 |
| Behind closed doors, photograph by jk |
Today was my turn to stop in and see Mandy Altimus Pond’s photographic
exhibition entitled “A Long Time Ago”. Both Dan Kane and Tom Wachunas have done
extensive reviews of the show complete with photos, artist quotes and knowledgeable
analysis so old Snarky here does not have much to expand upon. But I am not one
to walk away from a challenge however! In my search for an angle, I decided to
write about the relationship of the photos themselves to the staging and photo
shoot aspects, more of the behind the scenes than the scenes themselves. Way back in the day, 15 pounds thinner and a
whole lot less wrinkly, I got to play dress up with costumes and hair and
makeup then standing around looking like I was somebody else.
Viewing Mandy’s pieces brought back those memories. Her
still images are like high fashion photo shoots. Forget the story lines and the
fantasy that comprise the series, that is all well documented by the other two
gentlemen and in her own words and in the book which accompanies the show for a
price of $25.00. I looked at the show like a designer or her clothes hanger.
Which picture best told my story in a single shot?
The walls are lined with pictures, divided into each of the
three fairy tales by color and matching frames. Just a bit shy of actual mardi
gras colors of yellow, purple and a greenish teal, perhaps a subconscious tip
of the hat to the party scenes and costumes and masks, each color contains one
storyline in a cube-like layout. Down the center of the gallery are props and
costumes used to tell the story. Like anyone who has seen actual movie props or
actor’s outfits, what is reality is far less exciting than how it looks on
screen. Simple cardboard can be made to appear like golden trellises and shabby
netting becomes a princess gown with the right lighting and venue. That is all
part of the magic of movies, television and photography. Having the real thing to compare to the one
step removed from reality photograph is a good use of space and allows the
viewer engage on yet another level.
Something intriguing about this set up however is that the
actors and actresses who portray the characters in the story are not models in
the sense we think of “models” in magazines. These images are real people who
still look real, like the people we are who read the magazines and watch the TV
shows and movies filled with pretty (and fake) people. Mandy’s friends, family
and others assorted persons were recruited to portray various roles. Yes, they
have make up and outfits, wigs and masks, props and some primping, but they are
not idealized versions of what we think (or who we think) should be a prince or
princess. No Angelina in prosthetic cheekbones, no dashing Antonio on
horseback…just your regular guys and gals with their rounded bodies and natural
imperfections that make us individuals. Even the lighting was left “natural” in
that no softening of the faces appears to have been done to remove some under
the eye baggage. Basically, they are shot as a fashion shoot before the air
brushers get their hands on the image and make everyone look like a carbon copy
of each other. No invented cleavages, no unnaturally pearly white Chiclet teeth,
no puffed up fish lips and so on….these depictions are “real” and then they are
also “fantasy”. That is not easy to cast
or costume I would suspect. Much planning would need to take place and there is
no use of a green screen either folks. One poor girl had to lie in the actual
snow and the photographer had to wait for real snow….at least that is how I
figured it. Maybe she did make fake snow, but it does not really matter. A
model does what a model is told to do until those behind the lens say it is
okay to move….and do it over and over and over until the picture is just right.
Don’t you just wonder what the “between scenes” were like? With a Scared
Scriptless cast member behind the camera, I bet it was not all shut up and
shoot seriousness on the set.
As fun as each picture is to digest as far as who is in it
and what are they doing, the background locations are just as fascinating. Mandy
embarked on an ambitious project and made it work despite personal setbacks and
a need for financing. She is part of this “new” generation of artists that know
how to use social media and technology and all that goes with it to make their
dreams come true. Being of the older
set, I found one aspect of her work that she may not see….how it will inspire
the generation to come after her. Parents of little girls who dream of being a
princess or just like to play dress up (do kids do that anymore?). The two rows of photos of grown up kids have
a great time running around in the woods creating fantasy worlds, not concerned
with beauty so much as substance. What better message than that is there to
tell a child? One does not have to “grow
up” and be all serious, one does not have to be perfect to be a princess, the
handsome prince is not always the best looking guy in the room, and other such
life lessons of self-esteem can be seen in her works. It does not take
expensive and exotic things to make a dream become reality, a little bit of
cardboard and some hot glue will fool most people all of the time.
In my own snarky way, I was just wishing I could see the
apple being a fried chicken leg and poor old vegan Snow white just fainting
dead away from the horror of it all. Mandy has plans for more shoots and more story lines so I am sure we will see another exhibition of her work on down the
road. Highly recommend one stop in and see this series however, before it
closes on June 28th at Translations. If there is ever a need for
“Lemonade Lucy” Hayes to make an appearance, her costume is hanging in storage.
Just sayn’……….
No comments:
Post a Comment