Mark Klett and Byron Wolfe - Inaugural Exhibition

The first paragraph of this post details the purpose of this blog and is re-posted for reference and clarity.

This project was born out of a certain amount of frustration with the false dichotomies imposed, at times, by current dialogue around contemporary modes of representation – primary among these modes are, of course, photo based practices.   The tenor of these discussions troubles me, as I’ve noted (what I feel) are unnecessarily defensive responses to inquiries related to process and material, the status of the object, issues of originality or authenticity, etc.  Rather than forming essentialist categories for analog or digital, or creating distinctions between “straight”, found or fabricated imagery, why not consider the very nature of representation and reproduction in an ontological manner that allows for a fluid consideration between these seemingly opposing areas?  Window aims to serve as a site for such discussion.

Mark Klett and Byron Wolfe, Reconstructing the view from the El Tovar to Yavapai Point using nineteen postcards, 2008

The inaugural exhibition will be installed on March 1, 2013 and features the collaborative work of Mark Klett and Byron Wolfe.  The installation will include a modified version of their image, Reconstructing the view from the El Tovar to Yavapai Point using nineteen postcards, from 2008.  This work is included in the monograph that catalogs the results of their collaborative project, Reconstructing the View, which began in 2007 and continued through 2011.  The book is available directly from UC Press (direct link here) as well as fine book sellers such as PhotoEye (direct link here).  You can find out more about the works within this project by visiting their site, HERE, or by reading the press release on the window site, HERE.

This month, I’m asking for contributions in the form of direct responses to the work (in whole or in part), considerations of how the work is transformed in its various iterations (from the page of the book, to the gallery wall, to the modified version in the window space – installation views coming soon), personal responses related to the subject matter and its mode(s) of representation, short essays framing this project within the history of photography, etc. 

As this is an experimental venture, these responses can take various forms.  Texts can be directly entered as comments to this blog post, where further discussion can ensue.  Or, authors may send pieces directly to dawnroe@gmail.com and formed into a separate post, where a new thread of comments can occur.  All writers will be given full credit for any separate posts, but the option to remain anonymous remains as well.

Please feel free to forward this along, and join in the discussion at any time!