“…the story of one woman’s travels around Europe from the front seat of a black taxi…The taxi driver, A.J.Paetzhold took all the images except the final one in the series, taken of him by the lady from her front seat.”

I visited the new Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago today…My favorite work that I saw was the Cy Twombly exhibition they had up.  Although I was very happy to be able to see one of Robert Frank’s post-The Americans photographs for the first time in person.  I also really enjoyed the Arp sculpture below…I found it almost irresistible not to reach out and touch it.

Untitled, 2003, Cy Twombly

Seament/Cement, Self-Portrait in Mabou, 1979, Robert Frank

Growth, 1938/60, Jean (Hans) Arp

[everything changed and nothing has changed] - Ester Vonplon has recently been awarded the Swiss Photo Award 2009.  Unfortunately I missed her show at the Family Room this past February.  I’d love to get my hands on one of her books someday, but until then I might have to purchase one of the limited edition screen prints that Sonnenzimmer has printed for her.

The Raft of Medusa, painted by Théodore Géricault

“On July 5, 1816. At least 147 people were set adrift on a hurriedly constructed raft; all but 15 of them died in the 13 days before their rescue and those who survived endured starvation, dehydration, cannibalism, and madness.  ’Crazed, parched and starved, they slaughtered mutineers, ate their dead companions and killed the weakest.’ [Jonathan Miles]”

-Wikipedia

See also The Raft of George W. Bush by Joel-Peter Witkin.

I just read about Miroslav Tichý in the new issue of Aperture [#195]…I always find it interesting when artists spend their lives obsessively making work just for themselves [e.g. Henry Darger].