I had the good fortune of photographing Whitney 3 times. The first for Rolling Stone, the 2nd for Mitsubishi, the 3rd for her album cover Be Your Baby Tonight.  Whitney was good to me; while negotiating my fee for the album cover the record company was low balling me.  It was late Friday afternoon, the shoot was scheduled to start at 6:00 am the following morning.  I was summoned to Arista’s offices, they wanted me to reduce my fee or they threatened to cancel the shoot.  I recall the record executive telling me they never paid so much for an album cover to which I replied that Avedon shot a cover for Whitney & he wouldn’t have accepted what their proposing to me.  He paused, then said “Whitney has agreed to pay your fee.”  The shoot was on; 2days, 14 costume changes, a press book, & an album cover.

A lot of work, a lot of Whitney, a lot of fun.  She gave all she had with all her heart.

Thank you Whitney, I’ll miss you & may you RIP.

]]> http://andreablanchblog.com/2012/02/14/1870/feed/ 0 http://andreablanchblog.com/2012/01/05/1859/ http://andreablanchblog.com/2012/01/05/1859/#comments Thu, 05 Jan 2012 21:11:11 +0000 Webmaster http://andreablanchblog.com/?p=1859 Bleary Eyed

Missed the moment 2011 became 2012, hopefully I’ll miss any unpleasantness this year.
Had a nice surprise right before New Years, got to photograph & interview Russell James.

Russell is articulate, intelligent, altruistic, did I mention very handsome.

He’s started a global initiative called Nomads Two Worlds.

“A collection of collaborative art, music & film with indigenous Australian artists.  Russell hoped Nomads Two Worlds would become what it is today-a powerful expression of partnership & reconciliation through art across cultural divides.”

I love his conceit & it was a pleasure listening to him tell how he brought Nomads: Two Worlds fruition.

James is now working with American Native, Haitian, & Somalian artists as well.
To learn more about Russell James & Nomads: Two Worlds log in to www.museemagazine.com

Watched a lot of movies over the holidays which I’m listing in order of preference:

Senna
In The Land Of Milk & Honey
War House
My Week With Marilyn
Young Adult
Sleeping Beauty

What did you think of these films?

Swooned at Andreas Gursky’s show, which closed last Saturday @ the Gagosian Gallery.  GURSKY IS GOOD!!!  The size of his photos is necessary so one can see the subtleties in the work.  Like his famous photograph of sneakers in the Prada store lined up row after row, if you peruse the photograph as a whole you’ll miss Gursky’s charming surprise, one golf shoe.  The attention to detail, conceit, & formal composition in these new works doesn’t disappoint & are filled with many of his surprises and they are also beautiful to look at. Anybody know him, I would love to meet him.

On to Yancey Richardson to see Saran Core’s photographs of painterly still lifes.  One photograph was especially alluring & I was inspired to do a new series of my own.

Stopped by Eyebeam where technology meets art.  The works were astoundingly imaginative & creative, I’d love to be able to to do work like that.  It was like seeing the future which has all ready arrived.

Went to see “Shame” the movie.  The acting was terrific, especially Michael Fassbender, but while it was disturbing, it didn’t affect me emotionally at all. Then there is David Fincher’s ”Girl With The Dragon Tatoo.”  Fincher is a fantastic director, the editing  was tight, the pace fast, and the performances were dynamic, especially Rooney Mara. However, while it was enjoyable I preferred the Swedish version more.

Hoping the best for everyone in 2012, we’ll catch up in the new year!

OMG, this past Monday I had the good fortune to meet Arnold Lehman, Director of The Brooklyn Museum.  Ellen Schweber, the Editorial Director of Musée Magazine, & myself went to the museum with the intention of asking Arnold to be in Musée Magazine’s Issue No.2 and he said YES!  Arnold is “the peoples Museum Director,” he courts controversy through his risk taking decisions, has his pulse on the Brooklyn community which he nurtures & views as his extended family, is funny, speaks his truth candidly  with a deep knowledge of his subject and with integrity.  I like him a lot & am looking forward to the interview.

The museum was closed;  we were given a private tour by one of the Museums curators & saw 2 exhibits;  Hide/Seek; The Difference & Desire in American portraiture which focuses on themes of gender & sexuality in modern portraiture.  This is a major exhibition profound & timely with many great works & surprises. The other being Sanford Bigger: Sweet Funk-An Introspective & boy is it ever.  This NY based artist challenges & reinterprets symbols & legacies which inform contemporary America & the black experience.  There is a tree log hung across the walls with dangling ropes.
A small cut out in the log is fit with a small video screen.  The video entices the viewer to come & look & to put the rope around ones neck, in other words to lynch oneself.  The curator pointed out that whites are the majority of attendees.  This piece is terrifying, with a visceral punch & an emotional wallop that overwhelms.

Seeing art when the museum is closed is a trans-formative experience; space & time allows for a concentration unattainable in crowded circumstances.

On another subject, Musée Magazine has been receiving terrific submissions for our fear themed issue.  Due to the holiday we’ve extended the deadline to Jan. 15th.
We also posted some new photos in our Art Out section; Book signing with Patrick Demarchelier at Dior & The Launch of The Valentino Garavani Virtual Museum.
Good news for you future event photographers, Musée is now accepting photographs of NY art openings & events.  Only quality images will be accepted with subject names & location, in return for on page credit.

Musée has some exciting news coming soon, so keep checking in www.museemagazine.com.

From an upcoming exhibition of Andrea Blanch’s Portrait of America, the great Joan Buck as The Judge!

November 29^th 9:30am I boarded a Jet Blue Flight to Fort Lauderdale en route to Miami Basel.

On December 2nd 8:30pm my flight from Fort Lauderdale left for New York, I was so happy!

Four days and three nights filled with art, people, art, parties, art, celebrites & tycoons, art, gossip, art, buying & selling, fashion & fun.

As Anthony Haden Guest said “they should forget about the art, it’s a distraction.”

$$$$$ we’re talking $, Occupy Wall Street where are they when you need them.

Highlight; luxurious extravagance the Van Cleef & Arpels party given at the Opa-Locke airport hanger transformed into an enchanted forest, complete with performances by Nick Cave & Vanessa Beecroft, a magical evening had by all.

Just want to thank everyone for their patience and contributions to the mgazine! ENJOY!!

CLICK IMAGE TO READ

I got a call from my friend Gaby Tana last week inviting me to a screening of “Coriolanus” which Gaby co-produced along with Ralph Fiennes who directed and starred in the film. We didn’t make the screening but we were able to watch the Q & A afterwards with Ralph and a film professor from Columbia University, Annette Insdorf. We met Ralph at the theatre and were escorted to the green room (yes, it is actually green) before the Q & A started. The audience loved the film!  Afterwards, Gaby, Ralph, and myself went to a late dinner at The Waverly Inn. Ralph is lovely; intellegent, sensitive and enjoys his life. A fun evening.

My last class for the fall session at ICP was this past Monday. Dean Rodgers, head of Next Models new talent board, spoke along with Theo Wenner, a young photographer who just shot the cover of Style.com’s new print magazine  and twenty five pages of Lindsey Wixson, a dream assignment and the results are wonderful. I liked his work it looked fresh and spontaneous, he mostly uses film and 35mm.  His message to the students, “keep it personal”, you life is unique. He was terrific! Dean educated the students all about dealing with modeling agencies what they expect form new photographers, how to deal with new models, the kind of girls they are looking for now, how to make them feel comfortable on set, etc. It is always good to see how receptive Dean is to new talent, be it models or photographers; someone worth listening to! Since the last time I saw him I noticed he has been working out and he looks great!

This session was a particularly good one. All of the guest speakers were fantastic and helped guide the students to reach their potential and goals. Special thanks to Masdek Rassi, Sebastian Kim, Martyn Thompson, Jennifer Pastore, Emmanuel Tanner, Carlos Souza, Dean Rodgers, and Theo Wenner.

On November 8th, Ellen Schweber, Editorial Director of Musée , held her birthday lunch at The Wright Restaurant at the Guggenheim Museum. But before lunch we were treated to a private, curated tour of the Maurizio Cattelan: All exhibition. I felt like it was the eighth wonder of the world, it was thrilling, inventive, funny, and stimulating. Highly recommended!

Tweeking Tweeking Tweeking… MUSÉE magazine Just want to thank everyone for their patience. Enjoy!

First, I would like to thank everyone who joined Issuu. An unfinished version of Musée was released in error, hopefully everyone’s interest is peaked. The content will be different when officially launched and we will contact you when it is.

Jennifer Pastore, photo editor of Teen Vogue and Emmanuel Tanner, photo representative for Marek and Associates, spoke at my class last week. Both of them were brilliant, even I learned new things about the industry. They wowed the students with their comprehensive presentations and talk giving the class the information needed when out in the real world.

Went to see three art exhibitions Friday night with a friend; Marilyn Minter at Salon 94 Bowery, Nan Goldin at Matthew Marks Gallery, and Yoko Ono at Galerie LeLong. Her comments were “Marilyn Minter was great…”Nan Goldins opening had alot of energy,” and “Poor Yoko…”  I loved Minter’s painting of her grandchild. Nan Goldin I felt was very bold but it didn’t serve her well. As for Yoko Ono, my friend and I looked at each other and said “I think we should see the press release.”

Marilyn Minter

Nan Goldin

Yoko Ono

I was fortunate to meet Kate Fowle, the head of the organization Independent Curators International. When I told her about Musée she offered to put me in touch with her international curators so they can inform us about what is happening around the globe. This is a great coup for Musée, very exciting!

This past saturday, I went to see a Man and Boy, starring Frank Langella who is superb. The story is about a master of the universe type, high finance and low morals.

Then Tuesday night I saw Other Desert Cities. The cast was especially good but I loved Stockard Channing. “Emmy winner, Stockard Channing and golden globe winner, Stacy Keach play the Wyeths, an old-hollywood couple retired from their days of galavanting in Reagan’s inner circle. When their children come home to visit, their daughter Brookes impending memoir opens a closet full of skeletons.”

Monday night was my class with Martyn Thompson as my guest speaker.  Martyn has spoken at every class I’ve had and the students always love him, as do I. He is an artist and a fantastic photographer.

My meeting with Suzanne Nicholas, Associate Director of Education from ICP, went well. ICP has agreed to support Musée to get the word out by informing students and grad students alike about the magazine. I am happy to say they are on board!

Went to see Nancy Donaldson at the Times building. Nancy was my fantastic video teacher at ICP this summer. We spoke about including video in Musée’s format.The times building is unique , before you go into the elevator you press your floor on the outside wall ( this was a first ). They served freshly made seared tuna sushi in the light- filled open space cafeteria, We had a good visit. Right next to the Times building, Muji Muji has a store, of course I went in to browse and found the best luggage. The design is like Rowena but the material is different still light, practical and looks good.

My dear friend Vincent Wolf called to ask if I wanted his ticket to the God’s Love We Deliver 25 year fund raiser last night, on which he serves on the advisory board. This charity is terrific, which delivers 4000 meals to people everyday in New York City. Which began as a charity for aids is now one for all people in need, so of course, I said yes. Carolina Herrera and Uma Thurman were honored for their volunteering efforts, Calvin Klein, Anna Wintour, Linda Fargo, John Dempsey and many others were there to support Gods Love. They raised a lot of money, served a delicious dinner, Margaret Russell (Editor in Chief) of Architectural Digest was on my right and Sue Chalom was to my left. It was satisfying night.