Tim Gruber and Jenn Ackerman use both photography and video to tell stories for editorial and commercial clients. 
One of my goals for 2011 was to get my work seen in more galleries. This summer I’ve seen that goal become a reality.
Work from my Island project is currently hanging in three different shows with a fourth on the way. Here in Minnesota you can find the work at the Eco Byways show at St John’s and St Ben’s University. My work was honored with a honorable mention. A photo from my island project can also be seen in the Visual Arts Minnesota show where it was a Juror’s Choice winner.
If you find yourself in Texas my work is also hanging at the Houston Center for Photography, which I had the pleasure of visiting for the opening and was really impressed both with their space and the photo community in Houston. It was a wonderful show curated by Ariel Shanberg from The Center for Photography at Woodstock. Jenn told me great things about Ariel after meeting him at Review Santa Fe so it was nice to put a face to the name. The opening came at a great time for me since I’ve been shooting in the Outer Banks on and off this summer and will be returning soon so it was nice to get a fresh perspective from Ariel and others at the opening. Definitely check out the show if you have a chance. See the photographers and work in the show on the Houston Center for Photography website.
My work will also be hanging in the Photo Center NW show in Seattle curated by Karen Irvine from the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago.
Jenn’s work hanging at the Minneapolis Photo Center was mentioned in a Star Tribune review of the show. If you have a chance be sure to get to the Photo Center and see the work hanging. It’s an international show with photos from 14 countries and is up through April 17th. The turn-out for the gallery opening was quite insane and perhaps the biggest one Jenn and I have ever attended. It was great to see the photo community here in Minneapolis coming out in full force.
Along with the show they had panel discussion moderated by Mary Abbe, the art critic, for The Star Tribune, along with Darsie Alexander, chief Curator, Walker Art Center, Christina Chang, Assistant Curator, Weisman Art Museum, Stevie Rexroth, Media Chair and Katherine Turczan, Professor of Photography, Minneapolis College of Art & Design. Panels can be hit or miss, but this one was a gem that went beyond the cheerleading and left us feeling recharged.
Mary Abbe, the art critic, for the Star Tribune had this to say about Jenn’s photo for a review of the show:
I also very much liked Jenn Ackerman’s “Exposed: Betty,” in which a handsome, auburn-haired over-70-something strikes a bathing beauty pose worthy of World War II pinup Betty Grable.
Jenn's image featured on the home page of the Star Tribune for a review about the show.
I am so excited that two of my images have been chosen for an upcoming exhibit, Woman as Photographer: Documenting Life as a Woman, at the Minneapolis Photo Center. Curated by Christina Chang of the Weisman Art Museum, the exhibition focuses on female representation and photography from a female perspective.
Here is a review in Mlps St. Paul Magazine:
Billed as “a smart, critical take on women with cameras,” Woman as Photographer: Picturing Life as a Woman follows a line of discourse that has been going on for decades. In the 1970s, questions about the lack of female photographers in the history of the field arose, as well as concerns about equal access to training and work. As more women got behind the lens, the discussion gradually shifted to questions about female representation in photography, gender issues, and identity. That’s where Woman as Photographer picks up the thread.
“The beauty of art,” says Chang, “is that it calls perceptions into question.”
This is also the first time I have printed any of my 4×5 images large and I was blown away at the detail and quality of the print. Seeing the 24×30 print is simply breathtaking. I am so glad I decided to work on these last two projects with my 4×5 and look forward to printing them all this large or larger one day soon.
DETAILS:
Woman as Photographer: Documenting Life as a Woman
Minneapolis Photo Center
2400 North Second Street, Minneapolis, MN 55411
Exhibit Opening Reception: March 11, 7-10 PM
Exhibition: March 11- April 17, 2011
I was recently named a finalist for the Magnum Expression Award along with a great roster of photographers. The entries are extremely diverse and beautifully shot.
The same day I found out I was a finalist for the award, I also received two emails from people working with mentally ill inmates. This is what they wrote:
I just spent a few hours reading everything and watching the videos on your site. I just want to say you have done amazing work – I am sure you hear this a lot, but thank you.
…Granted, I know they are incarcerated for a reason that is not good but they still deserve to be heard. I have done so many searches on the net to try and find a way for the inmates to be heard. I watched and read your story on Trapped and it was amazing. I have worked in corrections and actually dealt with E.W. and he was in the documentary beating himself up and the work you did does display exactly what corrections staff are faced with on a daily basis. Thank you for your time,
While I am extremely thankful for the recognition that I received from my peers and awards I have received for my project on mental illness in prison, some of the best recognition has been from former inmates, those with mental illness or those working with people with mental illness. Those emails and letters encourage me to continue the project and tell other stories like this one.
We are thrilled to be speaking on a panel at the PDN PhotoPlus Expo this week with some incredible talent. We will be on the panel entitled: VII Presents: How To Make Reportage Projects Happen and speaking with Kira Pollack from TIME, Ed Kashi, Stephen Mayes, Marcus Bleasdale, and Karim Ben Khalifa.
Obviously the traditional methods of funding reportage projects are becoming harder to find so this should be an exciting discussion about what’s working and what’s not.
Register for our seminar or any of the seminars on the PhotoPlus website.
We hope to see you there!
We spoke earlier last week via Skype to Kevin Miyazaki’s Professional Practices class at the Milwaukee Institue of Art and Design. Kevin posted a recap of our talk on their class blog and while you are on the class site be sure to check out The Big List; a growing list of over 600 interviews with photographers. Truly a great way to kill a lazy Sunday afternoon.
The class site is a great resource for students and professionals alike. Kevin’s students are lucky to have such a passionate professor at a pivotal point in their careers.
Link – Friends of The Class: Ackerman Gruber
We are thrilled that two of our photos have been selected by the Minneapolis Institute of Arts for the Art Perchance event that is a part of their Third Thursday events. Sadly we are working in Vegas so we won’t be able to attend.
Read more about the Third Thursday events on the Minneapolis Institute of Arts website.
Staten Island Ferry Reflection - One of the accepted works.
Late last month I taught at the Maine Media Workshops. I had heard great things about the workshops but had never been myself so I didn’t know what to expect.
It was like summer camp for photographers.
The class I taught was titled Video for Photographers. Both my students and I were in awe of what they were all able to accomplish in less than a week. They learned the importance of audio, translating your still photography to video and structuring a story. In five days, they each shot and edited a video.
If you have the time and resources, I would definitely recommend the school.
Jenn and I were fortunate to be two of the 90 emerging photographers nominated to attend LOOKbetween a few weekends ago. We were inspired by some of the best and brightest young photographers that are working in the field today. See a full list of the photographers and links to their website on the LOOKbetween site.
I can say without hesitation it was the best photo festival I have ever attended. This had everything a good festival needs, an amazing venue (Thanks Jessica!) delicious food, gifted photographers, great management, generous sponsors, industry leaders who are passionate about our field and most importantly just all around good people.
The days were laid out nicely with each evening ending with 3-minute multimedia pieces of everyone’s work. Saturday morning was filled with small discussion groups on various topics and a larger afternoon group discussion based on those smaller discussion groups. The discussion that occurred around multimedia were interesting to me with some people strongly opposed to it and others willingly embracing it. If you know Jenn and I you know we’re all about embracing it. PDNPulse had two nice recaps of the multimedia happenings and discussions that took place At LOOKbetween, A Discussion of Video and Multimedia Storytelling and LookBetween Festival Highlights Emerging Photographers’ Multimedia
Andrew, Jenna, Miki and the rest of the gang at LOOK3 thanks for all your hard work in putting together what was an unforgettable weekend. Hopefully it can happen again sometime soon for another batch of up and coming photographers. Our profession needs it.
Til next time Deep Rock!