Overview
Polaroid is where high science met popular culture in the middle of the 20th century. Like America's first trip to the moon, Edwin Land's invention of instant photography brought advanced technology to a media crazy consumer public. As 20th century art simultaneously defined itself as an all-access genre, the Polaroid took off. Perhaps it was the 'fun' aspect highlighted in domestic marketing campaigns that rendered it unthreatening to those being photographed, certainly it's the casual relationship between photographer and subject that helped mark it for success.
Photographers based in London, England, Pat Graham and Melanie Standage are old-school Polaroid freaks. They adapt old-fashioned land cameras to work in modern settings and document their lives. According to Pat and Melanie, "these old land cameras are hard to use, it takes dedication and a lot of love to pursue this path. Perhaps that's part of the reason. It's a challenge not dissimilar to 'Oulipo' objectives in literary circles, but then it's more. It's also sentimental. It's a big love affair with a charming technology. Perhaps most of all, it's a disarming tool to use in informal settings. It's a camera that 'sitters' respond to like no other."
Pat and Melanie have been communicating and inspiring each other in this series since 1997. Together they have used the format to record fragments of time within a disposable culture. This exhibition brings together a bit of everything including: Pat's touring photos from the USA and Europe; Melanie's street series 'small breed dogs of London and other places'; live shots from rock shows and parties; family events; skies; on the side at any photo-shoot. The exhibition itself comprises hundreds of individual art pieces that stand as a definitive 'whole'. The artists have created modular displays that comprise a mix and match approach to art making.
Content themes include: pop culture icons . portraits . skyscapes . friends . family . architecture . parties . small breed dog . bassett hounds . food . cityscapes . touring . rock shows . flowers .landscapes . self portraits
Musicians include: air . modest mouse . fugazi . quickspace . the shins . june of 44 . ted leo . the pharmacists . sea & cake . the makeup . tortoise . delta 72 . royal trux . hoover . french toast . part chimp . cass mccombs . elliot smith . jenny toomey . the evens . geoff farina . judah bauer . brett anderson . penny rimbaud . les savy fav . sarah cracknell . at the drive in
Melanie and Pat founded the international art gallery 96 Gillespie in London--now in it's second season--to open a dialogue between US and UK artists. Since its inception, 96 Gillespie has established itself as an essentially relevant arts venue in a city rich in art. Past/Perfect debuted at 96 Gillespie in London, Summer 2004. Recent art collaborations for the duo have shown across the US and in London including Hot Girls, Cool Guys at Comet, Milwaukee WI, Mission Space in Baltimore, MD and New Space Gallery Portland, OR. The Wildebeest exhibited at 96 Gillespie in London, July 2005. Recent group shows for the artists include Rich Jacobs's Move series (No. 11 in London, Dec 2004; No. 12 in LA, Jan 2005; No. 13 in NYC, Feb 2005), as well as the portrait show We don't know you currently showing at Camp Fig in Austin, TX. Contact Transformer for more extensive bio information.
