The Photography of Charles Silver
Profile
- LEVEL OF EXPERTISE:
- Professional
- I SHOOT THE FOLLOWING:
- Artistic, Event Coverage, Models & Headshots, Editorial, Portrait, Commercial
- MY PHOTO GEAR:
- Over the years I have shot mainly black and white in almost every format. I have mainly used various 35mm systems and digital cameras. Since the early 1990's I have preferred to travel light and work unobtrusively with the least amount of gear. I tend to use cameras that I can easily hide in my hand and slip into a pocket.
- MY DIGITAL DARKROOM:
- Mac, Mac OS X, Photoshop with Bridge. I am an experienced black and white darkroom printer and a digital darkroom novice.
- FILM OR DIGITAL:
- Both
- ABOUT ME:
- Have Eyes - Will Travel:
Photographer, Writer, Teacher, Videographer, Advocate, Activist, Artist, Speaker, Performer, Situational Misanthrope ...
I have always been guided by a wide range of interests in the human condition. These include world wide studies of and/or immersion in various mystical and spiritual traditions and practices from prehistoric to contemporary.
At different times and places since 1998 I have taught college level fine art photography as an adjunct professor; and, I have designed, implemented and taught literacy courses and programs to disadvantaged youth and adults based on the use of still and video cameras.
I used to tell mostly my own stories. I have put some distance between my earlier more personal, autobiographical efforts and my current work. Since an extended residency in the Philippines I discovered that I prefer telling the stories of the people I meet as I travel. I offer my camera and other skills in service to them in order to tell their stories. This way I feel I can help bring some awareness to these people, communities and issues which might otherwise go unnoticed or undocumented.
Going forward I want to continue to use my skills to highlight the status of living cultural treasures. I am especially interested in those that are fragile or endangered. I want to use my skills to break down barriers born of prejudice, address issues of injustice, inequity and bring awareness to social, political and economic issues.
In this regard I am engaged in a variety of ongoing long term projects mainly in New Orleans and the surrounding areas documenting the Post-Katrina recovery states of various folk traditions, communities and subcultures. In New Orleans I have also been invited to design and implement camera based community literacy programs drawing upon my previous experience in that field.
I have been involved with the production of photographs and a wide range of pseudonymous work in other art forms and mediums for over four decades. I have been making photographs since 1969. I studied photography with Henry Holmes Smith at Indiana University. The photographic work covers a wide range of subjects and styles and includes documentary studies, interpretive portraiture, personal art and autobiographical images. My works can be found in numerous private collections.
I am both self represented and represented by Leslie Barany Communications in New York and in Europe. I will soon be engaged in discussions with the Domeischel Gallery in New York City regarding additional representation.
I grew up near Chicago and have lived in Bloomington, Indiana; Venice Beach in Los Angeles, up in the hills near Louisville, Kentucky. Soon I will be living part time in New Orleans. I have had extended residencies in New York City, Woodstock, New York and the Philippines (in Dumaguete on the large island of Negros Oriental with visits to Siquijor Island). Currently I split most of my time between Louisville and New Orleans with additional travel as needed.
You can read an INTERVIEW with me at the Louisville Photography Collective.
WEBSITE: The Photography of Charles Silver
RECENT EXHIBITIONS:
2008: SIGNS OF LIFE at the University of Louisville's Hite Art Insitute's Cressman Center for the Visual Arts Gallery, Louisville, KY.
2008: JazzFest, New Orleans
2008: Mardi Gras 360 Online and Mardi Gras 360 at the Jazz and Heritage Foundation Gallery, New Orleans
SOLO EXHIBITIONS:
2008: SIGNS OF LIFE at the University of Louisville's Hite Art Insitute's Cressman Center for the Visual Arts Gallery, Louisville, KY.
1993/1994: 25 Year Retrospective, University of Louisville Photographic Archives.
1992: Van Go's Ear, Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California.
1986: Indiana Architectural Foundation Gallery, Indianapolis, Indiana.
INVITATIONAL GROUP EXHIBITIONS:
2007: Expressive Bodies: Contemporary Art Photography from the Kinsey Institute , Bloomington, Indiana and at the Herron School of Art and Design. A Roster of the artists is available here.
2002: Group exhibition, Art At Large Gallery, New York City.
2001: Group exhibition at The Yellow House in Flims, Switzerland: Liste Künstler/Werke für «Die Schaukel (The Swing) - eine Ausstellung zur Erotik» Gelb Haus (18.6.01).
1996: Deep Inside: Museum Show; Lausanne, Switzerland
1992: The Nude, Classic Beauty: The Silver Image Gallery; Seattle, Washington
OTHER EXHIBITIONS:
1991: For Your Pleasure: Louisville,
1989: The Erotica Show: Cafe Dog; Louisville, KY
1986: New Works: Bloomington, IN
1984: Friends and Others: Bloomington, IN
PHOTOGRAPHY IN PERMANENT COLLECTIONS:
1999: The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. A portfolio of 54 photographs added to the permanent collections.
1996: The Museum of Contemporary Erotica in Lausanne, Switzerland. A portfolio of 10 photographs purchased for their permanent collections from inaugural group show: DEEP INSIDE.
1991: The Photographic Archives of the Ekstrom Library, University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky. A 25-year Retrospective Portfolio featuring over 140 prints.
1986: The Indiana University Fine Arts Museum
Other Works can be found in in over 200 private collections in the U.S. and Europe, including: Thomas T. Solley, Wendell Cherry, Leslie Barany, Jacques and Anne Baruch and many others.
PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES AND CONTACTS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
- IN WHAT PART OF LOUISVILLE ARE YOU LOCATED:
- I spend about half of my time living across the river up in the hills in an old, plain former church building. As the crow flies I am about 10 miles SW of I-65 and Market Street. As the river rolls add 9 miles and a large bridge. The majority of the rest of my time is spent in New Orleans and traveling.
- WEBSITE:
- http://www.charlessilver.com
Charles Silver's Blog
Heading into Hurricane Gustav and my Website is Back Online
Posted on August 29th, 2008 at 12:00am —
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This, That and The Other - Going, Going ... Gone
Posted on August 10th, 2008 at 1:00am —
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New Orleans and other News
Posted on July 19th, 2008 at 5:30pm —
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Uncle Lionel Batiste - April, 2008
Posted on May 12th, 2008 at 12:57pm —
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I'm Back and Busy
Posted on April 30th, 2008 at 2:00pm —
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Goin' Back to New Orleans
Posted on April 12th, 2008 at 10:30pm —
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What's Happening Now - April, 2008
Posted on April 10th, 2008 at 1:00pm —
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© 2008 Created by Ryan Armbrust
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Some things you have to digest for a while, you know?
Arbus and Weegee ! Thanks.
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The style of these reminds me of Arbus and Weegee. Very very nice.