I think you’re good looking in the photos, Alan. By the way, my avatar is a shot I took of an old friend, GORT, whose big claim to fame was a small role in a ’50s sci-fi movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still”. It’s a great movie and has held up well. GORT was at the Museum a while back and we had a great time together.
These are amazing (too bad about Ken’s experience). I showed them to Joe and he immediately said, “Franz Xaver Messerschmidt!” They are so well done, and the alternating of color and B&W here is seamless. I salute your courage and lack of self-consciousness, not to mention your skill (in photography and assorted plastic arts).
Much appreciated Lynn. And thanks to you and Joe for introducing me to FXM. Just want to assure everyone that these were done in the spirit of play and weren’t associated with paranoid hallucinations as may have been the case with Herr M.
But just as we don’t hesitate to photograph things that are old or decayed, I don’t shy away from my aging body. The wrinkles and folds are exaggerated of course, but a few years from now, I probably won’t have to contort my face to produce them. Just hope that by then, I’ll still be photographing :)
Thanks to Joe – as you found out, there was a mental health issue with FXM and Joe learned about him when studying art therapy. I was pretty sure you weren’t having hallucinations. :-) But sometimes I wish I was, when I see my own wrinkles. So hats off to you for not shying away.
Wow, I never saw those. I vaguely remembered him being at Artforum back in the early 70’s (obviously more than just “at”) after I read the Wiki entry on him, which included a very interesting quote:
Said Coplans: “I have the feeling that I’m alive, I have a body. I’m seventy years old, and generally the bodies of seventy-year old men look somewhat like my body. It’s a neglected subject matter…So, I’m using my body and saying, even though it’s a seventy year old body, I can make it interesting. This keeps me alive and gives me vitality. It’s a kind of process of energizing myself by my belief that the classical tradition of art that we’ve inherited from the Greeks is a load of bullshit.”[10]
Thank you Alan!
It’s always nice to put a face (or faces) to the artist. Well done, Alan. Last time I did a selfie it resulted in an expensive camera repair.
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LOL
Thanks, Ken, but is that why your avatar is wearing a suit of armor?
The only reason I felt comfortable posting these shots is because I like to think that I’m actually better looking than these would indicate.
Maybe I’m deluding myself though :)
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I think you’re good looking in the photos, Alan. By the way, my avatar is a shot I took of an old friend, GORT, whose big claim to fame was a small role in a ’50s sci-fi movie “The Day the Earth Stood Still”. It’s a great movie and has held up well. GORT was at the Museum a while back and we had a great time together.
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I dunno Ken. Until now, I thought you had good taste :)
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That’s a claim I’ve never made.
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These are amazing (too bad about Ken’s experience). I showed them to Joe and he immediately said, “Franz Xaver Messerschmidt!” They are so well done, and the alternating of color and B&W here is seamless. I salute your courage and lack of self-consciousness, not to mention your skill (in photography and assorted plastic arts).
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Much appreciated Lynn. And thanks to you and Joe for introducing me to FXM. Just want to assure everyone that these were done in the spirit of play and weren’t associated with paranoid hallucinations as may have been the case with Herr M.
But just as we don’t hesitate to photograph things that are old or decayed, I don’t shy away from my aging body. The wrinkles and folds are exaggerated of course, but a few years from now, I probably won’t have to contort my face to produce them. Just hope that by then, I’ll still be photographing :)
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Thanks to Joe – as you found out, there was a mental health issue with FXM and Joe learned about him when studying art therapy. I was pretty sure you weren’t having hallucinations. :-) But sometimes I wish I was, when I see my own wrinkles. So hats off to you for not shying away.
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:)
Not sure I’m willing to go as far as John Coplans (https://www.google.com/search?q=john+coplans&client=safari&rls=en&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiknIDgovHfAhXwuFkKHepTBsMQ_AUIDigB&biw=1089&bih=557#imgrc=_)
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Wow, I never saw those. I vaguely remembered him being at Artforum back in the early 70’s (obviously more than just “at”) after I read the Wiki entry on him, which included a very interesting quote:
Said Coplans: “I have the feeling that I’m alive, I have a body. I’m seventy years old, and generally the bodies of seventy-year old men look somewhat like my body. It’s a neglected subject matter…So, I’m using my body and saying, even though it’s a seventy year old body, I can make it interesting. This keeps me alive and gives me vitality. It’s a kind of process of energizing myself by my belief that the classical tradition of art that we’ve inherited from the Greeks is a load of bullshit.”[10]
Thank you Alan!
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