Evolution of Art: Why "First Light, Second Sight"? The artist statement...

Today we are installing the next exhibit at Beanetics Coffee Roasters.  It's time to say good bye to the old show (Retrospective of Three Artists) and hello to the new one, Irving Spitzberg's "First Light, Second Sight." And as always there is a bit of excitement and anticipation in the air I breathe as we transition from one show to the next.

This new show is of particular interest to me, as I have lobbied hard to get Irving to exhibit his photographs. Until recently, though he's taken thousands of photographs over the years, he never thought of himself as an artist. This is a new venture for him... and I am excited to share his artistic vision with you!

Irving's Artist Statement for First Light, Second Sight:

This show reflects my interest in light.  Usually, my eye is caught by something about the light in a scene.  I just have to capture it.  You can see this interest in light in my sky photos, my landscape scenes, and my flowers.  The light emitted by or shining on a subject gets my attention.  So "First Light."

Then I quickly take many photos, focusing on the special challenge of creating the most artistic composition in the moment.  The digital revolution is what has made the next essential step - artistic fine tuning - possible for me, the amateur.  At last I can manipulate the natural subject; I can crop it and change the exposure to focus the observers' attention.  So "second sight."

Much to my surprise — and that of others — my photos do capture (and, on rare occasions, create) beauty to share with everyone.  This is very pleasing and rewarding for me.

And for those of you who are curious about Irving as a person and an artist, here's his bio:

I started taking pictures not to create art but to create a visual historical record of my life.  Since young adulthood I have wanted to illustrate visually my life story, both personal and professional, as it has intersected with the wonderful people who have helped create it.  For much of the decade 1962-72, I traveled abroad as part of my academic life:  Europe, Israel, Nigeria, Kenya.  Then when I had kids, I became enthusiastic (from their perspective, overly enthusiastic) about chronicling their lives.  Every activity prompted many photos.  Throughout my professional life as a university professor, dean, higher education association executive, lawyer, civic activist, and business owner, I have taken photographs to chronicle events. 

It has only been since Virginia and I married that I actually became committed to the art of photography.  First, she presented such a wonderful subject.  Then we always had flowers.  And we lived in exceptionally beautiful settings.  And we had friends with wonderful young children who became my spontaneous models.  I have focused on sunrises, clouds, flowers, children, and Virginia.  

In this show there are no children's photos because we decided not to use photographs requiring individual releases.  There are none of my 12,000 photos of Virginia, because she is a very private lady.  But, with these exceptions, you have a representative sample of my enthusiastic endeavors to explore the art of photography.

Is you curiosity piqued?
Want to meet Irving and Virginia and find out more?

Join us for an ARTIST RECEPTION on Sunday, September 11, 2011 from 2-4pmat Beanetics Coffee Roasters, (7028 Columbia Pike, Annandale, VA 22003).

Irving's work will be on display through October 3rd. Stop by any time to see his photos. And be sure to leave us a comment! We love hearing from you!

Interested in purchasing any of these pieces? It's easy to do:
Contact me, Jennifer Judelsohn, at jennifer@soulworksstudio.com
or (703)273-0485 to make arrangements!