John Beeman Photography: Recently Added Galleries and Collections

toys

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 02:31:00 GMT

In an attempt to experience a new relationship with my toys, I have begun photographing them. By lending these objects the photograph's mark of the real and energizing them with a sense of play it is my goal to animate them, at the same time asking what real really is.

Nagano

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 01:26:00 GMT

My wife, my friends the Ninomiyas and I went for an off-season trip to the popular ski resort area Nagano. We stayed in a hotel based on swiss style resorts. We spent the evening in the onsen and reading Japanese children's books.

The first photo in this series is a tree wrapped in starlights at the steps of the hotel's entrance. The large building behind the three trees is a lavish dog house. The view of sky and mountains is from the balcony of my room.

The photos of rice fields were taken in a valley near the mountain the resort was on.

Utsukushigahara open air museum

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Thu, 20 Dec 2007 00:26:00 GMT

During a trip to Nagano with my wife and our friends the Ninomiyas we visited the Utsukushigahara-kogen-bijutsukan.

Atop a one of the highest mountains in the range known as the Japanese alps there is an outdoor sculpture park. The impressive scenic view of the vast mountain range is foregrounded by a landscape littered with large-scale sculpture. The works exhibited are primarily modern metal works exploring color, volume and surface textures, but there are some made from different materials and in different modes as well. Many of the pieces are from Japanese artists, but in general the museum has acquired work from artists all over the world. All together there are roughly 350 works.

With my time in Japan coming to an end, I realized I wouldn't be returning to the museum. The giant park is too large for me to have walked the whole thing lugging camera and tripod. So I went leisurely and photographed only a few of the pieces that appealed to me, and one that provides some what of an overview.

Hyperspective at MASS Gallery

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 04:01:00 GMT

Artists Max Juren, Michelle Devereux and Duncan Malashock open their exhibit of "Hyperspective" at MASS Gallery in Austin, Texas Friday December 14. The perception-fooling installation will be on display at the East Austin gallery Wednesdays 7 - 9p.m. Saturdays 2-7p.m. and the final day of the show, Friday January 5, 7-9p.m.

The installation of brightly colored simple shapes made from crude media, such as cardboard and plywood, explores the intersection of how we perceive two- and three-dimensional space. The circles, equilateral triangles and squiggles as viewed from a single perspective at the front of the gallery transform into ellipses and oblong triangles as one enters the space.

"I couldn't anticipate what this show would come to mean when it is filled with people, because they completely change the way in which the space is composed." said Juren. "I'm still trying to understand it, because it has evolved ever since we came up with the idea. I think that's the nature of this show, that everywhere you move in it there's a different perspective to see it from. I think that's its strength."

The artists heard MASS Gallery was looking for exhibitors, and filled out one of the gallery's proposal forms. Once the proposal was accepted the trio took three weeks to assemble to installation.

For more information about "Hyperspective," contact Juren at maxjuren@yahoo.com. MASS Gallery can be contacted about exhibition proposals through their Web site, massgallery.org.

Daibutsu Hiking Trail

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 18:46:00 GMT

One Sunday while living in Japan my wife a friend and I took a hike in Kamakura. The trail began at Zeniaraibeten and lead to the Kamakura Daibutsu, Japan's second largest Buddha.

Zeniaraibeten is a Shinto shrine set into a cave with a small stream running through. There is a beautiful garden and many tori gates there. In this collection of photos there is one of a stone lion taken in this garden with agisai in bloom next to him. The shrine its self is dedicated to snake spirits, and is famous for its magical properties in giving good fortune in finances. People from all over Japan come to Zeniaraibeten to wash their money in the stream.

After leaving the shrine we walked roughly two miles along the forested tops of Kamakura's low mountains to the temple of Daibutsu. It was a beautiful summer day and all the leaves were deep green, and the sun spotted the world as it filtered through their canopy. We encountered many middle school children hiking the same trail in their black and while uniforms while on "field day."

All the members of our group had already been to Daibutsu, so we decided to walk a little further on through the city to Hase Dera. A beautiful place, the temple is known for its flower garden, coi pond and golden statue of the buddhist deity Kannon. Visitors filled the grounds as the garden's agisai was "man kai" (in full bloom). There are restrictions preventing photography of the kannon, and I was disinclined to make photos of the agisai. I did, however, make one photo while at the temple. In a bamboo grove there is a small building, and in that building there is a rotating structure filled with the teaching of Buddha. If for whatever reason you cannot read the texts, you can go here and turn this structure containing them and thereby receive the same benefit.

That was the last photo of that day. After making it we sat outside the little building ate lunch and enjoyed the garden. Then went home.

Graham Wilkinson at The Mohawk

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 06:01:00 GMT

Graham Wilkinson performs at The Mohawk, a night club venue in Austin, Texas Monday October 15, 2007.

Opposite Day at Ruta Maya

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 05:35:00 GMT

Opposite Day pays tribute to Madonna by performing their own interpretations of her songs at Ruta Maya in Austin, Texas. The trio performed at the coffee house on Friday October 6, 2007.

Kimya Dawson

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 03:18:00 GMT

Kimya Dawson sings and plays guitar at The Mohawk, a night club venue in Austin, Texas, on Monday October 15.

Death Row Rumblers vs Houston Knockouts

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 23:38:00 GMT

The Death Row Rumblers square off against The Houston Knockouts at Forum Roller World, in Grand Prairie, Texas. The Death Row Rumblers, from Dallas, Texas, were the victors with a final score of 69 to 54. The Knockouts are a travel team made up of all-star players from their league.

Dallas Derby Devils vs Texas Rollergirls

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 17:14:00 GMT

The Dallas Derby Devils square off against The Texas Rollergirls at Forum Roller World, in Grand Prairie, Texas. The Texas Rollergirls, from Austin, Texas, were the victors with a final score of 140 to 101. The competeing teams were made up of all-star players from their respective leagues.

Texacutioners vs Munecas Muertas WFTDA bout

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 18:43:00 GMT

The Texacutioners square off against the Munecas Muertas at Playland Skate Center in Austin, Texas December 1, 2007. The teams are all-star teams made up of Texas Rollergirls, from Austin, Texas and Duke City Derby, from Albuquerque, NM. Both teams are members of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association.

Jesu playing at The Mohawk

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 08:32:00 GMT

Jesu performs at The Mohawk Wednsday October 10.

Angelo Spencer at the Mohawk

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 07:15:00 GMT

Angelo Spencer sings, plays guitar and drums at The Mohawk, a night club venue in Austin, Texas Monday October 15.

Navy photos

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 07:49:00 GMT

These are some of my favorite photos I made as a Navy photographer.

tsukiji

johnbeeman@mac.com (John Beeman Photography) — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 07:38:00 GMT

Photos from the worlds largest fish market in Tokyo.