Paul Martineau – Juror’s Statement for Portraits
Whether carefully composed or caught on the fly, the best portrait photographs intrigue because they allow us to explore more than just the unique physical characteristics of a person’s face. They are, in essence, about empathy. As invitations to consider someone else’s circumstances, portraits include hints about things that are obscured, making visible the undisclosed machinations of an individual’s heart and mind. On another level, portraits speak to the mysteries and complexities of being human and are, therefore, reflections of us all.
It was with great interest and pleasure that I reviewed more than 1,400 images submitted to this call for entry. I was impressed by the quality of the work and I was delighted to see many portraits that dealt with issues surrounding the politics of race, gender, and class identity. There were also a smaller number of photographs with conceptual underpinnings and those that could be classified as anti-portraits for their avoidance of traditional modes of mimetic representation. I made many passes through the material, gradually reducing the number of entries until I reached the magic number, fifty. I endeavored to make the final selection reflect a variety of approaches and styles.
Susan 2000/2016, which I chose to receive the Juror’s Award, is part of a series that represents members of the LGBTQ community. Through the use two portraits of the same subject taken sixteen years apart the project explores the idea that the only constant in life is change. Pairing a black-and-white and a color photograph in each diptych helps to underscore the passage of time in a way that also reminds us of the shifting aesthetic and technological parameters of the medium. By revisiting work done previously and finding a way to incorporate it into a new project, the artist has increased its complexity and meaning.
JUROR | Paul Martineau
Paul Martineau is associate curator in the Department of Photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum. He received a B.A. in art from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and a M.A. in art history from Williams College. Before joining the Getty Museum in 2003, Martineau held positions at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. He has organized numerous exhibitions at the Getty covering a range of topics that span from the beginnings of photographic history to today. Martineau is the author/coauthor of many books, including Robert Mapplethorpe: The Photographs (2016); The Thrill of the Chase: The Wagstaff Collection of Photographs at the J. Paul Getty Museum (2016); Minor White: Manifestations of the Spirit (2014); and Herb Ritts: L.A. Style (2012). He is currently working on a project on the history of fashion photography.
ABOUT THE CENTER FOR FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY
Founded in 2004 by photographers in Fort Collins, Colorado, The Center for Fine Art Photography is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) photography organization. We provide support to photographic artists through exhibition, promotion, portfolio reviews, publication, education and connection to a large community of other artists, curators, gallery owners and photographic professionals. Open Tues-Sat, Free.
ARTIST IMMERSION WEEKEND
Artists selected for exhibition by our Juror are invited to attend the Artist Immersion Weekend. The Immersion Weekends include a Public Reception followed by a dinner on the town, private Portfolio Reviews with Hamidah Glasgow, and a group Portfolio Share with Professional Development Discussion. All selected artists are included in the Main Gallery Exhibition and Online Gallery seen by an international audience.
JUROR’S AWARD: Kris Sanford
DIRECTOR’S AWARD: Frank Armstrong
Juror’s Honorable Mention Awards: Nicolette Bardos, Anthony Gordon, Lori Pond, R. Kim Rushing
Director’s Honorable Mention Awards: Jamie Johnson, Michael Joseph, J. K. Lavin
In addition artists’ selected for the exhibition will also receive:
Promotion on The Center’s large social media platforms.
Professional installation images for your use.
In-gallery and online exhibition with links to artists’ websites
Press releases are sent to artists’ choice of media outlets.
NEW IMPORTANT DATES
New Exhibition Dates | December 22, 2017- January 27, 2018
New Public + Artists’ Reception | January 26, 2018
New Selected Artist Reviews | January 26th, 2018
Questions?
Email: coordinator@c4fap.org or call 970.224.1010 | Gallery is closed Sunday and Monday
USE RIGHTS: Each artist retains all copyrights to their own images. Artist’s recognition is provided with any use. By submission for jurying, artists whose submissions are chosen for the exhibition grant The Center for Fine Art Photography the right to use their images for the purpose of promoting the artist, promoting the Center’s programs, promoting exhibitions and subsequent display on the Center’s website of current and past exhibitions. Promotions and images may also be placed on social networks for The Center for Fine Art Photography with artist credit.
