Modern Book: FOTO NOVA 19, group show

What is the point of a group show? Who, exactly decides what hits the walls? Why?

The curator of a group show probably selected the artists and the prints to be included. In the case of the FOTO NOVA 19 I had noted a couple of works that interested me, picked up their cards and was preparing to get onto other matters. A portfolio box was near the card rack. I glanced in to notice two prints, luckily arranged so that their game caught my eye. They were sequences, not Duane Michaels’ style, but close enough to hold me. These prints had a key common time line. A symmetric segment in a sequence.

They reminded me of two peoples’ work, one you know, the other is unlikely. Duane Michaels and Margery Mann. Duane’s work is well known. He once said in response to a question from a teacher about his students not understanding Duane’s reason for writing on photos. Duane remarked that in a year they would. In a year they would all be writing stories on their photographs. Margery Mann was an early critic in photography during its boom. She made a photo series called “7up and Down” of a supermarket animated sign for soda at christmas time. A completely forgettable image, yet I remember it because I remember Margery. This was one of the very few pictures of hers that she ever showed us.

Godfrey’s work is closer to, but better than my minds eye version of “7Up…”. DiGiorgi may not be aware of her work. He may not even be aware of his own work, at least his work as I see it. I say this since the print on the wall as well as the show postcard is of a very different image manner. And I almost missed five very good shots, they were in the folio case. I suggest that you examine the work from his case, skip the wall. See if you can find the key to the game I saw. Enjoy through March 29th.