photographer (4)

Where Do Art Fair Artists Go? Back to the hills

Many of you remember photographer Jack Stoddart, aka Hippie Jack. A fixture at art fairs for about 20 years, in recent years he was pulled back and become a music producer and hosts music festivals in the hills of Tennessee, way back in the hills! And that's not the whole story! Teaming up with his son Jason, they have videoed the "roots" music that is performed on their stage and the result is a PBS program, "Jammin at Hippie Jack's" hosted on over 115 stations. Next: Jack becomes a Renaissance Man and his photos, prints of the men, women and landscape of Cumberland Plateau are collected by the Tennessee State Museum with a retrospective of the body of work that opened last week at the Museum in Nashville. Read all about the music festival: www.myhippiejack.com Read about Jack's images: www.jackstoddart.com Read about the exhibit in Nashville: http://www.tennessean.com/article/20091129/ENTERTAINMENT0507/911290302/Jack+Stoddart+s+photos++films+find+a+special+place+at+Tennessee+State+Museum" Renaissance Jack
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Hippies, Hill People & Other Southern Marvels

It's always a thrill when friends receive recognition for years of work. Recently in my mailbox: The Board of the Tennessee State Museum Foundation Cordially Invites You to the Members’ Reception & Private Preview of Renaissance Jack: The Work of Jack Stoddart "Hippies, Hill People & Other Southern Marvels" And Celebration of The Museum Acquisition of The Jack Stoddart Plateau Collection of Photographs Thursday, November 19, 2009 6 to 8 p.m. Hors d’oeuvres with a Southern flair Tennessee State Museum 5th Avenue & Deaderick Street, Nashville RSVP by November 13 to beth.lekander@tn.gov or (615) 741-9255 These photos are his documentation of the hill people of rural Tennesse and his life among them. Congratulations, Jack. This is a well-earned reward. Tennessee loves you and we do too! Do you know Jack? Visit his ArtFairInsiders page and send him a message. Comments below also welcome.
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Artist of the Month: Nels Johnson

"I am always looking for the next great shot," says Nels, whose photographs are full of a sensitive use of the light and strong color, reflecting his life growing up in sun-drenched Florida. Art fairs have been his livelihood for over 35 years and his imagery reflects this.

Art Fair Calendar.com

"I have always had a love affair with Key West and go back there regularly for new work. I love the water and do a lot of work along the Gulf, especially the Florida panhandle.

When I'm shooting my photos I try to capture the feeling that you are right beside me, with a cup of coffee as we watch the sun come up over the Bahamas. I look closely at the relationships between colors and look for the designs in nature and in man made objects--because I care to look closer at them--I don't take them for granted."

You'll know you've found Nels at an art fair -- he is this guy in shorts, bearded, with funny color socks, wearing an aloha shirt--they show you this man gets to live the life of the images he captures. Like many others in the art fair business Nels says, "This was the job I was always supposed to have."

Where you can find Nels and his sun-drenched images:

February 13-15, Coconut Grove Arts Festival, Miami
February 20 & 21, Naples National Art Festival, Naples, FL
February 27 & 28, Old Island Days Art Festival, Key West, FL

You'll enjoy reading his very intriguing journey through life at: www.ArtFairCalendar.com/featured artist
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Photographer Michael Craven Dies from Cancer

Michael Craven, a 30 years+ photography veteran, died in June after a long illness. Michael was a great guy and his fine work was an asset to the art fair business. He really knew his way around a camera and a darkroom. He was a photojournalist and commercial photographer before he started exhibiting at art fairs. The integrity of his images made his work stand above many of his contemporaries. The work was original in concept and always great to see. No cookie cutter images here, just great conceptual pieces photographed and printed in the traditional manner. "Leaks" by Michael Craven Here is his website: http://brainfoodphoto.com/ and here is another site I found that has more of his imagery: http://www.absolutearts.com/portfolios/a/artychoke/ Many thanks to photographer Robert Barab for passing on this information.
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