January, 2024 Newsletter

Fine Art Photography

January, 2024

As we near the halfway point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox, I welcome the expanding daylight. My four week break, between semesters, was as productive as I had hoped it would be–with several long and fruitful darkroom sessions, days of organizing boxes of prints, and submission of work to galleries, journals, and for art residencies. My aspiration for the year ahead is to engage new opportunities.

Barber Farm Reeds, Light Leak

8x9-inch Silver Gelatin Holga Print, 2023

While working on over 40 recent Holga images, I found myself drawn to a handful of shots that had unintended light leaks–an occasional quirk of the plastic medium format film camera. Instead of dismissing the accidental effect, I have embraced the infusion of light!

Icicles, Fort Ethan Allen, Light Leaks

8x9-inch Silver Gelatin Holga Print, 2023

Time off from teaching afforded me the chance to coat cotton watercolor paper with liquid silver gelatin emulsion for my continuing series, “(Re)membering”, but instead of using collected anonymous pictures to re-photograph, I printed photographed pictures of my father as a child. In the image below, his mischievous gaze and defiant gesture speak of his lifelong penchant for pushing the edge.

My Father as a Boy, the Bronx, 1941

11x14-inch Silver Gelatin Emulsion on Arches Watercolor Paper, Toned in Sepia, 2024

How strange to gaze at my dad’s youthful face, now after his death, and to assess this frozen moment of his childhood within the objective distancing of a new photographic frame. Unlike all the previous portrait subjects I’ve corralled into this process, I know the trajectory of his life. To learn more about my father, artist Stephen Douglas, scroll down and refer to the July, 2023 Newsletter. Next, I will photograph pictures of my mother as a child to print in this style.

UPCOMING EXHIBITION

I am thrilled to announce that the Panopticon Gallery, in Boston, selected me to be one of five photographers in their exhibition, “First Look 2024” to open on February 15. It will include 5 large Contact Grids of “My Father’s Things”. Please join me at the opening!

My Father’s Things, Contact Grid #4

24x30-inch Archival Inkjet Print, 2024

This will be the centerpiece, and the largest, of the five framed prints on display.

On November 30, 2023, Champlain College held a reception for a multi-disciplinary exhibition, “Raze, Rebuild, Repeat”, which, through a federal academic grant, assessed the long term resonances of urban renewal upheavals in Burlington, Vermont’s downtown in the 1960’s and 70’s. Matted photographs from three classes of my darkroom students were showcased along with graphic art, creative sound capture projects, and ephemera.

Click HERE to view a 2-minute local TV news piece, in which I am interviewed along with several colleagues and one of my students, Akilah Doty, prior to the screening of a student documentary and a Q&A panel on which I sat.

SHOWCASE: My Art in Other Homes

Dana and Marc vanderHeyden’s Study, Rhinebeck, NY

My sepia-toned liquid emulsion photograph, “Hinesburg Sunrise, 2003”, in the center, is beneath one of the great Dorothea Lange’s important images of the Japanese internment camps during WWII. The circular piece is a contemporary platinum print by James Luciana; the portrait of the elder Iranian man in the top row was taken around 1950 by the Czech photographer, Joseph Koštal; and, “Gas Up and Go” from Route 66, in the lower left, was made by Rhinebeck, NY artist John Verner. I am honored to be among such illustrious company.

Marc vanderHeyden was president of Saint Michael’s College,1996-2007. In 2003, Dana and Marc’s generous personal donation funded the construction of the darkroom in the art building where I continue to teach film photography. For their gracious contribution to and support of the arts, I am deeply grateful.

CURRENT EXHIBITIONS

“Wheels” at the Museum of Everyday Life

Glover, Vermont

My Father’s Things, Contact Quad #13

8x10-inch Archival Inkjet Print, 2023

My piece above, was created for the wonderfully varied MOEL exhibition, which navigates all things rolling and turning. When you visit this unique museum, be sure to explore the permanent collection–where you can see two analog photographs of my father’s house, from last year’s exhibition, “Coming Clean”.

THIS MONTH’S PRINTS FOR SALE

One of each of these specially priced, signed and wrapped prints is available, on a first come basis, and can be window-matted for an additional cost. To purchase, visit the Store Page of my website. For questions, comments, or to inquire about any images: jordan@jordandouglasphotography.com

Moorlands Inn Lamp Globes, Truro, MA

8x8-inch Silver Gelatin Emulsion on Arches Watercolor Paper, 2024

$100

Window Light, Shetland

11x14-inch Silver Gelatin Print, Bleached and Toned in Selenium, 2012

$225

Captured in the loft of an out building of the 18th century Burrastow House on the coast of Shetland in late July on highly sensitive infrared film–which exaggerated the intensity of the midday northern sun, as well as the silver grain.

Dead Monarch

8x10-inch Silver Gelatin Lith Print, 2010

$125

A framed 16x20-inch print was originally exhibited at Burlington, Vermont’s Gallery 215 in 2008, along with artist Diane Gabriel’s soulful Monoprints.

Ponte Sant’Angelo, Rome

11x14-inch Silver Gelatin Print, Bleached and Toned in Selenium, 2012

$225

This infrared negative was fogged by radiation in Glasgow, when airport security refused to hand inspect my film. The unplanned light effect lends a poetic aura to this holy servant.

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Thank you to those who purchased prints from last month’s selection!

IN THE VIEWFINDER

I have determined to expand my photographic horizons in 2024, with exhibitions, online exposure, residencies, and grants to help fund the creation of new work. This weekend I will deliver five framed Contact Grids to the Panopticon Gallery in Boston for their upcoming show. I just received a commission for 10 framed prints, to be determined…more details in the next missive!

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Contact: jordan@jordandouglasphotography.com

jordandouglasphotography.com