9.21.17 Dallas; tagview: Congenial gathering. I recommend you go, I would attend another such, although I wouldn’t join TPS [not a joiner]

The TPS is older than its name, coming into existence out of the need for group purchasing during the 70s. In 1984 that group became the Texas Photographic Society, a “not-for-profit.” This past week, I attended an open house held at Dallas Center for Photography (DCP).

We were early visitors; there, with most of the tables set up, prints laid out. I didn’t see any other guests, my count of people approximated my count of sets of prints. We had been there about 15 minutes when Amy provided introductory welcome and remarks. It seemed a group of people who were familiar with each other, so much so that they gathered into a large group to talk, leaving their portfolios to speak to any guest, such as Annie and me.
We made two rounds; stopping to pick cards from those interesting portfolios.
Portfolio tours are familiar to me, but not in a club climate. Art school is spent looking, talking, sorting, and rearranging work. Not so this gathering. These were people who filled time with friends, friendships formed because of shared interest. The proficiency level differences weren’t as great as the esthetic differences. There were distinct attract, and satisfy levels to the work presented.
I never met the people who’s work most engaged me. After about half hour, and no additional people entering, Annie and I left. A typical ‘Plex outing: more time on the road than in the event.

My grouping:

The most interesting work is even more interesting on the web — the sites show clearly the range of ability and duration of their commitment; more so than a table at a photo friends gathering.

• michaelepner.com. /// was at Kodak… uses scanner
• shawnsaumell.com. //// mfa painter … these two used same art card.

along with the also present:

• besstphoto.com   // interesting but why such timid work
• cabdphotography.com // site not yet up 9.22.17 (still gathering legs)

Those are the ones I’ve put into my follow folder. The people who made extensive use of film, or software didn’t add anything to my time, so you will have to find out about them from others.

 

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unedited notes:

what are the divisions? between prints and cheese, can we tell the will of the artist or the whisper. // an event, a space, populated // the micro of artworld. social space. food. table. work in familiar boxes.// witness not testament