Two photography exhibits - David LaChapelle and “First Contact”
Many people confuse comedian/actor Dave Chapelle with accomplished photographer David LaChapelle. I assume that at least some people walk into photo exhibitions of the latter and muse quietly to themselves, “Well, he was great as Rick James, but I had no idea he was so versatile!” Or perhaps switch on the Chapelle show and wonder what the hell happened to that nice photographer’s career.
But regardless of whether you’re a fan of commercial photography or racially-tinged sketch comedy, you’ll love David’s new exhibit “Awakened,” currently on display at the Tony Shafrazi Gallery. It features two very different sets of photographs, but clearly the main event is his series of flood-related images, anchored by the massive piece entitled “Deluge.” In light of the recent horrific hurricanes that ravaged the American Southeast, and the racial undertones of the botched rescue efforts, I could not help but think that the series was trying to make a statement. David chose models that are overwhelmingly white, some of whom are chiselled like porn stars, some of whom possess more average forms, in various states of undress (though the most nudity appears concentrated in “Deluge”). They are all either attempting to escape an apocalyptic flood that has leveled the telephone poles and Gucci stores alike, or they are already floating underwater, presumably dead. Visual references to religious paintings of the past and the inclusion of an image of a fake-looking crumbling cathedral lend an extra layer of meaning, as does the choice of using a vato-type with a belly tattoo that reads “Jesus” as the Christ figure of the whole series. Interesting stuff.
The other part of the exhibit was also interesting. David took what looked like old family photos, perhaps from the 60’s or 70’s, with grandmothers and other relatives standing around in various houses, hotel rooms and hunting grounds, but everyone is drinking, and there is chaos and violence suggested at every turn. Guns, “Bush Kills” emblems and out-of-place models wearing modern clothing add an element of “what’s wrong with this picture?” disorientation, while the drinking becomes overwhelming. One image portrays a kindly grandmother vomiting into a trash can, while in another, parents pour Kahlua into their five-year-old (or so)’s baby bottle, while she lurches drunkenly nearby. I liked the bluntness of David’s assessment of America’s poor values and unavoidable alcohol problem, but I didn’t feel that there were quite enough pictures for the themes to really make themselves clear.
Next I went to Silverstein Photography, where they are currently hosting the exhibition “First Contact: A Photographer’s Sketchbook.” This phenomenal exhibit is a must-see for any fan of photography, as it gives you a rare glimpse at the contact sheets (an imprint of all the negatives from a roll of film, which can then be used to decide which images to blow up and process) out of which famous photographs emerged, some of which, like Diane Arbus’ twins, you’ll recognize instantly even if you’re unfamiliar with the world of art photography. It’s interesting to see how the different photographers each came about selecting their famous image; some took dozens of different versions of the same shot, trying to achieve a specific effect. Others took a variety of different shots, sometimes across a whole city or over a long period of time, and the image that they ended up choosing was a happy accident.
My personal favorite was a sheet of pictures taken on the day of Robert Kennedy’s assassination. It reads like a comic book: at the beginning of the roll, Bobby’s giving a speech. The photographer snaps shots of the audience, lazily, capturing the mood of the day. Suddenly there is confusion, shots of people’s backs, and finally Bobby on the ground, holding his chest. Then, in the second to last shot, almost too poetically, a woman helping Bobby looks angrily up towards the camera and holds her hand up, like a celebrity shielding herself against the paparazzi. The photographer has changed in one roll from a welcome publicity-creator to a violating force.
So if you find yourself in Chelsea, check out these amazing photography exhibits before they’re gone. For those outside of the city, the gallery websites (see links below) feature images from each show, so at least you can get a taste.
Featured Galleries:
Toni Shafrazi - 544 W. 26th St.
http://www.tonyshafrazigallery.com/
Silverstein Photography - 535 W. 24th St.
