Imogen Cunningham

Photography Appreciation

Born in Portland, Oregon on April 12, 1883, Imogen Cunningham was a pioneering American photographer known for her black and white portraits, botanical studies, and nudes. 

From an early age, she showed interest in photography. She bought her first camera via mail order from the American School of Art in Scranton, Pennsylvania at the age of 8. 

In 1903, Cunningham studied at the University of Washington in Seattle, where she developed her technical skills and began experimenting with different photographic styles. 

After graduating, she worked for photographer Edward S. Curtis in his Seattle studio, and was instrumental in helping Curtis document American Indian tribes for his book, The North American Indian.

She became a sought-after photographer after gaining recognition for her portraitures and pictorial works. In 1913, her photographs were exhibited at the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences. 

In 1917, Cunningham moved to San Francisco, where she became involved in the city's thriving artistic community. She gained a reputation for her innovative and experimental work that included portraits of famous artists and intellects like Frida Kahlo and Ansel Adams. 

Cunningham began focusing more on botanical photography in the 1920s. She produced a series of stunning images that showcased her mastery of light, composition, and texture. One of her iconic works was Magnolia Blossom. In 1933, Cunningham founded the California Horticultural Society in which her images were used as studies. 

Later in the decade, she turned her attention to street photography and industrial landscapes. In 1945, she was invited by Ansel Adams to accept a position as a faculty member for the art photography department at the California School of Fine Arts. 

Despite her success, Cunningham faced many obstacles as a female photographer in a male-dominated field. Yet, she continued to produce innovative and groundbreaking work throughout her long and prolific career.

One of the most cherished moments was when she was interviewed by Johnny Carson on the The Tonight Show in 1976. A delightful exchange between Carson and Cunningham about her assignment from Vanity Fair was received with laughter and applause from the audience: 

Carson - "[Vanity Fair] sent you on an assignment to take pictures of Ugly Men."

Cunningham - "And I did Cary Grant."

Carson - "Did you consider him an ugly man?"

Cunningham - "No. He convinced me that he wasn't."

Magnolia Blossom, Tower of Jewels (1925)

Frida Kahlo Rivera, San Francisco, 1931

Stan, San Francisco, 1959

Helene Mayer, Canyon de Chelly 3, 1939

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.imogencunningham.com/

https://samblog.seattleartmuseum.org/2020/04/magnolia-blossom-tower-of-jewels/

http://www.photographywest.com/pages/cunningham_trust.htm

https://www.getty.edu/art/exhibitions/cunningham/index.html

https://www.imogencunningham.com/artworks/categories/52-nudes/

Paul Henry

Art Appreciation

Paul Henry was an Irish painter who was widely regarded as one of the most important Irish landscape artists of the early 20th Century. Born in Belfast on April 11, 1876, Henry spent his youth in County Down in Northern Ireland. 

At the age of 6, Henry began drawing regularly, while studying at Methodist College in Belfast. At the age of 15, he moved to the Royal Belfast Academical Institution.  He studied art at Belfast School of Art, then the Metropolitan School of Art in Dublin before going to Paris in 1898 to study at the Académie Julian and at Whistler's Académie Carmen, where he was influenced by the French Impressionist movement. 

While in Paris, he met artist Grace Mitchell. They would marry in 1903 and return to Ireland in 1910. After living on Achill Island for about nine years, they moved to Dublin. There he became one of the founders of the Society of Dublin Painters. A few years later, he separated from his wife and married his second wife, artist Mabel Young.

Henry's paintings were heavily influenced by the landscapes of Ireland. His style was characterized by a bold use of color and a distinctive use of light. The use of color was affected by his red-green color blindness. 

Henry's paintings were highly regarded during his lifetime, and he exhibited regularly in Ireland and the UK. He was also awarded a number of prestigious prizes, including the Gold Medal at the Paris Salon in 1931.

The Potato Digger (1915)

A Sunny Day, Connemara (1940)

On Achill Sound (c. 1942)

Sources:

Wikipedia

https://www.wikiart.org/en/paul-henry/the-potato-digger-1915

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/homes-and-property/fine-art-antiques/worthless-paul-henry-paintings-sell-for-143k-each-to-irish-and-us-bidders-1.4669475

https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2020/44-fitzwilliam-square-works-from-the-estate-of-the-late-patrick-kelly/paul-henry-r-h-a-r-u-a-on-achill-sound

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/irish-impressionist-paul-henry-paintings-storage-unit-180978528/

Anzhela - Open Space

Model/Artist: Anzhela Markelova

Videographer/Artist: Casual Causal

Music: Dream Sequence by Kendall Miles

via Casual Causal

Paulina Porizkova

Modeling Appreciation

I must have been 11 or 12-years old when I learned about Paulina Porizkova. My older "brothers" talked about her and I remember watching her in the 1987 film, Anna. Of course, my little self fell in love. 

Born on April 9, 1965 in Czechoslovakia, the 5'10" model and actress Paulina Porizkova is best known for her iconic modeling career, and contributions to the fashion industry. In 1984, she became the first Central European woman, and youngest, to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. 

Her interest in modeling started at age 13 after her friend, who wanted to be a makeup artist, sent photographs to modeling agencies in Paris. Paulina was invited to Copenhagen to meet American modeling agent, John Casablancas. In an Instagram post, she recalled him asking her, "want to go to Paris?" And to Paris she did go.

Her first cover was for French magazine 20 Ans at the age of 15. She would then appear in Vogue [Germany] [UK] and other fashion publications before posing for Sports Illustrated in 1984. 

She then appeared in The Cars music video for Drive, a year later. There she met Ric Ocasek, the lead singer, and both were married on August 23, 1989. 

During the 1980s and 1990s, she has been featured in advertising campaigns for Chanel, Versace, Hermes, Christian Dior, Oscar De La Renta, Mikimoto, Perry Ellis, Laura Biagiotti, Anne Klein, Ellen Tracy, Barneys New York, Ann Taylor, Guerlain, and Revlon and appeared on the runway for Calvin Klein. She graced the covers of numerous publications such as Vogue, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, Sports Illustrated, Self, and Glamour. 

In 1988, at the age of 22, Paulina was awarded the highest-paying modeling contract with Estée Lauder. After her contract ended in 1995, she received another multimillion-dollar contract with Escada. 

In addition to her successful modeling career, Paulina also made her mark in the world of entertainment. She appeared in several films, including Her Alibi and Anna, and was a judge on America’s Next Top Model for several seasons.

She remains a legendary figure in the fashion world, inspiring future generations with her talent, dedication, and advocacy for women’s rights and body positivity, as expressed in a recent Los Angeles Magazine issue where she bares it all.

by Jill Greenberg for Los Angeles Magazine (September 2021)

by Walter Iooss, Jr. for Sports Illustrated (c. 1982)

by Petra Hult (c.1978)

Sources: 

Wikipedia

https://www.instagram.com/p/BcEXpsAjwaI/

https://people.com/style/paulina-porizkova-poses-nude-calls-out-objectification-of-women/

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2021/04/14/paulina-porizkova-young/

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/15/style/paulina-porizkova.html

https://swimsuit.si.com/swimnews/paulina-porizkova-throwback-thursday-si-swimsuit

whf c. ai (35%)

Cosplay is an Art: Emerald City Comic Con 2023

via Justin Cosplay

Fashion is DEFINITELY Art: Versace Fall Winter 2023

Creative Director: Donatella Versace

 

via Versace

Phil Leeds

Acting Appreciation

Born on April 6, 1916, in New York City, Phil Leeds was an American actor best known for his work in film and TV. Raised in the Bronx, he was a peanut vendor near Yankee Stadium and Manhattan's Polo Grounds. After serving in the military during WWII, he began his career as a stand-up comedian. 

Leeds transitioned to acting in the 1950s and appeared in several sitcoms such as The Dick Van Dyke Show, Car 54, Where Are You?, The Patty Duke Show, Three's Company, Night Court, Everybody Loves Raymond, and Ally McBeal. He also appeared in several films in memorable roles such as the emergency room ghost in Ghost (1990).

Interestingly, Leeds was blacklisted during the McCarthy era -- a period where left-wing individuals were politically repressed and persecuted. When he appeared and questioned by the U.S. House Un-American Activities Committee, Leeds pleaded the fifth.  

He passed away on August 16, 1998 at the age of 82. He was such a beloved character actor that an episode of Ally McBeal featured footage of Leeds prior appearances on the show. 

Friends (1996)

Suddenly Susan (1998)

Source:

Wikipedia