Crusade Supported Art

I am quite humbled and honored to announce that I was invited to be a part of the inaugural group of artists to offer works for Crusade For Art's CSA program.  Modeled after the popular farm CSA, where individuals purchase shares in order to receive goods over a period of time, this project--spearheaded by the uber creative Jennifer Schwartz--is about putting art in the hands of collectors while supporting artists through funding and exposure.  

On Wednesday, June 3rd, Crusade For Art will offer 50 shares for $350 dollars each. Shareholders will then receive two signed, original photographs every other month, for six months.  That's six pieces of art for $350!!  The lineup of photographers is amazing and you should definitely head over to Crusade for Art and see for yourself.

Image Chosen to Show at Vermont PhotoPlace Gallery

I was happy to learn today that my image, Perhaps This Time, will be included in an upcoming group show at the Vermont PhotoPlace Gallery in Middlebury, Vermont.  The juror, Susan Burnstine, chose 40 images out of 1600 entries to be a part of the In Your Dreams exhibition.  Much thanks, Susan! The show will run from April 16th to May 12th.

Pieces to Show at Newspace Center for Photography & Missoula Art Museum

I feel very fortunate to have a piece chosen to be a part of the Black & White Themed exhibition at Newspace Center for Photography in Portland, Oregon.  It is a great space in a great city.  Only wish I could be there for the opening, which, by the way, will be on Friday, February 3rd, from 6-9pm.  The show will be up until the 26th, so if you happen to be in Portland, stop by and see the work.  

[Un]Remembering

22x36inches, Photo Etching and Wax

2010

And, after you stop by Portland to see that piece, swing by the Missoula Art Museum on Saturday, February 4th for the 40th annual Benefit Art Auction to pick up some art and support a great organization.  This year, my image, Coping, was juried in to help raise some money for the museum.  By the way, you're more than welcome to bid by proxy if you absolutely can't make it to Missoula this year.  

Coping

20x24 inches, silver gelatin

2010

Junot Diaz

One of the perks of my current day job is that the school I teach for gets some pretty amazing guest lecturers and speakers.  Most recently, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author, Junot Diaz, came to spend a day on campus.  He was scheduled to do a reading for the entire school community that evening, but first he got the inaugural tour of our beautiful grounds and then spent some time with our juniors and seniors in a more intimate Q&A session.  Somewhere in the midst of this crazy day, I was fortunate enough to get a half hour alone with Mr. Diaz for a photo shoot.  Now, while I'm not at liberty to divulge all the bits of wisdom, irreverence, and insight that were floating around the room with Junot and me, I can show the results of my efforts.  Enjoy.

If you'd like to read more about Junot Diaz's visit, go here.

Peering through the Pinhole

One of the things that keeps me interested in photography has always been that magical aspect of the medium--that mysterious occurrence that takes place somewhere in the dark box when light meets film.  I realize that there are numerous scientific explanations for the chemical reactions that happen when an exposure is made, but I like to hold on to the feeling I get--the feeling I'm sure the forefathers of photography got--when there is a latent image on that piece of acetate film just waiting to emerge in the developer.  This is probably why I go back to pinhole photography when I begin to feel stifled in my work, or when I become downright cynical and critical of photography in general.  I get some great satisfaction from the process of constructing my own camera out of cardboard and tape and working to make rough, rudimentary images that always seem to carry more weight and worth than anything I set out to make with modern equipment.  For me, it is comforting to know that no matter how much technology advances, no matter how complicated the photographic bells and whistles may become,  the most unique images are sometimes born from the simplest materials.

Joshua to Speak at Northeastern State University, B.A..

On Monday, January 31st I will be speaking to Dr. Satara Armstrong's Social Policy Class at NSU Broken Arrow.  Dr. Armstrong contacted me about presenting on the topic of my newest body of work, Coping, which opened at the TAC Gallery in Tulsa this past month. These images explore the changing image of the child by redefining its traditional role of innocence and hope.  It is always interesting when art can cross disciplines and spawn a broader conversation about important social and psychological issues. 

Urban Tulsa Weekly Feature

Libby Williams came to my studio and interviewed me a couple of weeks ago.  Somehow, from the web of tangled ramblings that I spewed at her, she came up with this nice piece featuring my work and, specifically, the body of images called Coping. Enjoy.

Coping at TAC Gallery in Tulsa, OK

Coping is up and installed at the TAC Gallery and I'm looking forward to a great opening night this coming Friday, the 7th of January.  As I was installing the work last night, I was reminded of what a nice, intimate space TAC has down there.  In a day and age that most galleries are wanting to inhabit cavernous warehouse-type spaces, it is refreshing to enter a modest, yet inviting space like the TAC Gallery.  Thank you to the board of TAC and all the volunteers that invited me to do this show.  Everyone I've been in contact with so far has been extremely helpful and accommodating.

SO, I hope many of you can make it out to the opening on Friday.  There will be food, wine, and beer, as well as some live music provided by Mark Kuykendall. 

Kids are the best Critics

This is a really great little analysis of one of my pieces in the Missoula Art Museum. Thanks to these young folks for taking the time to share.

Great press from Missoula Art Museum Exhibit

On June 4th, 2010 I opened my first solo museum exhibit at the Missoula Art Museum in Missoula, Montana.  The body of work, titled The Parables [and other impossible events], looks great in the space and everyone at the museum went out of their way to make my experience wonderful and painless.  While in Missoula I did a newpaper interview, two radio interviews, and a couple of artist talks at the museum.  Needless to say, I felt very honored that so many people wanted to hear me ramble on about the work.  Here are a few of those press pieces for those of you who missed the opening week media frenzy. 

Missoula Art Museum spring/summer newletter [I got the cover]

Nice spotlight in the Missoula Independent

Missoulian article

Mainsite exhibit in Norman Living

                                                                                                                                                                            This is nice blurb about a three-person show that is opening on August 13th, in Norman, Oklahoma.  The show is an introduction to a yearly photo competition that Mainsite Contemporary Art will be hosting, beginning in 2011.  Mainsite is a fantastic gallery with a very forward-thinking group of people running it.  So, all you photographers out there need to check out this competition and enter.  Also, come to my show on the 13th!

www.mainsite-art.com

MAM press release

Okie Creative Interview

My friend, Jeremy Charles (who is also a terrific photographer), did an interview spotlight with me.  It will post on www.okiecreative.com this coming Tuesday.  Nice little profile.  Thanks, Jeremy.

okie photographers: Joshua Meier Interview from Jeremy Charles on Vimeo.

Sand As Shutter

Here is some video of a piece I did last year involving sand, sun, and photgraphic materials.  The image negative and paper where buried the night before in the room and then revealed the next day.  The performance consisted of me removing [opening] the sand [shutter] in order for the sun to begin exposing the image.  After a while, I pulled the paper from behind the negative and allowed the sun to continue exposing and eventually erase or destroy the latent image.

Good Things

Hello, everyone.  I wanted to post some good news as I sit here at a conference in Austin, TX.  It is official.  I'll be having a solo exhibition at the Missoula Art Museum in 2010.  The opening is set for the first Friday in June and the show will run for approximately 3 months.  Along with the exhibit, I am planning a special release of a limited edition print from the show and I'll be taking pre-release sales on the print leading up to the opening...more info on that later.  It looks like I'll be spending some time in Missoula next summer.  Anyone want to join me?

Art Focus Oklahoma

OVAC's most recent issue of Art Focus Oklahoma just hit the stands and there is a very nice spread on the four artists who received fellowships in 2009 [of which I am one].  Thank you OVAC and OAC for your money and support.  Check out the online issue here:

http://ovac-ok.org/ArtFocus/art_focus_current_issue.cfm

Photolucida, Critical Mass

This last week I received some surprising and exciting news.  The announcement of the 175 finalists for Photolucida's Critical Mass 2009 competition was posted and yours truly was on the list.  The impressive group of finalists will now go before an even more impressive group of jurors--something like 200 of them--and be whittled down some more.  A few lucky souls will have their very own monographs published.  If you are not aware of Photolucida, please check them out.

www.photolucida.org

upcoming events

Friday, August 18th:  Living Arts 40th Anniversary, Grand Opening Extravaganza.  Tulsa, OK

           Collaborative installation with sculptor, Bryce Brimer.

  

September 16-20th:  Matter '09.  Austin, TX

            Featured artist at a conference of artists, philosophers, and theologians from across the country.  Should be fun!

It's about time...

Hello, everyone.  Well, it's taken me a while to get my new site up and running, but here it finally is.  I opted for a blog-style site, as many people are these days, at the request of many friends and family who wanted to keep closer tabs on my work and career. I like the stripped down version I've created, and will attempt [I said "attempt"] to keep this updated as much as possible.  There is a lot going on in my world right now, so please keep checking back for all the excited developments.  Speaking of upcoming events...

Here is a recent image created in collaboration with sculptor and friend, Bryce Brimer, for an installation which is a part of the grand opening exhibit of the new Living Arts space in downtown Tulsa.  It will open Friday, August 28th and run through September 27th-ish.  The exhibition print is 6'x8' [yes, that's feet] and looks awesome.  So, if you're in the Tulsa area in the next month or so, go down to Living Arts' newly renovated, amazing space and check it out.