The Hamilton Spectator Review of MEMORY'S SHADOW: The Exhibit

Jef Mahoney, Art Critic at The Hamilton Spectator newspaper, had this to say about my current pinhole & photo-collage photography show in the Perry Gallery at the Burlington Art Centre ... (He TOTALLY 'gets it'!)

http://canadadaphotography.blogspot.ca/p/press.html 

For directions to the BAC, link 'here'

To purchase THE BOOK, go the tab at the top of this blog, under 'MLH BOOKS' , or contact me directly at lyn holton @ gmail dot com . There are ONLY 50 in the 'Collector's First Edition'. When they are gone, that's it. Nada mas.

MEMORY’S SHADOW: Pinhole & Photo-Collage Photography by Margaret LIndsay Holton

If you just can't get to Southern Ontario before August 19th, I strongly advise getting a copy of the book 'MEMORY'S SHADOW: Pinhole & Photo Collage Photography' (as seen above) by moi.

With 55 never-before-seen additional images, (and an incisive 'fore-word' by Canada's very own OUTSTANDING documentary film-maker, Peter Wintonick), this hardcover BOOK really is a NATIONAL TREASURE! 

 With only 50 copies available in this 'Collector's First Ediiton' - priced at just $160 (plus tax) - it's a steal! 

Excellent review by Jeff Mahoney of the Hamilton Spectator - here.

Order below with Paypal and/or your credit card. 

UPDATE: As of November 2013, only 24 copies remain.

Book & Print $210.00 Book ONLY $160.00 Print ONLY (8x10) $320.00

Need help with this purchase? Contact -
  mlhpro at hotmail dot com

Exhibition ENDS August 19^th, 2010.

'MEMORY'S SHADOW' @ The Burlington Art Centre, Summer 2010

MEMORY'S SHADOW:

Pinhole & Photo Collage Photography
 by Margaret Lindsay Holton

 

Exhibiting in  The F.R. Perry Gallery 

Opening: JULY 15th  Closing: AUGUST19th. 

Artist's Reception: SUNDAY, July 18th, 2-4pm.

Artist's Talk: Monday, July 26th, 6:30pm

Gallery Hours: M-Th, 9a-10pm, Fri&Sat 9a-5pm, Sun 12a-5pm

Exhibition Catalogue by David Macfarlane

Excellent REVIEW by Jeff Mahoney, 

Art Critic of the Hamilton Spectator - here.

MEMORY'S SHADOW,
the complimentary hard-cover PHOTOBOOK -
with foreword by award-winning 
Canadian documentary film-maker, 
Peter Wintonick O.C. 
- is NOW available - link 'here'.

Artist Statement:

I have long been fascinated by how the human mind ‘records' things, events and moments in time and how those memories are later evoked thru the means of storytelli ng. The emotional tonal value of memories often shape-shift until they calcify into a ‘story' worth telling. These tales, in turn, provide us with identity. They act as cohesive glue and connect us as families, friends, group-tribes, and even, nation states.

We all carry emotional connections to past incidences. These emotional connections often ‘exist' in a fuzzy zone that swirls between fact and fiction. What ‘authenticates' a memory is often a physical thing, some kind of talisman or ‘keepsake' – like a piece of furniture or jewelry, a familiar landmark or a photograph. The physicality of these items ground the story and sets the tale in Real Time and Place.

However, our current superabundant capacity to photo-document EVER YTHING has begun to dramatically alter and even replace the other means by which we do ‘record' our own individual human experiences. For example, we all know that television is omnipresent in every North American home and is often the ‘focus' of family life and early education. There, we are inundated with an assortment of ‘crafted' memories that are primarily designed to induce us to buy stuff. Interspersed throughout these commercials is ‘entertainment' or ‘news' that supposedly inform us of all that goes on in the world outside the realm of our own experience. As a net result, OUR memories are increasingly ‘built' by producers/directors, writers and photographers that have absolutely NOTHING to do with the day-to-day evolution of our own physicality in our own naturally evolving landscape. Most now willingly accept this as ‘the norm'. Collectively, we have allowed external manufactured memories to define, and bind, us. Friends now ‘connect' when they talk about their favourite ‘tell-a-vision' shows …

Lately though, within the past decade, there has been a major shift in our memory or image consumption because, increasingly, through the internet, and with such distribution channels as YouTube, Flickr, Twitter, and Facebook, we are no longer at the mercy of bulk mass-produced corporate image-makers of memories. We are now telling our OWN quirky stories, yet using the SAME tools. We too can now ‘play back', ‘rewind', ‘fast forward' or simply ‘surf'. We can drag a past moment forward into the present, and then, if we like, physically reshape that moment to have a future ‘life', as a ‘new' image. We can now manipulate and EDIT our own recorded photo images with ease. We have all BECOME our own producers, directors, writers and photo editors. We can all technologically manufacture our own memories.

My own sense though is that this heavy emphasis on the technology to actually re-PLACE our authentic Selves in time and space acutely undermines our own INNATE capacity to ‘remember' who and what we have been and are doing. We have FORGOTTEN that photography is ONLY a tool to document a memory - not the ‘memory event' itself.

With this book (and exhibit), it is my desire to stimulate a deliberate ‘dissonance' and force the viewer outside the seamless ‘comfort zone' of contemporary ‘DOC-U-ME photojournalism'.

I want to re-engage the viewer's Mind's Eye using the INNATE memory mech anisms OF OUR OWN MINDS to re-awaken the inner Self to the essential non-chronological components of our individual capacity for ‘memory making' and authentic self-expressive ‘story telling'….

I have done this by juxtaposing the eerie grounded Black and White ‘realism' of pinhole photography with the ephemeral capriciousness of heavily edited transparent collage colour photography.

I think it works - IN THE MIND ... What do YOU think?

- 78 images have been published in this COLLECTOR'S EDITION
- 22 images will be in Exhibition. Opening July, 2010

...

I'm READY! Come on over!!

Keep me posted of Lindsay's up-coming events -

Email

New Painting: 'Warhol's Mistress'

24"x24" - oil & acrylic

on primed oak plywood - FOR SALE

Detail of Warhol's Mistress ...

MashUp Portrait Collages

'A Hunk of Owen:MLH Mashup'

'Marilyn & Happy Inuk: MLH Mashup'

'Marilyn & Miro: MLH Mashup'

'End of Civilization as We've Known it: MLH Mashup'

'FameUs Pho-toads: MLH Mashup'

WHO do YOU see - ?

WHAT do you WANT to SEE - ?

I've posted these photos with a direct intent of exploring some rather controversial notions of 'fair use' under our current Copyright regime(s). In each instance, I've used a relatively famous photo with a relatively non-famous photo to create a NEW 'mlh mashup' IMAGE. These new items convey both a different - often satirical - meaning or focus then the 'original' photographs intended. I've also deliberately altered the colour palettes, and cropped the images to the sizes I want. My question, for those who do wonder if this kind of 'mashing' is 'legal', is this - are these NEW works Original?

On one hand, there is NO QUESTION I have created NEW IMAGES. On the other, I've created those NEW works on the backs of others, (... ie. most creators 'borrow' from other creators ... ), and I DID use some of my own photographs in the FIRST photo, 'A Hunk of Owen: MLH Mashup'. So, are these NEW IMAGES 'Originals', or not?

If not, should I, then, 'credit' and/or 'compensate' those other living - or dead - photogs whose works I've borrowed? Should, by natural extension, every photographer credit their infleunces in the byline of every shot they make? Wouldn't that mean they must begin with the first photo image they ever saw that TRAINED their eye to SEE-?

Should famed photog Annie Leibovitz, as a continued example, whose common use of 18th century portrait artists 'compositions' to 'set up' her shots, 'credit' those long dead 18th century artists, who, in turn freely 'borrowed' from their own artistic peers and predecessors? If so, why? and if not, why not? You can see how 'fair use' gets very 'gray' very quickly.

So, where ought we draw the line for 'fair use'? Can we? This whole tug of war between the 'Right to Copy' and 'Copyright' LAW interests me greatly. I'd be most interested in your comments. Postive and/or negative. Also, for the record, these above NEW IMAGES are intended for 'non-commerical educational private use'. They have been created solely as illustrative examples within this on-going 'fair use' debate. To be extra clear, I am NOT selling or reproducing them anywhere else but here on this blog ...

Thoughts?

...

... are the natives friendly? ...

Doors Open - Hamilton

Spent an afternoon looking at two places - Whitehern House, in the downtown core, and the Tropical Greenhouse at Gage Park, a former 'farm' now also in the downtown core of Hamilton. Both places were 'landscaped' by H.R. Dunnington-Grubb in the 1920's and are now under some 'revision'....Doors Open runs until Sunday May 2nd, 4pm. For more info, go to www.doorsopenhamilton.ca

It's been pointed out that I've included two 'Crowned' images at the end of this post. Yup. The first is entitled 'Crowned', the second is called, 'Burden of the Crown' ... look again ...amazing, isn't it, how a slight change in angle can change both one's perspective & interpretation ...

BURST! Spring Art Sale @ The Art Gallery of Hamilton, April 29 - May 2, 2010

 April 29 to May 2, 2010

Join us as the AGH’s Joey and Toby Tanenbaum Pavilion is transformed into a four-day showcase for art lovers and art collectors hosting the best from specially invited local and regional artists. Works that are perfect for your home, office or garden.

Thursday, April 29 ~ Noon to 9 pm
Friday, April 30 ~ Noon to 9 pm
Saturday, May 1 ~ Noon to 5 pm
Sunday, May 2 ~ Noon to 5 pm

The AGH Art Sale offers original artworks to suit every budget and décor; enhance your own collection or choose that special gift.

 Come see (and buy!) pinhole photographs by moi - !

 The Art Gallery of Hamilton (123 King Street West, Hamilton - Ph:  905-527-6610) is located in the downtown core of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada on the western end of beautiful Lake Ontario.  

Come visit ...

OPENING NIGHT - 'Private Reception': April 28th 6-9pm: 

Just got back from a GREAT evening ... lots of new and old faces, great PINOT and many yummy 'horsey do-overs'; met a few members of the Board - Rick Court & Alan Baird - very personable fellas, plus Louise Dompierre, HAG's Principal Director/Curator - ever 'cheery' & welcoming ... Artists and patrons 'swirled' for several hours admiring, and buying art. This 4 day  'spring sale' continues until Sunday, so get your Selves over there: - check out what's new, up-and-coming and just flat-out GREAT. Lots of variety, lots of different mediums, lots of talent - if I say so my Self!  ( ... more shameless self-promotion ... :)

(This last (digital) shot was taken when I got home to the lake around 9:30p - a full moon glistening - a fitting 'nightcap' to a good night ... )

New Painting: Bovine Bliss No.2

A quick 'insert', just to let you all know that, yes, I is STILL painting regardless that photography is and will be 'front & centre' for most of this up-coming year ... Here's my latest: -

Last winter walk before SPRING, 2010

I'm hating this 'new' photo formatting provided by Google in Blogger... I can't 'edit', but rather, am forced to fit to a 'generic' size - "small, medium or large." NONETHELESS, the camera work CONTINUES. Enjoy.

...

Oh ... SPRING is COMING!

Wolf Eye

Digital Photo Collage

A Plug for Two Pals: Charles Pachter in Whistler, & 'Big John' in Hong Kong

The Olympics will soon be upon us.  For those of you who are making the trek, please do stop in on my pal Charles Pachter's 'Olympian' exhibition at the www. mountaingalleries.com in Whistler, opening February 12th.  Charles is CLEARLY Canada's Primary PoP Art iconoclast.  His range, his talent, is eclectic, diverse and always wittyly thought-provoking . Ain't nothing like him nowhere ... Go see, wave that flag! For a taste of his iconographic 'moose' works, link 'here'....

For more to see & do in Whistler during the festivities, click here. Don't miss the inaugural Whistler-Blackcomb Peak to Peak Gondola ride, sure to be a ski/snowboard and Olympic crowd pleaser.

If the Olympics aren't on your roster and you find you are spending a Thursday night in Hong Kong, please do drop in on another pal -  'Big John'.  He's holding the floor from six to midnight at the 'Tantra Bar & Lounge'. An investment banker by day, he lets it rip with finger-tripping dexterity and raspy vocals at night. Not to be missed.  

Tell him 'Lindsay' sent ya ...

Heritage Photos of Burlington @ The Burlington Art Centre

 

'Vintage Window: A Pinhole Photograph by mlh'

My entry.  

I was/am a bit dismayed - and annoyed -  to discover that the Heritage people (who were/are running this exhibit now showing at the Burlington Art Centre) printed my supplied digital file from the 'entry form', then mounted and presented this work 'as is'.  Technically, this action represents the complete opposite to the 'aesthetic' and 'reality' of what I do when I am pinholing. The CORRECT thing to do would have been to exhibit my ORIGINAL positive pinhole print, not a secondary digital print-out, (as shown above  - as a digital image ...). 

If any of you want to see the digital print-out - (I have no idea what size they've made it, how they printed it, or who they printed it with, meaning, I'd NEVER 'authorize' this 'digital print' in ANY way...) - check it out at the Burlington Art Centre until the end of February.

If, on the other hand, you want to see the ORIGINAL pinhole photograph pulled from the ORIGINAL paper neg contact me to see 'The Original' at my lakeside studio.

The framed ORIGINAL 8x10 pinhole photograph is available for purchase. I only pulled ONE print, so there is only ONE ORIGINAL pinhole photograph -  signed, dated, and processed by me.

All additional derivative DIGITAL print-offs, done by people & equipment & processes that I wasn't aware of and certainly did NOT authorize, are just that  -  DERIVATIVES. Whatever you do, don't even think of buying one of these. They are 'knock-offs' in the truest sense of the word ...

Live & LEARN.

 

Lens Perspective @ The Sunrise Gallery

 

'Lens Perspective' 

GROUP SHOW

Reception: Saturday,

January 30th, 2-5pm  

765 Beach Blvd, Hamilton Beach, Lake Ontario
Jan.30th, to Feb. 28th, 2010

Hours: Thurs. to Sun. 1-5pm

I've got two LARGE pinholes in this show, 

so, come take a look!

www.sunrisegallery.ca /ph: 905-549-5888