Displaced will hit the big time this weekend when it debuts on Photo-eye… Take a sneak peek by clicking here. I am about a quarter of the way done with the printing and hope to be completed by the end of the month.
More soon!
Jan
30
2010
Light Leaks
Check out the next issue of Light Leaks Magazine… My portfolio, Displaced: Part II will be featured along with an interview!
In other news, it looks like I will be moving into a new studio right on Mississippi Avenue in North Portland. The space will work beautifully for my studio, gallery and small press.
I will also be offering two workshops in the new space, one on marketing for photographers, the other will be a longer, intensive portfolio development class. I will post a description along with dates and cost in the coming weeks. Please let me know if you are interested in either class, there will be a limit on number of students.
Vela Noche Press’ first artist book publication will be of local artist, Joel Preston Smith’s, work from Liberty, West Virginia. I will be updating more information on that process soon. We are now editing his images and selecting a paper for the interior of the book.
Production for my book, Displaced, has begun. There are only a few copies left at the edition price of $350, so if you’re interested in buying a copy at that price, I suggest doing it shortly. You can pre-order at www.displacedproject.com. I am currently printing the book, and the text pages will be sent to Inge Bruggeman to be letterpress printed this week.
More to come!
Jan
14
2010
Tenacity of Purpose
I had a memory a few days ago of the bedroom I grew up in. On the wall adjacent to my bed, my parents taped a flimsy photocopy of this quote to my wall that I would read every night lying in bed:
Excellence is achieved. It is not stumbled onto in the course of amusing oneself. It is built upon discipline and tenacity of purpose.
It never really meant very much to me, these words. In fact, I used to hate reading it every night, imagining it looking down on me in judgment as I laid in bed. I didn’t really understand what it meant either. I never worked very hard in high school. I was an average student, good in math and science, but I struggled in English and history. I hated looking up at it, perceiving it’s meaning, and continually realizing I wasn’t living up to my potential.
I had coffee with a friend this morning, someone who is going through a pretty significant transition. He has been contemplating what to do with the rest of his life. He was just laid off from a job he held for twelve years and seems cautiously hopeful about spending the rest of his days photographing. I think he wanted to know from me how to make that happen, carefully asking questions, maybe a little afraid that I would say, “It’s not. It’s not possible.”
But I remembered this quote. And it came up because I was explaining all of the things that I do to try and “make things happen” for my career. I’m really a pretty shy person, but I force myself to speak publicly, to mentor, to do things for the community. He wanted to know how I had integrated into the Portland photographic community so easily. I explained that when I moved here, my #1 priority was to meet people. I felt like it was going to be thing that decided whether or not I could make it in a city so far from my friends and family, that I would have to force myself out to make as many connections as I could–and fast. I approached Newspace Center for Photography about starting a critique group, something that I had enjoyed in the Washington, DC area and boom! instant connections. The fact that I was doing it for free helped gain people’s trust and it turned out to be a perfect way to assimilate.
The reason I’m bringing all of this up is to illustrate that when you see others’ successes (and I am guilty of this too), it is not about luck. It is about a lot of hard work, optimism and perseverance. There are many bad photographers who are very successful. There is no reason for that, in my mind, except that they work and work and work to get their name and images out there. Maybe what they excel at the most is exposure and not quitting or allowing the negative things/reviews/comments that happen deter them from reaching their goals.
If you read back a few posts, you’ll learn about the new office space that I rented. I had hoped to be able to use the space as a studio and small gallery. Unfortunately, I had a conflict with my landlord and I have to question whether I will be able to still use it in that way. It was a huge disappointment. I have spent the last 5 months in “move phase,” moving my apartment, moving my studio… the thought of potentially having to move again is not pleasant. BUT! Where there is disappointment, there is also opportunity. I could use this chance to find a much better space, one that will more easily accommodate the gallery, where the foot traffic and lighting are better. It is a choice. How to react to this situation. And I choose to see it as an opportunity. I hope you will be able to see these daily challenges as opportunities also, and persevere, persevere, persevere…
I looked up the author of that quote. It said, “unknown.” I thought that was appropriate. It helps me believe there is a God.
Jan
07
2010
New Displaced Review
What distinguishes an exemplary photobook from a book that may be merely a collection of fine photographs, is an element that makes it more than the sum of its parts. Think of the classic books, from Robert Frank to Minor White to John Wood to Lee Friedlander, and there is always a poetic structure, however subtle, that defines them. In the case of Lauren Henkin’s Displaced, it is the compelling evocation of loss, captured memory and regeneration that raises this book to a higher plane. Individually, the photos are often arrestingly beautiful; collectively, they become an eloquent autobiography.
The prints are beautifully made, and the selection, layout, pacing and narrative all impeccable. Technically, there is little here to criticize. The binding, by John DeMerritt, reinforces his already formidable reputation for sensitive treatment of photographic material.
Jack Kerouac, in the midst of his chatter, was occasionally given to aphorism, and this is one: “Accept loss forever.” Displaced is the illustration of an attempt to come to terms with the meaning of that profound exhortation. Two short essays by the artist place this work in its specific personal context. The writing is heartfelt, sad, courageous and informative, but not necessary. The pictures say it all.
Steve Woodall
Dec
31
2009
Vela Noche & New Year’s Ambitions
I’ve had many changes over the last couple of months… I moved my apartment and my studio space which was completely modified to fit all of the prints and equipment necessary to be a modern fine art photographer. I hired my oldest friend from college, architect Bradley Shanks, to design a shelving and storage system to fit all the stuff I have accumulated over the past couple of years.
In addition, I’m happy to announce that my new studio is big enough to accommodate a small gallery and will also house my new publications company, all under the name of Vela Noche, which means “watching over the night.” Vela Noche Press will be publishing small editions of artist books and limited edition portfolios. I have wanted to start publishing for a long, long time and I feel like now might be the best time to start. I will be posting a new web site (www.velanoche.com) that will have information on the new gallery and publishing projects. It should launch in the next few months. I really never expected to be running a gallery, but, now that I have the space for a small one, I will try to add something different to the Portland art scene. For example, one show I have been dreaming about is architect’s sketches. My degree is in architecture and I still have many ties to that world. Architectural sketches are an art form in themselves and deserve a forum to be appreciated. I have a few shows in mind already, but am having trouble thinking of what the opening show should be, so if you have any suggestions, fire away. I’m throwing myself into all of this, it’s uncharted territory, but exciting.
I thought, for those of you who might be interested, that it would be a good idea to show you how this space is evolving and what my other plans are for the coming year.
For the last six months, I have been trying to think of how I could find a space that would hold my studio, a space to start publishing books as well as a small gallery–a tall order. I went searching and finally found something I thought could work at 3939 NE Martin Luther King in Portland. It is a nice open space with hardwood floors and good light. It’s flaws were a muted green paint color, bad lighting and a slightly awkward layout. I hired Bradley to reorganize the space and come up with a storage and shelving system that would enable me to do my own photographic projects, start publishing other people’s work AND accommodate a small gallery.
Here are some pictures of the space while being renovated:
© Lauren Henkin
© Lauren Henkin
© Lauren Henkin
© Lauren Henkin
Bradley took into account all of my framed pieces, boxes with prints, boxes with unused paper, general office supplies, book cloth, a mini-fridge, and other various tools and equipment and came up with a layout that is just perfect for me. We are now completing the process, but here are some of the design images created using SketchUp:
`So… there are many things to look forward to in the coming year. I will be spending the first two months completing my Displaced artist book. I will also be applying for a three month artist in residency program in Scotland. If I get it, I will be getting on a plane for the first time in ten years. I’m trying not to think about that.
I will keep you posted on these and any other upcoming events. I will hopefully be having some kind of opening for the gallery either in early February or March, depending on what kind of show I can put together. Thank you all for your help and support, I feel like this will be a very productive year…
Best to you all,
Lauren