When the late John Cleary suggested that I do a Marilyn Monroe Portfolio from my Seven Year Itch session, I carefully chose nine prints. The idea of printing an edition of 50 was overwhelming, since I make and sign my own work. Of course I didn’t make 50, I think it was 19 and I stopped. Then the frequently asked question started happening: “Are there any other images from this shoot?” My answer” Yes”. I had printed and exhibited others, but I did not relish making another edition . I still print my own work. It’s a philosophical matter.
During a recent meeting with my friend Daile Kaplan, Director of Photography at Swann Galleries, I floated the idea of adding a number of my Marilyn exhibition prints to the existing portfolio in an edition of 1. She agreed and here it is. We call it “The Enhanced Marilyn portfolio”. It includes my favorite, “Serious Marilyn” which is in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.

A peaceful year to all our friends

This is about a print, specifically “Marble Quarry, Barre Vermont c.1960” which was requested by my late dealer Therese Dion shortly after we had closed my exhibit “Les Femmes” at her gallery here In Montreal.

I was surprised, but she told me that she had wanted to see a beautiful print of that image for a long time, but wanted Les Femmes on the wall before she pushed me to make it.

The print I finally made does everything I want a black and white print to do. Unlike digital prints, you can go beneath the surface, in fact it invites you to do that. I keep looking at it and it speaks to me.

Now Therese is gone, she was showing work right up to the end. I miss her. Until recently I thought that beautiful black & white paper would also be gone, but I hear that a new art photographic paper has been successfully tested and will be on the market soon. I can’t wait.

This print, 20”/16” printed on Agfa Classic was made by me in 2003 and has my log #3555. It is framed in black wood.

I think at 81, the title of this blog entry speaks for itself. But just in case you are confused, I had to be lowered 800 feet by cable in a bucket to photograph this wondrous environment. I was working on a Carborundum Company assignment for their legendary corporate art director, Richard DeNatale. Thanks Dick.

If you want information on acquiring this you can contact me or one of my dealers

george

This exhibition of 26 photographs reveals the diversity of the Museum’s photography collection of nearly 3000 works. I am honored to be newly represented in it. For once, a name which begins with “Z” has been an advantage!

I look forward to the public discussion about my work and all things photographic with Charlie Stainback, the Norton’s Curator of Photography. This is a time of fast moving technological change which makes photography ubiquitous, but it does not make it easier to have a good eye.

To go digital or traditional is a choice.. to understand what you are photographing is probably a more important choice.
george z.