~WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY . . . in the mix
also from the artlovers photo vault . . . and back in the mix: American ‘realist’ photographer – WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY.
if you don’t know this guy’s work – you should !!
American photographer WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY at the opening of an extensive retrospective of his work, titled: ‘William Christenberry Photographs: 1961-2005’, APERTURE FOUNDATION GALLERY, CHELSEA, NYC. JULY 6, 2006.
PHOTO: NANCY SMITH
born in 1936, at the time of this opening William Christenberry was a vigorous 70 . . .
he comes to mind – because of the way 2012 – is unfurling, art-wise. I came across these pix – as I searched thru my hard copy 35mm archive for the Eric White photo, previous post. the photos were taken in the same month, July – back in the summer of 2006 . . . they rang so true – I had to put them – up !!
WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY (1936-)
“Born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1936, William Christenberry grew up in the ‘deep south’ where the old road signs, deteriorating buildings, and dirt roads shaped his boyhood memories. In 1954, Christenberry began his academic career at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa where he studied the fine arts and graduated with a Master of Arts in Painting in 1959. During his early career, Christenberry was primarily a painter, but began incorporating the use of a Brownie camera into his working procedures. In 1961 he moved to New York (that would make him 25 !! take note – oh, current Brooklyn hipsters !!) . . . It was here that Christenberry befriended Walker Evans” (!!) . . . “Christenberry believes that all objects leave their individual mark on the landscape as time passes, even when the object is destroyed in reality.” – source: AMERICAN ART/PHILLIPS COLLECTION
PHOTO by WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY
William Christenberry is known for his iconic photos of the American south . . . where he grew up.
PHOTO by WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY
some of the most fascinating images were the portraits of a shrub-like weed called KUDZU, ‘devouring’ abandoned houses.
detail, PHOTO by WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY
KUDZU is actually a “climbing, coiling, trailing vine” that climbs over trees or shrubs (or houses !!) and grows so rapidly it kills its
host by its heavy shading, which deprives them of light. wow – it’s a plant-eater, house-destroyer – organic bio hazard kill-ah.
Native to Japan – this predator weed was most interestingly introduced (unknowingly ? I’m guessing . . ) into the United States through the Japanese Pavilion of the 1876 Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. (!!) It is now “common among roadsides and other undisturbed areas throughout most of the southeastern United States. Kadzu has been spreading at the rate of 150,000 acres annually.” (!!) source: WIKIPEDIA/KADZU
PHOTO by WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY – an old house, just about to be ‘organically’ – bio-attacked and accelerated in its natural decomposition !!
and looks to be, not just by Kudzu, either. all the other ‘domestic’ southern vegetation is taking over, too.
detail, PHOTO by WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY
PHOTO by WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY . .. oh oh – pretty far gone.
detail, PHOTO by WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY
WILLIAM CHRISTENBERRY EXHIBITION PHOTOGRAPHS BY: NANCY SMITH