In this episode of PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf, Sasha and 2021 Aperture Portfolio Prize Winner, Donavon Smallwood discuss his prize winning work inspired by the history of Seneca Village, A 19th Century Black community destroyed to make way for what is now known as Central Park. Sasha and Donavon also talk about the importance of mentors and the influences of art and literature.
In this episode of PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf, Sasha and photographer, publisher and editor Jason Fulford discuss his latest book, Photo No-Nos: Meditations on What Not to Photograph, published by Aperture. Jason and Sasha discuss the inspiration for the book and read some of their favorite excerpts.
In this episode of PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf, Sasha and photographer, Matthew Pillsbury discuss how important the individual image is regardless of how it might fit into a body of work and how this allows Matthew to stay open to unanticipated possibilities and suggestions while making the work. Sasha and Matthew also talk about how an artist’s identity can be understood or perceived in their work even when it’s not overtly referenced.
In this episode of PhotoWork with Sasha Wolf, Sasha and photographer and teacher, Janet Delaney discuss how living and working as a photographer has changed since the 1980’s when books and shows were only for the very few photographers and finding women mentors was much more difficult. Sasha and Janet also spend a good amount of time talking about Janet’s South of Market and SOMA Now work, so do yourself a favor and take a look at those two projects before listening to this episode.
In this episode of PhotoWork, Sasha and photographer, publisher, and teacher, Peter Kayafas, discuss his process of following his camera to move through and explore the world. Peter and Sasha also talk about the different ways in which Peter has found professional satisfaction outside of making photographs and how that has allowed him to continue his work free of the pressures and demands of the art world. Be sure to listen all the way through to the end for a bonus conversation between Sasha and Peter about how Sasha got started as a dealer and the pivotal role Peter played in that origin story.
In this episode of PhotoWork, Sasha and photographer, Mark Steinmetz discuss the early influences on his work, including the cinematic influences. Mark talks about his relationship to Garry Winogrand, who he spent time with in Los Angeles, and talks in detail about the ways in which his different projects have evolved and taken shape.
In this episode of PhotoWork, Sasha and photographer, curator, and writer, Jon Feinstein discuss the evolution of Humble Arts Foundation, the organization he co founded with Amani Olu, and how Humble represents Jon’s strong desire to democratize the art world and create opportunities for more people. Jon and Sasha also talk about some of the recent events in Jon’s personal life that has made his own work more urgent and emotional. They also reminisce about the first time they met and mutual affection abounds.
In this episode of PhotoWork, Sasha and photographer, Zora J Murff have a conversation about the myriad of discriminatory practices embedded in the art world that have worked to exclude artists of color and how the current push for inclusion leads one to wonder if newly created opportunities are really here to stay. Zora discusses how the pandemic has lead to new ways of engaging students and looking at their work and how we should hold on to much of what we have learned during this time.
In this episode of PhotoWork, Sasha and photographer, Kristine Potter discuss the various choices Kristine made that lead to her studying with and working for Mark Steinmetz and Philip-Lorca diCorcia, both significant relationships to her artistic practice, and the ways in which her eventual move to Nashville, Tennessee afforded her room to breath, leading to increased creativity. Kristine discusses her Dark Waters project and its connection to the Murder Ballads of the region and her penchant for subverting gender expectations in her work.
In this episode of PhotoWork, Sasha and photographer, Doug DuBois talk about the influence photographers Larry Sultan and Jim Goldberg had on Doug’s artistic development while he was in grad school in San Francisco. Doug discusses his long term project, My Last Day at Seventeen and the complex, always evolving, responsibility he feels for how the teenage subjects, now adults, were represented. Doug’s openness, honestly and good humor bring warmth and breadth to this conversation.