony of the reality of reality, in my opinion (point of seeing it) has this dual light within.

On closer inspection, one superwoman [made by Min Kan Park] has a masculine, tired face, uptight stance, and a broken heel. This made me think of all the (expectations of) shopping, smiling, working, being flexible, etc that women are faces with nowadays. They are (constantly) stressing out to become the women from the magazines; the ones with a cute husband, bright white teeth and a mind - boggling career. In the pictures, these (super) women look limber, stylish and feminine, but only briefly from afar.

Really funny stories about supermodels seemed to me, at first, as a really good joke. I was laughing loud and thought that the artist [Robert Heinecken] had a really great sense of humor. Then, after I came home, I saw those stories in every newspaper, on my shampoo bottle, on the TV, and even in my friends’ profile pictures on Facebook. It took me a long time to stop thinking about it.

I guess that this exhibition shows that people (including me) are attracted to famous, funny and intriguing things, but only at first sight; they like it and they consume it. After making me laugh, this exhibit made me think, just like the court jesters in the middle ages.

Gallery Opening

2009-09-10T23:11:00.002-05:00

I thoroughly enjoyed myself tonight at the opening! Everything was planned out and placed really well, right down to the design of how the vegetables were served outside the gallery. Some of my favorite pieces were "TV Dinner" by Robert Heinecken, "Book Spine" by Joyce Niemanas, and Daniel Kaufmann's "#5". I think these pieces intrigued me the most because of the many dimensions each contained. For example, "Book Spine" was a truly realistic-looking photograph; it seemed as though the fabric of the book was right there for you to touch. I'm very interested in learning what techniques and camera Joyce uses at the round table discussion tomorrow. I also liked "TV Dinner" because it wasn't just simply a photo; it was on a distorted canvas to which Heinecken then added pieces to make objects such as the cigarettes pop out. It's a shame he isn't with us anymore..I would have loved to be able to ask him about this piece and many of the others. Overall, I think tonight was a great success!

Residual Reality Opening Night

2009-09-10T21:00:00.003-05:00

My Experience

-Cati King

I spent the first 40 minutes walking and observing the gallery. I was completely blown away by how photography can be all those things! I then spent the next half hour talking with the artists. The two that I got to speak with were Joyce Neimanas and Patrick Nagatani. I spoke with Joyce first and was completely blown away by how interested she was in my life and me as a person. She continually asked me questions about what I am doing and planning on for next year after I graduate. I also discussed how I am going to study abroad in Stirling Scotland. I felt like she was genuinely interested in my words and thoughts. She was willing to discuss her thoughts and work with me. She also walked the gallery with me and asked me what I was interested in and asked my thoughts on different pieces. She also told me she was married to Robert Heineken and could tell me anything I wanted to know about him, and then joked with laughter “Is he egotistical? … Yes!” We laughed a little bit and then I asked her if the two of them inspired each other, and she replied that they both really did and that it was so different and almost strange being in the same medium as each other. I followed up with asking her if they were competitive with each other. She responded that at first they really were, but then she realized that Robert was 12 years older than her. She decided that when she got to his age she would be just as good as him, so she really let go of that competitive spirit. She was such a stunning person and absolutely genuine. She introduced me to Patrick Nagatani. I started speaking with him about how I had been researching the process he goes through in making his art. He was kind of surprised when I quoted him in an interview article I found about him. He told me that it has been quite a while since he has shown his work but that he is getting back into it. He says that he has been doing one a month for three years and that only twice has he done two pieces consecutively, twice, otherwise it is just one at a time. I also asked him if he thought it was weird to have people observing his work and commenting or discussing his work with him, but he said it wasn’t weird and that he has been doing this a long time just that he didn’t like the attention as much. But that some interesting piece can emerge once and awhile. He was very kind and joked around quite a bit. I asked him how he decided which of the piece to leave untapped in his work. He replied that sometimes he decided before he even started and that sometimes he decided as he went along. I then finished with asking if he just works with masking tape. He replied yes but that ‘just’ is a tricky word because he uses 80 different types all with different widths, hues and transparencies.

Being apart of the opening show was an absolutely amazing experience that I was really intimidated by at first but then I decided to just jump in and go crazy!
I really understand why so many people showed up and wanted to be apart of it. I now feel that the skepticism I had about galleries has been resolved in many ways. I really enjoyed it and am glad I took the time out to attend and participate as an active audience.

Here is the article I found on Patrick Nagatani:

This article written by Nancy Salem gives great insight to Nagatani masking tape pieces…
"While Nagatani has produced several bodies of groundbreaking photographic work, his masking-tape pieces are perhaps his most distinctive.
"I call them `tape-estries,' " Nagatani says.
He did his first taped piece in 1983, stumbling on the technique while photographing cathedrals in France.
"I was spray-painting over the images and using masking tape to block out areas," Nagatani says. "One day I decided to leave the tape on."
He starts the process with photographs. Some are from postcards, some from other printed sources. He often assembles collaged images; for example, a towering cactus with a burro or person superimposed; Japanese calligraphy behind a Buddha; a wedding party on the steps of a church. The final image is scanned and made into a large chromogenic photograph. The print is cold-mounted to museum ragboard. Nagatani adds paint to the picture to enhance certain visuals so they'll stand out when covered with tape.
"The photo gets manipulated, but it's not paint-by-numbers," Nagatani says.
Nagatani covers the image with strips of masking tape by cutting and tearing them into pieces of varying lengths, widths and shapes. He works from the background to the foreground, creating layers, textures and surprising depth. Sometimes he'll leave an area, such as hands or a figure, untaped for emphasis. The result is mesmerizing, a veil of hazy color and intricate design through which to view the image. A simple material, masking tape, produces a complex canvas, lends a spiritual quality. He seals a piece with several coats of fluid matte medium that soaks through the tape onto the image, adding adhesion and keeping oxygen from yellowing the tape. A UV inhibitor is the final touch.
"They're like mummies, lovingly preserved," Nagatani says.
He says the taped photographs are more personal than his other work because "so much revolves around the process and my joy in doing it." "

Image found at- http://www.billjayonphotography.com/JoyceNeimanas.html

"For many years Joyce Neimanas has experimented without a camera. Her computer-generated images use advertisements, art reproductions, and comic books to create humorous collages that explore contemporary gender roles." (Museum of Contemporary Photography)

Image found at – http://www.myhero.com/myhero/hero.asp?hero=Nagatani_california_06 (courtesy Patrick Nagatani)

Patrick Nagatani was a professor in the Department of Art & Art History at the University of New Mexico. in June of 2007, after 20 years at UNM, he retired as Professor Emeritus and became a full time artist, continuing to live and work in Albuquerque.

"Nagatani received his M.F.A. degree from the University of California, Los Angeles in 1979. He has given numerous public lectures, seminars and workshops, and his work has been exhibited widely, both nationally and internationally. In 1991, he earned the Outstanding Faculty Award from the College of Fine Arts. Prior to this, from 1998 to 2000, he was honored with a Regent's Professorship. In 2004, he was recognized for his scholarly achievements and exemplary contributions to the College of Fine Arts by the University of New Mexico Libraries. He is a past recipient of two major National Endowment for the Arts Visual Artist Fellowships, and New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson honored him with the Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts. Some of his other awards include: The Aaron Siskind Foundation Individual Photographer's Fellowship; The Kraszna-Krausz Award for his book Nuclear Enchantment; the Leopold Godowsky Jr. Color Photography Award; and the California Distinguished Artist Award from the National Art Education Association. Patrick Nagatani has also served as a panelist for a number of prestigious organizations: Illinois Art Council, Arizona Commission on Arts, Southern Arts Federation, Massachusetts Council on the Arts and Humanities, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, California Arts Council, and the National Endowment for the Arts." (516ARTS.org)

Residual Reality Needs to Get Back to Reality

2009-09-09T22:02:00.000-05:00

I came into this photograph exhibit expecting to find things that confused me, but what I found was even more puzzling. I found works of "art" that could only be described as ridiculous. I found photographs that looked like something a small child had taken. Joyce Neimanas' "photos" were especially disappointing to me. It didn't make sense to me that a woman who had gotten here masters in photography and art was taking photos of things a toddler who got a hold of their parents camera might accidentally have snapped a shot of. Art and photography to me is much more than what I saw coming out of this show. It didn't seem that really any of the artists in the show had put their all into the exhibit. Scoot Rankin's video collage especially perturbed me. It may have had some deeper meaning that wasn't made apparent to me, but it didn't seem to require a lot of effort on his part. I could make something like that by looking up vidoes on Youtube and playing them at the same time.
Although I was appalled by much of the "artwork" at the exhibit, I did find some pieces that I enjoyed and found to be pleasing to both mind and eye. The works of Patrick Nagatani were both imspiring and worthwhile. In reading his description of the arduous process put into these pieces it is clear to me that he may be one of the only artists at the exhibit that truly poured their heart and soul into his work. He did not cut corners. He did something unique, but not over the top. He spent a great deal of time and effort on his work. He created a brilliant masterpiece that gives off both an aura of calmness and of passion. His work truly deserves to be given the title of Art.

Welcome! Please post written and visual information to the Residual Reality site.

2009-09-03T23:52:00.004-05:00

Coming soon! The University of Wisconsin Eau Claire's department of Art and Design invites you to the opening reception of the Residual Reality exhibition!

Soon, you’ll meet 10 Artists in person on Thursday 9/10/09 at the 7:30 opening in the UWEC Foster Gallery and on Friday 9/11/09 for a round table discussion. You will have the opportunity to speak with Artists yourself to uncover unique information about how they work and what they're thinking about. Use direct quotes from Artists at the Opening and Round table events, add pictures or video if you like: look for interesting images or make your own images of the Artists or of their artwork while they are here.

Each person who adds information here is part of a cumulative effort. A multitude of information from many authors will serve as a historic web document describing the identity of this exhibition and it's Artists. Everyone can add their observations here. Each entry should contain unique information.
If you are quoting another source please cite where you found your information.
Many thanks,
Jyl Kelley