Max's First Trip To McDonalds

I'm lucky to have grown up with the world's greatest dog and the world's strangest parents (they seem to be getting stranger by the day). Not only have they gone to Wendy's for "date night" to enjoy the salad bar and debate over which of the senior citizens my dad could "take" in a fight, they also treat our dogs to a variety of treats ranging from Baskin Robbins Icecream to Dunkin' Donuts. I think that a lot of this has to do with empty nest syndrome, my brothers and I moved out of the house over ten years ago.

One of these outings resulted in a photography book (if you've ever wondered where I get my influences from) entitled, "Max's First Trip To McDonalds." The book arrived one day in my mailbox at Marlboro College and I've cherished it all of these years, placing it on my bookshelf between "Walker Evans: A Biography" and Calvin Tomkin's "Marcel Duchamp." So, for the first time in cyber-space, I present to you the cult classic, "Max's First Trip To McDonalds" (with original captions):

"I'm going to McDonalds!"
"I've got shotgun!"
"Decisions . . . decisions"
"Remind them . . . no pickles, no onions on the cheeseburgers"
"See - I'm sitting nicely"
"Hell with that"
"Wait a minute, I missed a crumb"
"I can come again? . . . Right!!"

Chillin' On The Home Front

Git Yearbook Pictures (Through The Years)

Little Gitel In da' House

Archer Morgan Gitelson
6 pounds, 14 ounces
July 28, 2008

Stranger Than Fiction

This morning, friend Amy Stein sent me a link to this bizarre site in Japan that reminded her of my "Staring Contest." The purpose of the video is to teach shy men in Japan how to feel more brave in the face of beautiful women:

Japanese companies are always looking to meet the needs of the "niche-ist" of niche markets. For example, top-selling record label Avex has discovered a new way to reach extremely anti-social sets — the NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), and the most reclusive of the recluses, the hikikomori. Most believe that these groups’ refusal of social participation stems from their lack of social skills. The hikikomori almost never socialize with other people and prefer to spend their time in their bedrooms, completely locked away from the world. The total numbers of NEET and hikikomori may have been overestimated in the past, but they do exist to some extent and are mostly male.

"Avex is trying to reach these groups with a new DVD — part "corporate social responsibility," part traditional content delivery, and part talent blog/model promotion. The DVD is called Miteiru dake (Just Looking), and it features various talent/models just staring straight ahead. That’s right, the models on the DVD do very little other than stare straight at the camera. According to the website, the idea is to get young males who aren’t used to socializing with women to become more accustomed to making eye contact and/or handle the fact that a sentient being sits across from them and awaits interaction. The DVD hopes to cure those afflicted with shyness so that they may rejoin society."

Thanks Amy, amazing stuff (and incredibly creepy!)

Later on, I headed down to Hyde Park to see my friend Erik and a show that he had recently helped to curate at The Smart Museum. Afterwards we grabbed lunch, talked a lot about art and headed over to his studio to look at some new work. Erik's one of the smartest people you'll ever meet and it was great to have so much time to catch up. While hanging out, Erik told me about this hilarious video from Adult Swim's, "Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job!" As you can see from the two videos below, sometimes the truth can be stranger than fiction:

Hijacked Photography Exhibition at The Australian Center for Photography

This is a video from ABC Australia about the current exhibition at The Australian Center for Photography in Sydney. The exhibition features work from "Hijacked Volume One: Australia and America," a book edited by Mark McPherson & Max Pam. I'm honored to be featured both in the book and in the exhibition along with friends: Jason lazarus, Suzy Poling , Amy Stein and Bill Sullivan (amongst many other great photographers whose work I had not previously known). Pick up a copy as soon as they become available.

Bring Your Friends

Tomorrow night there will be a great opening here in Chicago that will feature my piece, "Staring Contest" as well as the work of Nathan Baker, Claudia Burns, Sean Fader, Mandukhai Kaylin, Jason Lazarus, Aron Gent, Tealia Ellis Ritter, Terttu Uibopuu, Sarah Mckemie and Brian Ulrich. Here's the info, bring your friends:

7pm
3219-21 South Morgan Street
Chicago Illinois, 60608

the show runs July 18, through August 8, 2008

Staring Contest

I've just completed my newest piece entitled, "Staring Contest." "Staring Contest" is a video installation that consists of two videos. Each video is of a man staring directly into the camera without blinking for a duration of 25 minutes, at which point the videos loops back to the beginning. For the installation, two television sets are placed directly across from each other at a distance of approximately eight feet. Each TV will show one of the videos so that the subjects of the two videos appear to be staring at one another. This piece will be debuted on July 18th at The Co Prosperity Sphere in Bridgeport. Swing by the show to see it in person and visit it on the web at: http://www.thegit.net/thegit.net/videos/staring_contest.html

Where Art Lives, Radio Interview with Yours Truly

Yesterday was an exciting day for me, it was my first time hearing myself on the radio! I was featured on the Chicago Public Radio program "Hello Beautiful" and discussed the recent art commission that I just completed. Click HERE if you would like to hear the interview.

Mustachio

Recognize This Photograph?

This morning the new Armitage Brown Line Station opened and with it, the debut of my permanent installation. After nearly two years in the works, it was pretty amazing to see it in its final state. If you live in Chicago or are just traveling through, swing by to have a look!

Hanging Out At Fenway, Old School

When I was twenty-two I moved to Boston which is where I discovered both my love of Super-8 film and the Boston Redsox. In the spring of 2000, I was working at a restaurant in Harvard Square and spending all of my free time sneaking away to Fenway Park. I used to go to day games by myself and try too sneak down to the corporate seats behind home plate (these usually stayed empty during day games and it was easy to sneak down without an entourage). This is a Super 8 film that I shot on such a day. Pedro Martinez was on the mound (my favorite in those days) and if memory serves, I think we won the game. Go Sox!

Me and Robin and Harrell Fletcher

Last week at The NY Photo Festival, I had the chance to hear Harrell Fletcher give a talk about his work. Harrell is one of my favorite artists, I first became familiar with his work via his web collaboration "Learning To Love You More" that he made with Miranda July. For those of you not familiar with his work, it is a wonderful blend of art and sociology and I encourage you to look through his site. Harrell was exhibiting in Leslie Martin's exhibition "The Ubiquitous Image" and at the end of his talk, he informed the audience that for his piece in the show, he was asking people to share their wallet photographs with him so that he could scan them, print them and hang them in the exhibition. I just happen to always keep a photograph of Robin in my wallet and was excited to include it in the show.

Two Upcoming Auctions

I will be participating in two upcoming photography auctions, one at The Museum of Contemporary Photography this friday at The Douglas Dawson Gallery here in Chicago and one at The Center for Contemporary Arts Santa Fe on June 7th. Both should be well worth attending, happy shopping!

Corey Arnold

This past weekend, my friend Amy Stein (who by the way won The NY Photo Festival Book Award this past friday) introduced me to the photographer Corey Arnold. I'm a huge fan of The Discovery Channel's "Deadliest Catch" and Corey's photographs examine that same world. He's both a photographer and a fisherman as well as a really nice guy. He'll apparently be in a show at Bucket Rider Gallery next spring here in Chicago where he'll be sharing the walls with one of my favorite Chicago artists, Cody Hudson. Good times . . .

NY Photo Festival

I'll be flying into NY this week for the NY Photo Festival. I will have five pieces on display at The Museum of Contemporary Photography Pavilion from my series, "Items Of Clothing Secretly Hidden By My Girlfriend (So That I Wouldn't Wear Them Anymore)." Please swing by and check it out if you find yourself in town.

The World's Most Stupid Video

I've recently been archiving all of my old VHS tapes and this afternoon I came across this, the most stupid video ever made. During my first year of grad school, I was required to take a 19th Century Photo History course. For our final, we had the option of either writing a paper or creating a piece that addressed 19th century photo history. I've always enjoyed looking at the work of Eadweard Muybridge and found it extremely interesting that he used to manipulate his data to achieve certain results. For my final, I decided to make this movie which uses his technique to evaluate whether or not a break dancer friend of mine was able to do the worm and leave the ground. We manipulated the facts (as did Muybridge) and came up with this, the stupidist video ever made. Enjoy!

Which Famous Photographer Are You?

This morning, one of my students sent me a link where you can take a survey that dares to ask, "which famous photographer are you?" After filling out the survey, I learned that I am Helmut Newton. Which famous photographer are you? Click HERE to find out.