“Once seen, the work of John Divola is not easily forgotten, particularly his photographs made in disused buildings. There is nothing quite like them in the history of the medium.”
—David Campany

Opening on the West coast is the latest collection from photographer John Divola titled Dark Star. This exhibition consists of a series of large-scale photographs taken from obscure vantages within abandoned dwellings. They are further abstracted as the interior surfaces are punctuated by a black circle painted by the artist, bringing a more complex quality to these scenes. The images inspire meditation on both the role of the artist and the capacity of photography as a documentary medium. The Dark Star series begs many interpretations and can be seen in Santa Monica at Gallery Luisotti.

Alongside Dark Star are some of Divola’s earliest works from his Vandalism series from the 1970’s. This series was published in a work titled Three Acts, available here through Aperture.

Dark Star
January 10-March 7, 2009
Gallery Luisotti
2525 Michigan Ave, Bldg A2, Santa Monica
(310) 453-0043

Currently on press at Sing Cheong Printing for the upcoming Aperture book, All the Days and Nights, is photographer Doug DuBois and Aperture’s Production Director Matthew Pimm.  Check out the extended gallery below for more pictures from their adventures in Hong Kong.

Read about the complexities and dynamics of using one’s own family as subject matter, as DuBois elaborates here in an interview with Alec Soth. Also be sure to check out Doug DuBois’ website for a sneak peek at some of the works from one of Aperture’s newest titles.

Click below to see more images by Doug DuBois.

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A visitor to the Aperture and D.A.P. booth at photo la this past weekend. Featured limited-edition prints from Takashi Homma, Thomas Allen, and Martin and Muñoz can be seen on the wall.

Bruce Davidson in conversation with Charlotte Cotton on Saturday, January 10, 2009 as part of the LACMA Artist Conversation Series.

Jim Goldberg signing copies of War Is Only Half the Story: The Aftermath Project at the Aperture booth on Sunday, January 11, following his lecture.

Just announced! Photo-eye Magazine’s list of Best Photo Books 2008. Congratulations to all who are recognized, most notably Josef Koudelka’s Invasion 68: Prague, which made the Top 12 list.

Publisher of the Aperture Book Program, Lesley A. Martin’s list can be viewed here. Darius Himes, Publisher and Co-founder of Radius Books chose Martin Parr’s eclectic work, Parrworld as one of his favorites of the year. Michelle Dunn Marsh, Senior  Art+Design Editor, Chronicle Books nominated two Aperture titles, Hank Willis Thomas: Pitch Blackness* and Misty Dawn: Portrait of a Muse* by Jock Sturges both are available signed from Aperture. Aperture works recognized by PDN include Paul Fusco: RFK* and Travelers*by Walter Martin and Paloma Muñoz. Also nominated was Jonas Bendiksen’s powerful work documenting urban slum dwellings in The Places We Live*.

Be sure to check out Aperture’s bookstore to purchase these incredible titles. Order your copy of Invasion 68: Prague here today!

*Signed copies available through Aperture.

World renowned photographer Mary Ellen Mark’s exhibition titled Seen Behind the Scene is currently on display at both the  Staley-Wise Gallery in New York and Fahey/Klein Gallery in Los Angeles. This show features candid photographs of many top actors, actresses and directors. In awe of the work that so often goes unseen, Mary Ellen Mark strives to document the hard work and dedication she witnesses both on and off set. Her images transcend her approach from those of mundane paparazzi shots to complex provocative works that truly shed light on her subjects.

Mary Ellen Mark’s extensive career as a photographer includes over 15 publications including Mary Ellen Mark: Twins, published by Aperture in 2003. Additionally, she has contributed works to magazines such as Vanity Fair, New York Times Magazine, Life and Rolling Stone. A recipient of five honorary doctorates, Mark has also won numerous awards, including the acclaimed Cornell Capa Award from the International Center of Photography.

Don’t miss your chance to see this world-class exhibit from an artist American Photo readers named as the most influential woman photographer of all time.

Mary Ellen Mark: Seen Behind the Scene

December 4-January 17, 2009
Fahey/Klein Gallery
148 North La Brea, Los Angeles
323-934-2250

January 8-February 14, 2009
Staley-Wise Gallery
560 Broadway, 3rd Floor, New York
212-966-6223

Heather and Kelsey Dietrick, 7 years old, Kelsey older by 66 minutes, 2002
From the series “Twins” © Mary Ellen Mark

Visit Aperture at booth #D13 this weekend at the 18th annual Los Angeles photography art fair for the latest selection of fine photography books, new limited-edition prints (including the first look at Mary Ellen Mark’s limited-edition MasterPrint™ from her famed Twins series, printed in conjunction with IC Lab), and a sneak peak of the Spring issue of Aperture magazine.

photo la
Barker Hangar
3021 Airport Avenue
Santa Monica, CA 90405

BENEFIT RECEPTION
To benefit the Photography Department of the
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Thursday, January 8th, 6-9 pm

PUBLIC FAIR HOURS
Friday, January 9th, 12pm – 8pm
Saturday, January 10th, 12pm – 8pm
Sunday, January 11th, 12pm – 6pm

Although Spring may be more than six weeks away, catch a glimpse of flora and fauna at a collaborative exhibition titled Pollination which combines cibachrome photograms from Neeta Madahar and the glazed ceramic sculptures of Christopher Russell. Both artists have taken nature as inspiration for their work, and their respective mediums and approaches create a beautiful symbiotic experience. The Julie Saul Gallery in New York hosts this exhibition, with an opening reception on January 8, 2009, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

Madahar’s work, Cosmoses, is a series of photograms created by arranging self-made origami flowers on photo paper. Though seemingly random and simple, this process is actually intensive and can thus be seen as a metaphor to the complexities of nature itself. Combining art with science, Russell’s sculptures depict a range of subjects from birds, bees and pollen in meticulous accuracy, and he even utilizes a golden glaze mimicking honey.

This exhibition marks Neeta Madahar’s third exhibition at Julie Saul and Christopher Russell’s premier. A limited-edition print from Neeta Madahar is available exclusively through Aperture from her 2003 series Sustanance.

Neeta Madahar and Christopher Russell
January 8-February 28, 2009
Julie Saul Gallery
535 W 22nd Street, New York
212-627-2410

Opening this week at P.P.O.W. in New York is a brand new exhibition from Dutch photographer Teun Hocks appropriately titled New Works. Hocks himself will attend the opening reception on January 8, from 6:00 to 8:00 pm.

This exhibition will be Hocks’ eighth solo exhibition at P.P.O.W. and will present a series of his latest drawings, photographs and videos. Hocks’ unique creative processes are what allow him to create magnificent surreal works that showcase the hand of the artist in his display of ‘constructed imagery’. By first developing his photographs in black and white and later adding color by oil paint himself, Hocks claims all control of his works and constructs a complex image reflective solely of the artist’s vision. These manipulated images highlight a disconnection with reality, and further emphasize the metaphoric implications of the staged scene.

A limited-edition print is available exclusively through Aperture from his internationally acclaimed monograph Teun Hocks published in 2006.

Teun Hocks: New Works
January 3-February 7, 2009
P.P.O.W.
555 W 25^th Street, New York
212-647-1044