Artist’s Statement about the June 14th, Performance Photo Shoot:
I began working with issues of mortality and demise well before September 11, 2001. The documenting of my mother’s death from cancer—as well as mountain climbing, martial arts, landscape photography, and film stunts, have all influenced my images.
In the past few years I have fallen from trees, porches, bridges, train trestles, stairways, ladders, roofs, mountains, volcanoes, water towers, fences, and billboards—without anyone ever mistaking my work for a representation of our national tragedy.
Like
my other works, this most recent photo shoot was never intended to mimic the
tragic events of September 11th.
The images shown in the news coverage are not my images and the quotes attributed
to me are either not my words or placed completely out of context. I feel terrible
that these misrepresentations have upset so many and I believe my work can speak
honestly for itself.
These are the first images from that series entitled, "Life Goes On". These photographs, along with the other forms of documentation of the event, including e-mails, webblogs, film and the media's own accounts, are being developed into an exhibition tentatively called, "Ratings". The original intent behind the work has been overshadowed by controversy; which has opened a door to a much larger issue to investigate: the role of corporate media, its politics and effects of control on the public.
The project is currently in the production phase. New images and materials will be added over the coming months. Please check back to monitor it's progression.
For more information about the role of the media and a definitive model for my intended exhibition, please check out Noam Chomsky's "Manufacturing Consent."
Selected articles about the event:
New York Newsday Article by Fred Camper
For this particular body of images in the series, I have been fortunate to enlist the services of several accomplished artists from Chicago. Below you will find their names and links to their work and web sites. I am indeed grateful for their help. Enjoy...
PeterThompson-www.chicagomediaworks.com
Matt Siber-www.siberart.com
Jason Lazarus-www.jasonlazarus.com
Brian Ulrich-www.notifbutwhen.com
Jon Gitelson-www.thegit.net
Bryan Steiff-www.artnerd.net