| We are pleased to present the Artist Talk from our second exhibition of work by Julie Blackmon, whose images of her children, nieces, nephews and friends, have captivated the photo world. Blackmon, herself the oldest of nine children, balances her role as a mother of three and an artist, referencing family life and the environment it creates. Chaos, disorder, fantasies, gatherings, game playing,.....all of these scenarios dominate Domestic Vacations, Blackmon's new photographic series and monograph [Radius Books, 2008]. Blackmon credits the 17 c Dutch genre painter, Jan Steen, for her inspiration. His paintings of chaos and disorder resonated with her life back in Springfield, Missouri. With more than 50 relatives living in her home town, Blackmon's life was a Steen painting it was only a matter of time before she started creating art which showed the joys, triumphs, dangers, solace and excitement of her controlled chaos. Through these large color images, we enter a world of fantasy, where nothing is quite as it seems. Like Alice in her wonderland, Blackmon's children appear in reality and fantasy, engrossed in their fictitious worlds. These are curious images which make us pause, question, laugh, reflect and smile. more info @ www.edelmangallery.com |
