The event will take place during the week end of January 12-13, at the same time as Photo LA.Photo LA changes location for 2008, and will be held at the Barker Hangar by the Santa Monica Airport. A few steps away, right across the street, in the Santa Monica Art Studios, will be the Vernacular Photography Festival and another photography event organized by The Center from Santa Fe (professional portfolio reviews).For a week end, the whole area will breathe with Photography.

PRESS RELEASE

D3Projects at Bergamot Sation, CA, is proud to present its first Vernacular Photography Fair that will be taking place at the Santa Monica Art Studios on January 12-13.

This event takes place as the interest in collecting snapshots and the appreciation of them as art is growing. Several fine art museums offered to the public exhibitions on the subject during the past ten years. From the J. Paul Getty Museum in 2005 (Close to Home), to the Douglas F. Cooley Memorial Art Gallery and the San Francisco Public Library in 2005 and 2006 (Snapshot Chronicles: Inventing the American Photo Album); but also The National Gallery of Art in Washington in 2007 (The Art of the American Snapshot 1888-1978).

These vernacular photographs or anonymous images have been separated from their owners or lost in time. Later, artists, collectors and dealers rediscovered the snapshots in flea markets, estate and yard sales, attics or abandoned boxes on the street. The new owners of these photographs give them a new life, but also interpret their enigmatic meaning with their own personal vision.

Snapshots are part of the American life and memory, a social record of our every day history. Each one of them tells a different story, and leaves a trace for the generations to come. The sum of the infinite amount of these photographs reveals recurring themes, poses or viewpoints, and gives us a deeper insight on our society.

But beyond their social or cultural function, these images also have a great influence on fine art photography. The name of the photographer doesn’t make the value of the image, but its simple content. Although shot by amateur photographers, who just know how to “push the button”, snapshots can turn out to be great artistic pieces. William Eggleston started by looking at snapshots to find inspiration for its own photographs that are today part of American Heritage.

Found Photographs, anonymous images and snapshots from the 20s until the late 70s will be offered for showing and for sale to the public by the following art dealers: Jane Handel, Miles Haselhorst, Ray Hetrick, Babbette Hines, Barbara Levine, Carl Mautz, John Nichols, Susan Raymond and Ron Slattery.
 

PARTICIPATING DEALERS/ARTISTS

- Jane Handel (Ojai, CA): http://www.janehandel.com/

- Miles Haselhorst (Seattle, WA): http://www.ampersandvintage.com and www.ampersandvintage.blogspot.com 

- Babbette Hines (Los Angeles, CA):http://www.thefoundphoto.com/

- Barbara Levine : http://www.projectb.com/

- Carl Mautz (Nevada City, CA): http://www.carlmautz.com/

- John Nichols (Santa Paula, CA): http://sespe.com/snapshot/

- Susan Raymond (Twain Harte, CA): http://www.spectacular-vernacular-photos.com/

OTHER ATTENDEES 

- Gail Pine and Jacqueline Woods (Santa Barbara, CA): http://d3projects.net/exhibits/the_american_typologies_by_gail_pine_jacqueline_woods_jan_5_feb_28_2008_13

- Robert Jackson (Seattle, WA): http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/snapshotinfo.shtm 

- Nicholas Osborn (Chicago, IL): http://www.squareamerica.com

- Ron Slattery (Chicago, IL): http://www.bighappyfunhouse.com/

- John Foster: http://www.accidentalmysteries.com/ 

LOCATION

Santa Monica Art Studios, 3026 Airport Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90405

map 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS 

Information found on: http://www.roberttat.com/#faq2

What is a Vernacular photograph?

The term "vernacular" literally means "of the commonplace." In photography collecting, it refers to photographs which were made without artistic intent. This includes commercial photographs, personal snapshots and albums, historical images, scientific photographs, etc. Many collectors find vernacular images interesting, both for subject matter and for the occasional image that has an aesthetic appeal, albeit unintentional.

What is a Found Image?

Our Found Images are specially selected snapshots screened with the same criteria as a fine art photograph: artistic appeal, engaging or emotional subject matter, and print quality. We search through about 1000 pieces to find one "gem in the rough" that meets our standards. There is growing interest in collecting snapshots and a new appreciation of them as art, with several fine arts museums mounting exhibitions during the past few years. Found Images from Robert Tat's collection were exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in 1998 as part of their "Snapshots: The Photography of Everyday Life" show.

D3projects opened in June 2007 to bring an interactive and friendly art environment to the general public and art aficionados. Our aim is to share a passion for art and become an artistic forum based on a participative spirit. Any proceeds resulting from our activity are used for activities bringing together artists, general public, collectors and dealers, or donated to charities.