The International Photographic Review, organised by Rhubarb Rhubarb celebrates its 10th anniversary this year by posing the provocative statement Photography is dead…Rhubarb has combined retrospectives with up and coming photographers, plus such renowned names as Nadav Kander, to create a high profile gathering of contemporary photographic talent and public participation, promoting a real appreciation of how photography can and does influence our lives.
It’s rather interesting that Rhubarb Rhubarb have organised, at Aesthetica we’ve been focusing on photography in all is wonderful guises from the venerable Rankin(special feature on Rankin Live in the August issue) to our forthcoming feature on Martin Parr (Oct issue). Also we have our Aesthetica Creative Works Competition running at the moment, which is attracting some very high profile entries from around the world. Last year’s winner was Jacquelyn Noelle Unpinco, a very young talented photographer.
40 of the most acclaimed international gallerists, photographic publishers and agents arrive in Birmingham as the guests of the International Photographic Review and for three days meet aspiring photographers from all over the world. This year’s experts include: Alison Nordstrom – Curator of Photographs, George Eastman House, Rochester, USA; Alasdair Foster, Director, Australian Centre for Photography, Sydney; Natalie Matutschovsky, Photo Editor – New Yorker; Stephen Mayes, CEO VII Photo Agency, New York; Maarten Schilt, Mets & Schilt Publishers/LUX Photo Gallery, NL, and Chris Littlewood, Curator of Photographs, Flowers Gallery, London.
Rhonda Wilson, Creative Director of Rhubarb-Rhubarb, said: “Generosity of spirit, avid enthusiasm, collective will, a little risk and the collaboration of a very eclectic private and public partnership in 2009 have all come together to create what we think is our most inspiring event of the last ten years. At a time when traditional photography is disappearing, the digital is being embraced by those outside the professional sector, and fine art photo artists are producing amazing work at an increasingly younger age, we are in the most fascinating, complex and contradictory time for photography, its makers, and for those who regard it for pleasure or economics. We hope that the programme inspires and ignites a passion in those who come and join us.”
Photography is dead… presents an eclectic collection of photographic shows, images to buy, debates to attend and events to visit, all with the aim for the public to consider, debate and enjoy the state of photographic art in the contemporary world.
International Photographic Review events:
Portfolio Promenade
Radisson Hotel, Birmingham City Centre
Saturday 1st August, 8.30pm-11pm
Free but tickets must be booked in advance
This event provides collectors, and would be collectors, an opportunity to view or buy the very best in international fine art photography as well as a chance to engage with artists and their images from around the world.
I’m one of Obama’s People
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
Saturday 25th July – 11am-4pm and Sunday 26th July – 1pm-4pm.
Free but please call ahead to book slot on 0121 773 7889
Participants can be photographed as one of Obama’s Administration Team, inspired by the hugely successful show at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery Obama’s People by Nadav Kander. Visitors are asked to make up their title and bring props to represent the fictional role. Part of the Cultural Olympiad Open Weekend this Rhubarb Rhubarb event offers ten minute slots for each portrait, maximum of three people in each.
Photography is dead…the show
Three White Walls Gallery
30th July – 2nd August 2009
Free
Ten year retrospective show at in the city’s Mailbox centre, brings together images by Andy Lock, Antony Crossfield, Astrid Kruse Jensen, Chino Otsuka, Elaine Duigenan, Ferit Kuyas, Han Sungpil, Michael Lundgren, Penny Klepuszewska, Simon Roberts, Stuart Whipps, Toby Smith – all chosen by international curators and publishers from their visits to the Rhubarb International Review over the last decade.
Photography is Dead…the debate
Radisson Hotel, Birmingham City Centre
Thursday 30th July, 1pm
Call Rhubarb on 0121 773 7889
Tickets £15
Chaired by Stephen Mayes, Image Future Forecaster and CEO of VII Photo Agency, who will be joined by Alison Nordstrom, Curator of Photographs at George Eastman House, Rochester, USA; Jon Levy , publisher, Foto8, London; MaryAnn Camilleri, Magenta Publishing for the Arts, Toronto; John Cross, Peter Bailey Company,
Photographer & Digital Artist Agents, London; Brian Griffin, photographer extraordinaire, London.
Hungry
Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Show runs until 29 Aug 09
Monday to Saturdays 10-5pm. Closed Bank Holidays.
Free
‘Hungry’ satisfies those looking for new and upcoming photographic talent. The result of the Arts Council England/Rhubarb New Bursary Awards, the winners were chosen from 148 entries by an esteemed panel of curators. The award's show is surprisingly even in both concept and creativity – proving that photographers are peaking with their practices at an increasingly younger age. The Jackson Twins, Lucinda Chua, Dominic Hawgood, Nicky Walsh, Moira Lovell, Peter Ainsworth, Elizabeth Hingley, Toby De Silva, Chris Shaw and Colin Gray.
Observance
St Martins Church in the Bullring
14th July – 9th August 2009
Monday to Saturday: 10am - 4.30pm, Sunday: 10am - 7.30pm
Free
Nicola Dove presents ‘Observance’, a fascinating portrait study of how photography can capture faith. Using a fifteen second exposure and getting her sitters, who include Ela Ghandi (Ghandi’s granddaughter), Yonah Metzger (Chief Rabbi of Israel), and His Holiness Karmapa Trinlay Thaye Dorje (Head of the Karma Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism), to look into the lens, we are prompted to ask just who is being looked at and by whom....
Hereford College of Arts Graduate Show
Hereford College of Arts
31st July – 2nd August
8.00 – 24.00
Free
Hereford College of Arts Photographic Degree Students profile their work in a show reel on site in the lounge at Aston Business School.
For further details visit www.rhubarb-rhubarb.net
Image credits
Picture 1
Artist - © Antony Crossfield
Title of photograph - Inversion
Body of work - God's Eye View
From - Photography is Dead ...
Rhubarb-Rhubarb 2009
Picture 2
Artist @Jaskson Twins
Title of photograph - The Echo of Footfalls heightened her Flourishing Hysteria
From - Hungry
Rhubarb-Rhubarb 2009
Picture 3 Artist - © Liz Hingley
Title of photograph - The Adina's Church Hat
Body of work - Under Gods
From - Hungry
Rhubarb-Rhubarb 2009
Picture 5
Artist - © Christopher Privett
Title - Seaside View
Body of work - Seaside Towns, Barry Island
From - Hereford college show-reel
Rhubarb-Rhubarb 2009
