2 Ansel Adams Quotes

I like these 2 little thoughts from Adams:

A photograph is usually looked at, seldom looked into.

There are always two people in every picture: the photographer and the viewer.

- Ansel Adams

The Start of the Semester Means....

.... death to all trees!!

OK, not really, but I hate all the handouts I have to give over the first few days of the semester.

The semester started at the University of Minnesota and at the College of Visual Arts last week. We're well under way. I have a a digital photo class at the U (my 10th class there) and a 2D Design and Color Theory class at CVA (my 22nd and 23rd classes there). I also work as a Digital Tutor a few hours a week at CVA (see previous post).

I feel like I've been doing this forever! But not in a bad way...

CVA Digital Tutor

Well, it's back to teaching next week. I've been trying to organize / clean my studio over winter break from classes. I haven't made much for new work lately - spring and summer is usually my time to do so.

CVA just launched it's new website about a week ago. On Friday, when I was getting ready to teach a digital workshop to the incoming students, I stumbled across my image on the site. Marc Norberg and I were chatting when he was going around and making new photos for CVA about a year ago, and he asked for a photo of me in 301. Now that image is on a new "Digital Tutor" page on CVA's new site:

Alright, 2 syllabi complete, 1 to go. Back to work.....

CVA Art Sale

Friday, Dec 4th through Sunday, Dec 6th, CVA held it's annual Holiday Art Sale. Friday night was the "Preview Party" where you could pay to get in and get first dibs on reasonably priced artwork. Saturday and Sunday, the sale was free to attend. I was there part of all 3 days.

On Friday during the Preview Party, I snapped a few photos.

404 full of work just before the doors opened.


CVA students putting the final touches on the layout.


Work in the silent auction.


The sale filling up.


Silent auction.


People looking for a deal.

The weekend was a lot of fun, and hopefully a success for CVA. 50% of each sale goes to the student / faculty / alumnus who is selling the work, and the other 50% goes into the CVA Scholarship Fund. I sold a big piece in the silent auction and a few small ones in the sale, so I was able to help out and earn a few bucks of my own.

Happy winter everyone!

Good-Bye, Old Friend

It just didn’t pay to keep my old Epson 4000 printer. It’s been leaving black marks on my prints recently, so I’ve just been using it for test prints. Plus, I can print at the U of M on great 4800s (for a small fee).

So this weekend, I did this:

My printer waltzed out of my house this morning with Arturo, a nice young man. Treat it well, Arturo! You’ll be missed old buddy:

CVA Holiday Sale: Set-Up

Last night, I helped set up for the CVA Holiday Sale for a few hours. CVA had an official “alumni” night, and there were 6-8 alumni that came in to help out.

Jamie shrink-wrapping


Kim and I worked on hanging all the work on this wall


Bins of work, and more being hung


Megan, Jamie, and Carmen mulling over the layout


After Kim and I finished hanging everything on the east wall of room 404

Preview Party TONIGHT from 5 pm - 8 pm. Tickets are $25 at the door. Holiday Sale Saturday and Sunday; 10 am - 4 pm on Sat, 12 pm - 4 pm on Sun. The sale is FREE. See my last post for more details.

Oh, one last thing: I’m thinking about getting this for Grandma. I think she’d LOVE it:

CVA Holiday Sale and Art Auction

This weekend is the College of Visual Arts Holiday Sale. Here's some info:

Preview Party
Friday, December 4, 5 pm - 8 pm
$20 online tickets, $25 at the door

Holiday Sale
Saturday, December 5, 10 am - 4 pm
Sunday, December 6, 12 pm - 4 pm

Mark your calendar for CVA's newly expanded Holiday Art Sale December 5 and 6. This year's sale promises to be ripe with fresh artwork for you to peruse and purchase. Your best bet at snatching up the hottest artwork is to attend the Preview Party on Friday, December 4. Preview tickets are $20 purchased in advance online, or $25 at the door.

The sale features artwork by students, alumni, faculty, and staff. Selected sale artwork and prints from the CVA Art Archives will be included in a silent auction. The auction closes at 3 p.m. on Sunday. Proceeds benefit CVA scholarship funds.

The CVA Gallery is located at 173 Western Ave N, St. Paul MN, 55102. Click here for directions on CVA's Website, or click here to see where the gallery is on Google Maps.

I'll be there for a brief bit on all 3 days. I'll take a few photos when I go so you can see what the hubbub is all about. I have a few pieces in the auction, 1 piece in the sale, and a few books in the sale. See you there! (Or check back next week to see some photos if you can't make it.)

Diane Arbus: Secrets...

A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know.

- Diane Arbus