"Chuck Close Revives the Daguerreotype" (as if)

[bjorke]

The new PDN arrived today with a dag of Chuck Close on the cover.

Sorry if I can't help but think that Close knows famous people to sell as 'Legendary' images to Vanity Fair while Spagnoli ends up credited as merely being in attendance.

Glad I didn't get the $15K limited edition -- how the heck do you justify $15K for a 'limited edition' or 75? Isn't the idea of "dag appeal" largely the fact that there's only an edition of one?

 

[Pinholemaster]

pdn - making legends in their own minds.

blah ba blah ba blah

What's with celebrity worship?

But good for Chuck getting people to part with their money.

I should be so lucky.

 

[Jersey Vic]

Mr. Close has paid his dues. Everyone that buys deserves what they get.
Mr Spagnoli is well known and respected in the circles that matter.

 

[George Papantoniou]

I saw a Chuck Close exhibition (some new, some old portraits of famous persons) last November. It was all big Digital Prints on Inkjet plotters (good quality). You could clearly distinguish the traces that are left on the image from digital manipulation (scanning, photoshoping). It was disgusting, knowing that the originals must have been beautiful 8x10 inch polaroids or something similar... I woudn't pay more than 500 euros for a print like that...

 

[bjorke]

All downhill since the thumbprint pics, imo

 

[HerrBremerhaven]

On a more positive note, when someone more well known goes towards a more traditional or older photographic process, then it can create a greater awareness of such process. PDN is still read by many art directors and advertising executives. I don't think any greater public awareness of daguerrotypes is a bad thing.

On Chuck Close, I see him more as an artist who uses a camera. If I were to criticize his style, I would state that it is mundane. However, lots of people seem to like that style. If you are the first to do something (really large prints), then sometimes the novelty can be enough to sustain the style. Anyway, good for him with his success.

Ciao!

Gordon Moat
Dead Link Removed