Photos from the "Not Accepted" Reception at the MPLS Photo Center

My boys and I stopped by the start of the opening at the MPLS Photo Center on Friday night. There was a good crowd right away, and it just got bigger! Here are a few photos:

[click each photo for a larger version]

View from the front door. That's my piece right up the steps!

I was given a good spot right as you get into the MPLS Photo Center. I had to laugh because the piece above mine was Erika Ritzel's - a friend from grad school:

My piece with Erika's piece above it.


Good crowd!




In the bigger space down the hallway.


My boys having a snack in the middle.






A final shot of my piece under Erika's in the hallway.

Here are a few photos of the new spaces at the MPLS Photo Center from when I dropped my piece off.

Upcoming Exhibition at the MPLS Photo Center (and Touring Their New Space)

Yesterday, I stopped by the new space for the MPLS Photo Center. I hadn’t stopped in since they moved to 1828 Jefferson Street NE from their old spot off 94 and Broadway. Here’s my piece set on the floor for as I was delivering it for their upcoming exhibition:

Then I gave myself a little tour of their space. Here’s a dozen photos:

Shared kitchen space (reminds me of their old location).


A mixed-use room currently set up to seat 35 people for a lecture. Also can be used as a studio.


Another view of the lecture room.


Digital darkroom. (Click here for a larger version of this mini-panorama.)


Far end of the digital lab with a light table and scanning trays.


Proofing table and light table downstairs outside of the darkroom.
(That small space to the left appears to be a converted freight elevator.)


Outside the darkroom. One or 2 people were working down there, so I didn’t want to barge in and disturb them.


A large printing station in the basement.


Another view of that digi printing room with lots of banner prints on the table.


Back upstairs, the last space (besides office / meeting spaces) is
a gallery / teaching space / studio. It was currently being transitioned.


Backdrop paper currently sitting on that table.


A seamless mount up high in the process of being swapped out.

I didn’t get photos of all the spaces, but there’s a lot of exhibition space in the foyer and in hallways that lead to all these spaces on the first floor. I’m excited to see my work up here next weekend!

The opening is next Friday (September 20th) starting at 6:30 pm at 1828 Jefferson Street NE. I’m not sure when it ends (maybe around 8:00?), so I hope to be there shortly after 6:30 to check it out.

Quick Minnesota State Fair Project

Last month, someone from the Minnesota State Fair reached out to me to see if I could do a quick project for them. They needed 2 photos of local landmarks for a little "Minnesota history" shade structure on the north end. The fair ended last week, but I was able to stop with my boys during the fair to see what they did with my photos.

My 8-year-old standing next to 1 of the 2 structures on the plaza (the 2nd being farther off in the distance).


Above Henry in that last photo was an image I made of the "Pillsbury Flour" sign
(next to Judy Garland and Totino's Pizza - good company!).


On the other structure was my "Gold Medal Flour" photo (in the middle).


I joked with Keri (the person from the State Fair who I worked with) that these were some of the least
artistic photos I'd ever made. But it's what they wanted/needed for their designers to do their thing.


My boys loved seeing the Stenzel name in the credits.

Thanks Minnesota State Fair! Let me know if I can help before the 2020 fair!

Some “Start of the School Year” Humor

This is a bit too real:

This one's not "funny," but I like it. (And the follow-up comment is funny...)

(A comment on that previous image.)

And finally, this BINGO sheet is fantastic. I’m lucky that I don’t have an over-abundance of useless meetings at Hamline University. In my late-summer meetings at CVA years ago, I’d have the majority of these squares filled in, although I don’t think I'd actually have a bingo in any direction:

Happy start-of-the-semester students and teachers!