“Missing the Times,” photo by Mary Gow
Black and White Photography
Briefly Seeing Harvey Stein, the Photographer Behind “Briefly Seen”
Mary Gow with Harvey Stein, holding 3 of his books.
Briefly Seen – a book by Harvey Stein
Stein’s called New York City home for over 40 years. He’s a professional photographer, teacher, lecturer, curator and author. He’s received numerous awards and his photos are in more than 55 permanent collections including the George Eastman House, the Bibliotheque Nationale, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Boorklyn Musuem of Art, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Carnegie Museum of Art and the Denver Museum of Art.
He teaches at the International Center of Photography (ICP) and has been on the faculty of the New School University, Drew University, Rochester Institute of Technology, School of Visual Arts and the University of Bridgeport.
Creating Flow from Chaos, award-winning photogram by Mary Gow
I took my first photography course at ICP with Harvey Stein as my instructor. It was a ten-week course and we did a lot of street photography. I was enthralled with seeing the chemistry process – especially when the image begins appearing on the photo sensitive paper. I loved darkroom work (though it’s becoming a lost art now).
One of my favorite photos by Harvey Stein
My Favorite Book by Harvey Stein: Artists Observed
One of the first things we learned in Stein’s class was how the enlarger works. At its most basic level, an enlarger casts light onto photo sensitive paper. It was then I made my first photograms by placing objects on top of this paper. The x-ray look of them got my attention. And it touched on my obsession with line, shape and form which could be highlighted through layers.
It was in Stein’s class I found an artform that really worked for me.
I went on to make more photograms, some won awards. I felt especially honored by recognition in a show juried by California photographer and photogram-maker, Robert Buelteman. I also went on to work as a freelance photographer and my work’s appeared in newspapers, magazines, online and in books.
It was a delight to see Stein again after many years. He visited the Leica Store in San Francisco in June of 2016 to introduce three of his books: Coney Island 40 Years, Briefly Seen and Harlem Street Portraits, plus offer a three day workshop on street photography.
Thank you Harvey Stein for your inspiration!
Visit his website to see his work and world at harveysteinphoto.com
When Poetry, Calligraphy & Music Collide
“Awesome,” calligraphic piece by Mary Gow
By Mary Gow
A shrill violin, then a furious drum beat accompanied by a bass guitar with a steady beat, then the bass goes deeper, the violin goes shriller.
My hand is struggling to let go of my mind while pen moves across the page.
This was my first workshop where I listened to experimental music and was prompted to interpret it on paper. A process not to be confused with painting while listening to music.
This is a deliberate call upon my hand to perform according to tempo and beat. I usually enjoy painting to music or Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday. My first creations from this calligraphy and poetry workshop were a bit sad looking, I hate to admit.
I know what wondrous expressive calligraphy looks like and it wasn’t flowing for me.
But I had to pardon myself and let myself absorb the great learning that comes – yet may begin with frustration. I knew what I wanted to put down on paper and what would look good. But I allowed myself to draw something crummy looking, something that didn’t have rhythm and proper spacing like the music did, and I even taped it up on the wall when it came time to show our work.
That in itself was a breakthrough for me. To be okay with putting up work that I knew didn’t represent all I could do. I put it up at the risk of getting feedback, yet, it felt liberating to allow imperfection to be on public display.
I’ve attended a LOT of workshops yet this was my first one ever that calligraphy and poetry were combined with music. And within the workshop the calligrapher and the poet explained how they are collaborating with musicians.
One of the calligraphers I admire the most in the world is Thomas Ingmire. He should be designated a National Treasure as far as I’m concerned. His spectacular work transcends letterforms. He’s won numerous awards and his work has been recognized internationally, so I’m not alone in this admiration.
Ingmire has been collaborating for ten years with British poet, David Anwnn (pronounced Ah-newn). Like a dialog, Ingmire reads Anwnn’s poetry and reflects on it then creates calligraphy from his reflections, Anwnn answers back, and it continues and continues.
Both appeared and spoke of their collaboration at the Book Club of California on Thursday evening, April 7, 2016.
I knew that night that the workshop they were giving two days later would be unlike any I’d ever experienced before. And I was right.
The workshop was a starting point for me to keep going with what was introduced.
Listen to some John Zorn when you can.
Get lost and found in calligraphy by Thomas Ingmire.
Take yourself somewhere you’ve never been through David Anwnn’s poetry!
And don’t give a darn whether anyone approves of what you’ve drawn or painted or written. What is real and true is what matters and it might take a workshop to kick start the remembrance of that.
Coloring for Calm
A coloring book page that Mary Gow customized.
Have you seen evidence of this new rage?
Not long ago I met up with friends to make art. (I usually make art almost every day anyway). I ripped out a page from Coloring Mandalas: For Insight, Healing, and Self-Expression, by Susanne F. Fincher. I added more lines and circles to the existing pattern. It felt good to not stay within the lines. I highly recommend it.