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March 29, 2005
Contemporary Photography and the Garden: Deceits & Fantasies
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At last, a book of garden photographs that moves beyond, way beyond, tasteful plant combinations and pleasing vistas. "Contemporary Photography and the Garden: Deceits & Fantasies" displays the work of 16 artists who have taken the garden as a subject. The photographs range from Geoffrey James's moody, haunting black-and-white images of Italian gardens, to Linda Hackett's softly focused Alium Gigantum (the cover photograph), to the vivid but creepy pictures of New York artist Gregory Crewdson. While many of these photographs are almost unbearably beautiful, they are all the work of contemporary artists, and there is a world of difference between their vision, and the usual output of shelter magazines and most garden books. It is good to remind ourselves that the garden as a work of art or as inspiration for a work of art can be more than a cliche.
Sadly, the accompanying exhibition organized by Thomas Paddon for the American Federation of the Arts will not be shown in New York. The show is at the Middlebury College Museum of Art until April 17th, when it moves to The Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, where you can see it from May 22 to July 17. From Southampton it travels to Columbia, South Carolina and then to the Tacoma Art Museum. Fortunately for those who can't make any of the venues, the book is terrific and in addition to the photographs, features several excellent essays; a thoughtful introductory piece by Mr. Paddon as well as essays by artists Shirin Nishat, Ronald Jones and Robert Harrison.
Posted by gardenguidenyc at March 29, 2005 05:21 PM