Notes From The Field

Three Black Birds © Brett Kosmider

I had some work to do tonight, so I dropped in some music to help me along.  I hate to be cliché but it seems like one entire volume of my “Personal Sountrack” box set is dedicated to Thomas Newman.  If you’re not familiar with Thomas Newman you may have heard his unmistakable music in movies like The Shawshank Redemption, Road To Perdition and American Beauty.  Without hesitation numerous movie trailer and television producers have latched onto his haunting music and have used it ad nausium for the last 10 years without end.  Well, it happens to have infected me as well.  But I haven’t really gone back to it since I was out making photographs almost as long as a year ago, and since then my iPod broke (of which I have no replacement, such is the economy).

So I took a listen tonight and as much as I thought “cliché, cliché, CLICHE!” I remembered how it inspired my current body of photographic work and how inspired I continue to be when listening to it.  Sometimes to tears, no matter how cliché.

Listening to this music reminds me how important the art and craft of making photographs really is to me, and how I know, someday, I will return to that craft for more than a fleeting morning of opportunity but for more of a full-time pursuit.  No matter how the music romanticizes it all.

Tags: Deep Thoughts // Add Comment »

Jungle Of Concealment © Brett Kosmider

The exhibit closed, as scheduled.  The leaves turned colors here.  Around the world markets crashed, and along with it the Art market (that’s not to say I haven’t stopped making Art), but something else happened that made me think about my Art, how it’s perceived.  For a moment I thought of leaving it for a while to return with great new ideas and inspirations but the truth is if I’m inspired I’m inspired and if I see something I’m going to make a photograph of it regardless if it’s the “right” time in my life or career.

So I’m not throwing in the towel, maybe just hibernating a bit, going underground, even more so than already.  I need to concentrate a bit on making some green so I can take time to make profound photographs, not Art that is rushed or mechanical-feeling.

My latest career oriented pursuit: Boreal Sky
My latest career oriented demonstration of skills: Here

I’ll keep posting as I stumble upon the rare visual gem.

Peace out
-Koz

Tags: Deep Thoughts, The Day Job // Add Comment »

Starting September 11th through October 8th, 2008, seven of my pieces will be included in the Concordia University Photo Biennial. Curated by Cate Vermeland, this year’s theme is Beauty and I’m honored that my work was even considered the distinction, let alone be included in the group exhibition.

Reticent Rhythm © Brett Kosmider

The Concordia Gallery is located at 1371 Marshall Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Gallery hours are Monday through Friday 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. or by appointment.  Closing reception is Saturday October 4th from 4-8pm.  View Map

Exhibition Postcard © Concordia University St. Paul

I’ve tweaked and expanded my artist statement to reflect the grouping of my photographs for this particular exhibition as well as framing my future work into a more cohesive unit.

Artist Statement 

I am drawn to the mysterious, dark and spiritual places in nature.  Places that are off the beaten path where no one has been or even considers going.  After returning to some of those places many times a year, for perhaps many years, a deep connection forms.  In different seasons and under different kinds of light I start to recognize the same trees and rocks, even the patterns of lichen and the feel of the duff under my feet.  When I’m in those places lurking in the shadows, often making photographs of other shadows, I have a profound sense of being where the tiny sounds of insects and wind rustling through dried grasses mixes with the subsonic rush of blood in my ears and it makes me stop.  To me it is a sacred experience.  It is my own form of meditation – a commune with the land where I hope no one else goes. 

This series is a result of the many journeys I have made from the din and fog of civilization to some of the rare open peopleless spaces that remain on the Great Lakes.  Both the physical and temporal journeys have been key inspirations to my work.  As arduous as some of those journeys have been they inspire me to seek out the beauty of light and composition where few others tread because in urban settings it seems beauty is fleeting and commonly consumed en masse.  My photographs are little treasures of grand places. 

Over thirty years ago those journeys first started out as annual family trips to the rocky shores of the Door Peninsula in Wisconsin.  It is there that I first learned to appreciate the smell of the lake, observe and read the fickle atmosphere over the open water and examine the strikingly diverse fauna and rare plants.  The reluctant return trip to the city always motivated the following trip. 

In this work I am interested in showing the simple beauty of time passing, my camera a witness to the language of the land, the collection of light over time as objects in the landscape move in cyclic rhythms.  My journeys from the city inspire me to find peace in the landscape as every mile behind me means I am closer to my own nirvana.  These photographs are the result of that ever-continuing journey. 

Tags: Deep Thoughts, Exhibitions // Add Comment »

I am very pleased to announce that my photograph titled Laricina (taken from the latin name for Larch or Tamarack found throughout the Great Lakes) was not only chosen to be included in the 46th annual juried Hardy show but it also recieved one of five Juror’s Awards as well! Laricina is a limited edition print and is something to behold in person - the web does it very little justice, in my humble opinion.

Laricina © Brett Kosmider

The 46th Annual Juried Exhibition at The Hardy Gallery in Ephraim, Wisconsin is on from June 7th until July 13th. Please support Door County artists and stop by if you can!

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I heart ribs.

Bowl full-o-ribs © Brett Kosmider

Tags: Peculiar // Add Comment »

Happy New Year to all! What strikes me about this photo is the level of the lake…

Brrrrr © Brett Kosmider

 Compare to this image made three years ago, the rocks in the left foreground of the picture above are the foreground subject of the linked photo. Also note the new reefs on the horizon…

News? Well, we’re spending a lot of time in DC, but mostly helping at the new Moore place in EB - some time for photography, but for the most part just taking photos but nothing to share, yet.

And another reaping from the archives, taken sometime this fall in Minnesota…

Oak Branch Shadows © Brett Kosmider

Tags: Issues, Travels // Add Comment »

Over Thanksgiving I returned ‘home’ to Milwaukee to visit family. We had a great time though Thanksgiving takes on a whole different meaning when you’re busy chasing an 11-month old around the room! I didn’t get stuffed full of turkey as is normal and I didn’t even get to go back for seconds - too busy facilitating a hungry baby. Oh well, I feel better for it now, no guilt.

We took a side trip on Friday and took in the Photographs from the End of the Earth exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum. It’s a collection of contemporary and historical photos of the arctic regions, curated by Lisa Hostetler, MAM’s associate curator of photographs.

I must say, on first impression I was quite dissapointed in the overall floorspace dedicated to the show - it seemed quite small, jammed in a corner on the fourth floor mezzanine. Furthermore, I was under the impression there would be more contemporary pieces in the exhibition when there was clearly a 30/70 split between contemporary and historical photographs. Because of this the lighting was abysmal, probably due to archival reasons, and I was shocked to see people wandering around with magnifying glasses inspecting the photographs. Later, I deduced the Inspector Gadget garb was to actually see the dozen or so postage-stamp-sized photographs on display. Again, I realize the historic importance of some of these photographs but I was very dissapointed. Nonetheless I was impressed with Subhankar Banerjee’s single representation in a very large and impressive print of migrating caribou, and also with Stuart Klipper’s panoramics.

Even though I left feeling a bit cold (haha) after leaving the Arctic photography exhibit, my daughter enjoyed crawling around Windhover Hall and in general squeeling and singing with glee. That was worth it.

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I still shoot film, but not so much the Kodak flavors anymore. I wonder if they shot this on film or digital.  Why do I think this is funny?  Maybe I’ve worked on too many corporate communications pieces…

Tags: Found On The Web // Add Comment »

 

Mossimo on the rocks © Brett Kosmider

If anyone lost their left size 12 Mossimo® sandal, let me know, I think I could help you out. In fact, if you can name this location, its all yours.

Mystery Location © Brett Kosmider

Actually, I’m just kidding, as with all mysterious footwear that I find in the wilds (without the owner) I choose not to touch the actual relic, so if you can name the location, chances are its still there, so go and pick it up yourself.

And what is it with left feet being compromised in the Great Lakes? A mystery is unfolding…

Tags: Peculiar, Travels // Add Comment »

The Future © Brett Kosmider

There’s been a lot of soul searching on my part to find “my place” in the art world, specifically, the fine art photography world. It’s frustrating to try and articulate one’s own style in a way that will fit into Academia’s historical view of art. Even more annoying is the practice of others trying to divine some sort of meaning out of your photographs and then put you into a certain style, period, school or camp of photographers based on their perceived meaning (or lack thereof) of your work; a rather convenient way of dumbing-down, in my opinion.

The consensus has been that my photography follows the trend of the “neo-modernist”, but I’m having difficulty embracing that moniker. Some day I may do something different, and then what? A recent post on Mark Hobson’s blog confirmed for me that enough is enough. Enough wasting time in anguish trying to decide where I’ll fit, just go out and shoot and make your mark – enough talk, show me what you’re made of. In the words of Neil Peart “Show, don’t tell.” In the words of my father, “talk is cheap.” Some people spend a lot of time talking about art but don’t produce squat.

I am an artist, I make art. I am not a curator, nor critic. I’m not an agent, dealer, gallery owner, or consultant – I just make the art, I’ll let the others figure out where I land. If I decide to cast off my neo-modernist tendencies and dabble in post modernism for a project or two, so be it. Its not absurd for one person to see the world in many different ways. Its not a huge leap to appreciate beauty in one project and construct a social commentary in another.

If that is confusing for the art collector, so be it – they should enjoy the challenge of trying to understand my mark on the art world. And if I defy Academia’s attempts at corralling me with their categories I shan’t loose any sleep. I am the artist.

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