Dana Lixenberg | Episode 95

In this episode of PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf, renowned photographer Dana Lixenberg discusses the power of portraiture and how editorial autonomy enabled her to safeguard the portrayal of individuals featured in her work within marginalized communities. Lixenberg shares the origins of Imperial Courts, her seminal project documenting life in the Los Angeles housing project of the same name, and the deep relationship of trust she built over more than two decades of work there. The conversation also explores her iconic portraits of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, as well as her poignant book project, The Last Days of Shishmaref, which captures the lives of an Indigenous community on a disappearing Alaskan island. https://grimmgallery.com/artists/42-dana-lixenberg/ https://www.instagram.com/danalixenberg Dana Lixenberg is known for her stripped-down portraits that revel in the elemental characteristics of her subjects. She uses a large-format field camera – a cumbersome tool, which necessitates what the artist refers to as a ‘slow dance’ between her and her subjects. The resulting portraits contain an enormous amount of detail and texture, and are as revelatory as a personal encounter. The power of the work arises from its intimacy, compositional rigor and, importantly, the absence of social stereotyping. Lixenberg has been predominantly active in the United States, and her thorough understanding of the country and its society seeps through palpably in her work.  Besides her extensive editorial practice, for which she photographed many cultural icons, she pursues long-term projects with a primary focus on marginalized communities. These projects include Jeffersonville, Indiana (2005), a collection of landscapes and portraits of a small town’s homeless population and The Last Days of Shishmaref (2008), which portrays an Inupiaq community on an eroding island off the coast of Alaska. Lixenberg’s most extensive body of work to date is Imperial Courts, 1993-2015 (2015), which she begun in the aftermath of the 1992 Rodney King riots. Spanning 22 years, the project tracks the changing shape of an underserved community in Watts, Los Angeles. In contrast to the often one dimensional, sensationalized media coverage of this neighborhood, Lixenberg employs a more subdued and collaborative photographic approach. Like her other projects, Imperial Courts consists of a series of photographs and a publication. Exploring other media for the first time, Lixenberg also included audio recordings and created a three-channel video installation. The project was awarded the Deutsche Börse Photography Foundation Prize in 2017 and continues to be exhibited internationally.

In this episode of PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf, Sasha welcomes two extraordinary guests: artist and curator Justine Kurland and Marina Chao, a curator at CPW. Together, they discuss their collaboration on The Rose, an exhibition that explores collage as a feminist form, strategy, and genealogy. Featuring works by over fifty contemporary artists and key figures from the 1960s and 1970s, the exhibition examines collage as both a means of world-building and a survival strategy in times of crisis. Sasha, Justine, and Marina delve into the layered responsibilities of artists and discuss the assumption that interpreting a straightforward photograph is inherently simpler than reading and interpreting conceptual art. https://www.justinekurland.com https://cpw.org/staff/ https://cpw.org/exhibition/the-rose/ Justine Kurland is an artist known for her utopian photographs of American landscapes and the fringe communities, both real and imagined, that inhabit them. Her early work comprises photographs, taken during many cross-country road trips, that counter the masculinist mythology of the American landscape, offering a radical female imaginary in its place. Her recent series of collages, SCUMB Manifesto, continues to make space for women by transforming books by canonized male photographers through destruction and reparation. Kurland’s work has been exhibited at museums and galleries in the United States and abroad. Her work is included in permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum of Art, New York; Museum of Modern Art, New York; Carnegie Museum, Pennsylvania; Getty Museum, California; National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; and the Museum of Fine Arts, Montreal, among others. She works with Higher Pictures in New York. Marina Chao has previously held curatorial positions at the International Center of Photography and the Museum of Modern Art in New York. As assistant curator at ICP she organized the exhibition Multiply, Identify, Her (2018) and contributed to the publication Public, Private, Secret: On Photography and the Configuration of Self (Aperture and ICP, 2018). She was awarded a 2019 Curatorial Research Fellowship from the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts for Seeing Meaning, a project exploring the intersections of image, language, and technology.

In this episode of PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf, Sasha sits down with photographer Harlan Bozeman to discuss his artistic evolution—from the casual nature of street photography to the immersive, collaborative, and activist approach he brings to his ongoing documentary series, Out the E. They also explore his newer project, Failure to Appear, a more introspective and formally abstract investigation into memory and Black culture. Harlan is thoughtful, honest, and generous as he reflects on both the triumphs and challenges of his complex artistic practice. https://www.harlanbozeman.com/ https://www.instagram.com/harlanbozeman/ Harlan Bozeman is an artist based in Central Arkansas, whose work confronts the erasure of Black legacies and centers on how this exploration influences one’s personhood. He received his M.F.A at the University of Arkansas, his Bachelor’s in Journalism at DePaul University, and attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 2023. Harlan is a 2024 Catch Light Global Fellow and is currently participating in the Magnum Foundation’s Counter Histories fellowship. Harlan Bozeman is Professor of Practice at Tulane University.

In this episode of PhotoWork, host Sasha Wolf has a deeply moving conversation with renowned photographer Jamel Shabazz. They talk about his lifelong love for photography and how he uses it to make a social impact. Jamel opens up about how his life experiences have shaped his approach to art and hard work. The episode also covers his book, “A Time Before Crack,” and its importance to his community at the time. It's a heartfelt conversation that goes beyond just photography. Tune in to hear the insights and stories from a photographer passionate about making a difference. https://www.jamelshabazzphotographer.com ||| https://www.instagram.com/jamelshabazz/ Jamel Shabazz is best known for his iconic photographs of New York City during the 1980s. A documentary, fashion, and street photographer, he has authored 12 monographs and contributed to over three dozen other photography related books. His photographs have been exhibited worldwide and his work is housed within the permanent collections of The Whitney Museum, The Studio Museum in Harlem, The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, The Fashion Institute of Technology, The Art Institute of Chicago and the Getty Museum. Over the years, Shabazz has instructed young students at the Studio Museum in Harlem’s “Expanding the Walls” project, The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture “Teen Curator’s” program, and the Bronx Museum’s “Teen Council.” He is also the 2018 recipient of the Gordon Parks award for excellence in the arts and humanitarianism and the 2022 awardee of the Gordon Parks Foundation/Steidl book prize. Jamel is also a member of the photo collective Kamoinge, and a board member of En Foco, another photo collective. His goal as an artist is to contribute to the preservation of world history and culture.

In this episode of PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf, join host Sasha Wolf and returning guest Christopher McCall as they reflect on the legacy of the renowned Pier 24 Photography space located on San Francisco’s Embarcadero. Together, they celebrate the space's 14-year history, during which it showcased the Pilara Foundation's collection, hosted 13 historic exhibitions, and organized numerous public programs. Chris discusses his future endeavors to explore global photography trends while engaging in a heartfelt conversation with Sasha about the enduring allure of photography and photo books in the United States. They also explore budding opportunities for photographers to create and share their own artistic spaces. This episode is filled with reflection, inspiration, and forward-looking insights. https://pier24.org || https://www.instagram.com/thechrismccall Christopher McCall was the Director of Pier 24 Photography in San Francisco, one of the largest exhibition spaces devoted to the medium. In 2002 McCall received an MFA in photography from California College of the Arts, studying under Jim Goldberg and Larry Sultan. After teaching for seven years, he joined Pier 24 Photography in 2009 as the founding director, assisting in the conceptualization of the organization’s mission and operating principles. After opening the doors of Pier 24 in 2010, McCall oversaw the presentation of thirteen exhibitions and spearheaded the creation of the Larry Sultan Visiting Artist Program, a collaboration with California College of the Arts.

In this episode of PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf, Sasha reunites with her very first guest on PhotoWork, the photographer and publisher, Bryan Schutmaat. Bryan and Sasha talk about his new book, Sons of the Living (Trespasser) and Bryan's love of being on the road and exploring the American Landscape. Sasha and Bryan also discuss how the idea of collaboration in portraiture may be misrepresented and how a book doesn't mean a body of work comes to an end. https://www.bryanschutmaat.co https://trespasser.co/shop/sons-of-the-living Bryan Schutmaat is a photographer based in Austin, Texas whose work has been widely exhibited and published. He has won numerous awards, including a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Fellowship, the Aperture Portfolio Prize, and an Aaron Siskind Fellowship. Bryan’s prints are held in many collections, such as Baltimore Museum of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Pier 24 Photography, Rijksmuseum, and San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. He co-founded the imprint, Trespasser.

In this episode of PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf, Sasha closes out the year with photographer Keisha Scarville. Keisha and Sasha talk about her book, lick of tongue rub of finger on soft wound (MACK), and Keisha's personal and unique use of archival imagery. Keisha and Sasha also discuss the ways in which Keisha has moved away from thinking of projects as discreet bodies of work, choosing instead, a much more holistic approach. https://keishascarville.com/home.html ||| https://www.mackbooks.us/products/lick-of-tongue-rub-of-finger-on-soft-wound-br-keisha-scarville Keisha Scarville (b. Brooklyn, NY; lives Brooklyn, NY) weaves together themes dealing with loss, latencies and the elusive body. Her work has been widely exhibited, including the Studio Museum of Harlem, Huxley-Parlour in London, ICA Philadelphia, Contact Gallery in Toronto, The Caribbean Cultural Center, Lightwork, The Brooklyn Museum of Art, and Higher Pictures. Recent group exhibitions include The Rose at the lumber room, Portland, Oregon (curated by Justine Kurland); If I Had a Hammer - Fotofest Biennial, Houston (2022); and All of Them Witches, Jeffrey Deitch, Los Angeles (2020, curated by Dan Nadel and Laurie Simmons). Her work is held in the collections of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art, Yale University Art Gallery, the George Eastman House, Denver Museum of Art, and the Detroit Institute of Arts. She has participated in residencies at Lightwork, Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, WOPHA, Baxter Street CCNY, and Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture. In addition, her work has appeared in publications including Vice, Small Axe, and The New York Times where her work has also received critical review. She is a recipient of the 2023 Creator Lab Photo Fund and awarded the inaugural Saltzman Prize in Photography earlier this year. She is currently a Visiting Professor in the Department of Art, Film, and Visual Studies at Harvard University and a faculty member at Parsons School of Design in New York. Her first book, lick of tongue rub of finger on soft wound, was published by MACK and shortlisted in the 2023 Aperture/Paris Photobook Awards. This podcast is sponsored by picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom. https://phtsdr.com

In this episode of PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf, Sasha is joined by photographer, publisher, and educator, Ed Panar. They delve into "Winter Nights, Walking" (Spaces Corners), a nightly walk through his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, during the cold winter months shot over a 10 year period. Ed also describes the evolution of his process as the photo industry moved from the film era to the digital era and how that affected his work. Ed and Sasha discuss their optimistic views of our very connected photo community and how Ed and Melissa Catanese helped grow that community with their imprint and former community space, Spaces Corners. https://edpanar.com ||| https://spacescorners.com/shop/p/winter-nights-walking-by-ed-panar Ed Panar is a Pittsburgh based photographer and bookmaker. Ed has published several photobooks including: Winter Nights, Walking (2023), In the Vicinity (2018), Animals That Saw Me Volume One and Volume Two (2011 and 2016), Salad Days (2012), Same Difference (2010), and Golden Palms (2007). His photographs and books have been exhibited internationally at venues including: The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, MiCamera, Milan, The New York Photography Festival, The Cleveland Museum of Art and Pier 24 Photography in San Francisco. He is the recipient of a 2007 Artist Fellowship from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts and in 2022 he relieved a Creative Development Award from The Heinz Endowments and a Guggenheim Fellowship. Ed is co-founder of the project space and publisher Spaces Corners. This podcast is sponsored by picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom. https://phtsdr.com

In this episode of PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf, Sasha engages in an honest and deeply personal conversation with photographer Christian Patterson. They delve into the creation of "Redheaded Peckerwood" (MACK) and his latest book, "Gong Co." (TBW Books & Éditions Images Vevey). Christian offers a thorough description of his intricate process and motivations for these long-term projects, providing nearly step-by-step insights. He also reflects on his years working with William Eggleston and the nuanced ways in which that experience did, and did not,  influence his artistic direction. http://www.christianpatterson.com  |||   https://www.instagram.com/christian.patterson/ CHRISTIAN PATTERSON was born in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin and lives in New York, New York. His visually layered work has been described as novelistic, subjective documentary of the historical past, and often deals with themes of the archive, authorship, memory, place and time. Photographs are the heart of his multidisciplinary work, which includes drawings, paintings, objects, video and sound. Patterson is the author of four books, including Sound Affects (2008), Redheaded Peckerwood (2011, Recontres d’Arles Author Book Award), Bottom of the Lake (2015,Shortlist, Aperture-Paris Photo Book of the Year), and the forthcoming Gong Co. (2024). He is a Guggenheim Fellow (2013), winner of the Grand Prix Images Vevey (2015), a New York Public Library Picture Collection Artist Fellow (2022) and James Castle House Resident (2023). His work is in the collections of the National Gallery of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), J. Paul Getty Museum, Milwaukee Art Museum, Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and his books are in many institutional artist book collections. He has lectured, mentored and taught widely. He is represented by Rose Gallery, Santa Monica, USA and Robert Morat Galerie, Berlin, Germany. This podcast is sponsored by picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom. https://phtsdr.com

In this episode of PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf, Sasha sits down with Melissa Catanese—photographer, publisher, and educator. They dive into Melissa's array of book projects, including her 2023 release, "The Lottery" (The Ice Plant), inspired by Shirley Jackson's classic tale, perfectly resonating with today's uncertain world. They also have an honest and in-depth conversation about Melissa's life in photography, her commitment to pursuing her diverse artistic interests, and her innovative approaches to making a living as an artist. http://www.melissacatanese.com/index.html ||| https://www.instagram.com/melissa_catanese/ ||| https://theiceplant.cc/product/the-lottery/ Melissa Catanese combines her images with archival images into a fluid, sensorial experience that pushes the image beyond its nostalgic surface and challenges ideas of authorship, representation, consumption, and the life cycle of images. She plays with images as raw material, intuitively teasing out oblique and guttural interpretations, tapping the inexplicable, and often dormant space within the surface of a photograph where meaning extends and recedes, comforts and disturbs. She is the author of "Dive Dark Dream Slow", "Voyagers", “The Lottery”, and “Fever field”. Her work is currently included in “Widening the Lens: Photography, Ecology, and the Contemporary Landscape” at Carnegie Museum of Art. She is the recipient of a Heinz Endowment Creative Development Award and has been shortlisted for the Paris Photo-Aperture Foundation PhotoBook Awards and the Foam Paul Huf Award. Catanese contributed texts to “Photo No-Nos: Meditations on What Not to Shoot” (Aperture, 2021), “Photographers Looking At Photographs: 75 Pictures from the Pilara Foundation” (Pier 24, 2020), The Photographer’s Playbook (Aperture, 2014) and to the project “Words Without Pictures” (Aperture, 2010), among other publications. She is a Teaching Professor at University of Pittsburgh and holds visiting appointments at Hartford Art School Photography MFA and Image Text Ithaca MFA. This podcast is sponsored by picturehouse + thesmalldarkroom. https://phtsdr.com