2022 Austin Studio Tour
Some Things Old, Some Things New
Some Things Old, Some Things New features photography from past Austin Studio Tour exhibitions as well as new work by David Carrales. “The 2022 Austin Studio Tour gave me an opportunity to look back at previous shows and revisit favorite images, like the trio of images from the Found Portraits exhibition (Ian & Dave, Voodoo Child, and Ranger Jane). It was also chance to showcase some newer work (Joshua Tree, Davidx3, and manichino con maschera da gatto) and older work (Mascaras and Lone Pine) that has never seen the light of day at an Austin Studio Tour.”
After viewing the online gallery, I invite you to take a short survey. I am always curious to know what people think so here's your opportunity. As a token of my appreciation, I would like to send you an 8 x 8 digital print of your choice for your personal, noncommercial use from the show.
Images from the “Some Things New” and “Some Things Old - Miscellaneous” sections are for sale. Contact me for details.
SOME THINGS NEW
manichino con maschera da gatto
Venezia, Italia 2022
Not the traditional mask that comes to mind when you think of Venice, but eye-catching nonetheless. What can I say, I’m a sucker for cats and mannequins. Perhaps that’s a theme for a future Austin Studio Tour exhibition.
Davidx3
Firenza, Italia 2022
Faced with artistic perfection before me, I wondered what I could do to tell the story of Michelangelo’s David, differently than the millions upon millions of images of the masterpiece.
I remembered some multiple exposures I dabbled with shooting artists and decided to apply that technique. I tried two images, then three images. Odd numbers are always more interesting.
I considered cropping out the crowd, but I think that would shortchange the story. You can’t tell the story of seeing David at the Galleria dell'Accademia without the throngs of tourists pressing to see the seventeen foot marble colossus. It’s like being on the floor of a rock concert. Just goes to show that art rocks!
Joshua Tree
Death Valley National Park, California 2022
“I'll show you a place
High on the desert plain, yeah
Where the streets have no name, oh, oh….”
I had U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Names” running through my mind when I first saw the Joshua Trees in and around Death Valley National Park. They are as striking a subject as depicted by photographer, Anton Corbijn on U2’s Joshua Tree album.
I had to hike out about 100 feet from the highway to snap this centuries old marvel. I wandered around the tree to find the best perspective. When I saw the wreath of clouds in the background and the gentle slope of the hills in the background, I knew I had my shot.
SOME THINGS OLD | Found Portraits 2018 AST
Ranger Jane
Goat Haunt, Montana 2018
Ranger Jane was stationed at Goat Haunt, one of the more remote locations in Glacier National Park, Montana. The tiny ranger station is nestled at the edge of Waterton Lake, a stone’s throw from the boat dock where visitors arrive from Waterton Lakes National Park in Canada.
I photographed Ranger Jane during a guided hike to Rainbow Falls. Our group was taking a break when when I noticed her engaged in conversation. She was seated on the rise of the gentle curve of a colorful rocky outcrop, surrounded by delicate greenery that complimented the dark green of her uniform, fluffy white tufts of bear grass visible in the distance. Her pose was natural, her expression relaxed. Genuine. Her authentic self. The overcast sky acted like a softbox, diffusing the sunlight. I did a quick check of the camera settings, widened the aperture to create a shallow depth of field, blurring the background. Click.
Ian & Dave
Austin, Texas 2009
Ian & Dave were seated in the alley behind St. Austin Catholic Church in downtown Austin. The sight of bedraggled transient musicians was not uncommon for the area, but these two characters were right out of central casting. I parked nearby and wrestled with the decision to take their photograph as it would require me to interact with strangers. I chose to go against my introverted nature and capture the compelling tableau. However, with each step toward the unsuspecting subjects, an inner dialogue played out, “keep going, take the photo…turn around, don’t take the photo.” I don’t remember what I said to them, perhaps, “Do you mind?” as I gestured with the camera. They shook their shaggy heads and returned to an oblivious state. I took several images and thanked them. We exchanged contact information and in our brief conversation, I learned that Austin was a brief stop on their journey home back to the east coast after spending extended time in South America. Life rewards the extroverts.
Voodoo Child
Portland, Oregon, 2007
In September 2007, there was only one Voodoo Doughnut, located at SW 3rd Avenue near the historic Burnside Bridge in Portland, Oregon. The doughnut shop was just four years old, yet already had gained notoriety for quirkiness; for example, their menu included a Nyquil Glazed Doughnut and a Vanilla Pepto Crushed Tums Doughnut until they were banned by local health officials. When I visited, there were no lines out the door as you would find if you went to the bakery today. That morning, a solitary hooded figure sat on a bench, holding his skateboard, staring straight ahead with a vacant expression as I took the photograph. I would be hard pressed to find a more suitable denizen of Portlandia to feature in this image. I originally processed this image in monohrome as I thought it would have a cool, artsy look. When I decided to include this image in “Found Portraits,” color was the clear choice once I realized the bright pink door matches the distinctive pink Voodoo Doughnut box.
Gelato Girl
Boston, Massachusetts 2009
The North End is the epicenter of everything Italian in Boston—pizzerias, trattorias, gelaterias, and bakeries. As I walked through the neighborhood, I noticed a young woman leaning out the window of a building, handing gelato to eager patrons on the sidewalk. I made a mental note that the scene might make an interesting image.
Later that night, I found myself at the gelateria…and there she was…the Gelato Girl, framed in the open window. I instinctively raised the camera, composed the image, and Click. As I ambled away, I looked at the image in preview mode. Wow! Che bella!
The next day I went to the gelateria, in hopes of finding the Gelato Girl to show her the image. She was flabbergasted when she saw it, unaware that I had taken her photograph. “That me?!” she said in an Eastern European accent. As we exchanged contact information, I learned she was from Slovakia, working and traveling America for the summer.
I sent her the image and she posted it on Facebook. In a response to a comment she replied, fotka zachytavajuca moju totalne znudenu chvilu za zmrzlinovym pultom, ktora poputuje na nejaku vystavu v amerike…vtipne, nie ?:D [ a photo capturing my totally bored time at an ice cream counter that will appear in some kind of show in America…witty, huh? :D ]
SOME THINGS OLD | Miscellaneous Images
Cat Fight
Austin, Texas 2008
Cat Fight features our two cats, Wrigley and Comiskey (yes, named after the famed baseball parks in Chicago)., locked in playful combat. This is the first time I visualized a poster-sized print of a series of images. Of course, I had no idea how one would go about producing something like this. Does anyone remember Adobe Pagemaker? I finally was able to make what I had in mind several years later after discovering Microsoft Publisher and a whole new world of creativity opened up for me and I haven’t looked back since.
Viva Terlingua
Terlingua, Texas 2017
I firmly believe that every Texan should be required to visit Big Bend National Park, to behold the breathtaking majesty of the Chihuahuan Desert. Big Bend National Park has a sky island, an isolated mountain range that rises above the surrounding lowland “sea.” The sky island forests occur in the Chisos Mountains.
Terlingua, one time mining town, is one of the gateways into Big Bend National Park. There are a few curiousities in Terlingua, including the Starlight Theater Restaurant and Saloon, where this image was taken. Arrive early for a memorable gourmet meal and stay for the live music. After spending time in Terlingua, you will come to understand the town’s mantra, Viva Terlingua.
Whenever I see that bright, ubiquitous Vival Terlingua sticker around the state, I am reminded of my time in West Texas, and realize the power of bumper sticker as cultural touchstone.
Bird Skull
Austin, Texas, 2018
My friend Blookat is a talented painter and ceramic artist. I met her when I was doing volunteer photography at Imagine Art, a local arts organization serving artists with disabilities. She had posted this glow in the dark bird skull on Instagram around Halloween 2018 and I wanted it the moment I saw it. I purchased it from her with the caveat that we would do a photo shoot around it. She agreed and I suddenly had to come up with something around her artwork.
I knew I wanted to get a shot of her holding the bird skull. Boring. I thought it might be cool to get her hands dirty, but actual dirt really wasn’t doing the trick so we used charcoal. We were shooting outside so I gathered a bit of leaves to create a nest. This is a good example to being open to what’s around you to improve the image.
This image is currently on display in The People’s Gallery at the Austin City Hall from 2022-24.
Bison Duo
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming 2016
I originally processed this image in color and was satisfied with the result. When I revisted the image during the curation process for this exhibition, I decided to process it as a monochrome image. I chose the monochrome version as it reminded me of a fine charcoal pencil drawing. I like the eye of the bison in the foreground, such delicate eyebrows on the shaggy beast. He appears contemplative, but perhaps is just a wee bit sleepy.
Lone Pine
Bend, Oregon 2007
This lone pine tree was photographed at the Newberry National Volcanic Monument in the Deschutes National Forest on the way to Bend, Oregon. I remember how crisp and cool it was that morning, walking on a deserted trail of dark volcanic rock. The High Desert Museum is nearby and worth a stop before heading into Bend, beer capital of the state of Oregon.
Cow Skulls
Marathon, Texas 2005
Dozens of cow skulls decorate an interior wall at the famous Gage Hotel in Marathon, Texas (pop. 365), bringing to mind the cow skull in Georgia O’Keeffe’s painting. “For O’Keeffe, the pinnacles and hollows of the weathered cow’s skull were a powerful image of American strength at a time when depression, economic instability and drought were threatening to undermine the very essence of the nation.” Animal: Exploring the Zoological World (Phaidon). Seventy years have passed since she moved to New Mexico and started painting those cow skulls. “Economic instability and drought”…..sounds familiar.
Mascaras
Cancun, Mexico 2009
What is is about masks…and skulls, for that matter, in this exhibition? I would like to say it is intentional in the curation process and I have a powerful statement to make like Georgia O’Keefe. But I’ve got nothing, except when vibrant colors present themselves in such a dramatic fashion, you really have no choice by to acquiesce and take the photograph. This scene presented itself in the myriad of vendor stalls in Cancun, Mexico amongst the serapes, ceramics, Corona t-shirts, and clowns. Yes, lots of clowns. What’s up with the clowns, Mexico? As a Latinx person living in the U.S.A. all my life, I am perplexed. Perhaps I will have to journey south again and find the answer.
Reflection
Since the pandemic of 2020, I have been behind the eight ball on finding space to house a physical exhibition. For many years I exhibited at Imagine Art, but they lost exhibit space in various moves around town as they await the building of a permanent site in East Austin. Last year, I was able to do a last minute install of Some Artist Portraits at Halcyon Coffee Bar. I didn’t have Halcyon as an option this year, so I was left scrambling as the deadline loomed. Then, I thought of my friends at Austin Camera & Imaging, a mere mile from my house. I approached owner, Matt Cohen, who I had an established relationship with and he enthusiastically opened the doors of his business to my artwork.
Acknowledgements
A very special thanks to Matt Cohen at Austin Camera & Imaging, for accepting my request to showcase my artwork at his place of business for the 2022 Austin Studio Tour. All the beautiful photographic prints from this exhibition have been printed by Austin Camera & Imaging. They have been my exclusive printer for every Austin Studio Tour since 2016. Thank you to my family and friends who have supported me with kind words and the occasional purchase of a framed photographic print. And, thanks to everyone who came out to the 2022 Austin Studio Tour and supporting the local art scene.
Official Show Poster, at left
