Peter MacCallum: Material World
Photographs:
Interiors 1986-2004
Concrete Industries 1998-2004
edited by Rebecca Diederichs
designed by Bryan Gee
published by YYZ BOOKS and Museum London
| I worked on this book of photographs by artist Peter MacCallum in my last job as managing editor at YYZ Books. It launches this Saturday afternoon in Toronto (see blurb below) and next Saturday in London, Ontario. Peter is an exceptional photographer and I have to say that, biased as I am, this book is gorgeous. Two years ago I wrote in Lola that Peter's photographs are "both unmannered and unsentimental, while at the same time beautiful. A simple, careful, and competent representation can tug at the heartstrings harder than the most expressionistic outpourings." Peter MacCallum works very hard and his photographs serve as a testament to labour on several levels. Records of late 20th century industry, they also zing with light and detail, and a surreal sharpness that makes you feel as if you can see too well, as if you are looking through the instance of the moment to it's own timeless, perfect incarnation. Designer Bryan Gee and editor Rebecca Diederichs put this book together with a commensurate level of care and attention to detail, and the thing has turned out beautifully. I also urge anyone in London to go and see the show, Peter MacCallum: Concrete Industries, on until February 27 at Museum London. You won't be disappointed. |
| IMPORTANT NOTE: Along with the photographs, there are three essays in the book, an introduction, and an interview. The interview is by Blake Fitzpatrick. The essays are by Michael Baker, Terence Dick, and Russell Smith. The intro is by Rebecca Diederichs. |
TORONTO LAUNCH:
Saturday, November 20th, 2 5 p.m.
David Mirvish Books / Art Books
596 Markham Street, Toronto |
LONDON LAUNCH (with artist's talk):
Saturday, November 27th, 2 p.m.
Museum London
421 Ridout Street North, London |
Individuals can order the book online from YYZBooks
For retail or bulk orders go to ABC |
Sally, thanks SO much for the heads-up about this London show and the book. Both of them are stunning. Peter MacCallum's artist talk was fascinating, and the conversations afterwards with Rebecca Diederichs (editor) and Bryan Gee ( designer) about the challenges of putting the book together were way interesting. In the spectrum of how MacCallum perceives his practice he leaves a surprisingly small window for "art" or "esthetic," and I kept needling him about that (I hope not too offensively), because the photos are so accomplished and evocative. Once I got the book home I discovered, reading his Foreword, that I'm not alone in being surprised by this. And I've got a huge amount of respect for the way he looks at it. I was equally fascinated by the "nuts and bolts," the history of the technology, the way the whole process works.
There is a really nice piece on Peter MacCallum in today's Globe and Mail (thanks for the tip, Jean). Gary Michael Dault did an elegant job describing the work: "Crisp, lean, subtly composed and aglow from within, as if the pearlescent cement dust that floats through the photographs were made up of particles of airborne light, MacCallum's Concrete Industries photographs are effulgent with radiance -- albeit in the service of documentary truth."
|
tomorrow!
Peter MacCallum: Material World
Photographs:
Interiors 1986-2004
Concrete Industries 1998-2004
edited by Rebecca Diederichs
designed by Bryan Gee
published by YYZ BOOKS and Museum London
Saturday, November 20th, 2 5 p.m.
David Mirvish Books / Art Books
596 Markham Street, Toronto
Saturday, November 27th, 2 p.m.
Museum London
421 Ridout Street North, London
For retail or bulk orders go to ABC
- sally mckay 11-20-2004 4:08 am
Sally, thanks SO much for the heads-up about this London show and the book. Both of them are stunning. Peter MacCallum's artist talk was fascinating, and the conversations afterwards with Rebecca Diederichs (editor) and Bryan Gee ( designer) about the challenges of putting the book together were way interesting. In the spectrum of how MacCallum perceives his practice he leaves a surprisingly small window for "art" or "esthetic," and I kept needling him about that (I hope not too offensively), because the photos are so accomplished and evocative. Once I got the book home I discovered, reading his Foreword, that I'm not alone in being surprised by this. And I've got a huge amount of respect for the way he looks at it. I was equally fascinated by the "nuts and bolts," the history of the technology, the way the whole process works.
- Jean (guest) 11-28-2004 6:47 pm
There is a really nice piece on Peter MacCallum in today's Globe and Mail (thanks for the tip, Jean). Gary Michael Dault did an elegant job describing the work: "Crisp, lean, subtly composed and aglow from within, as if the pearlescent cement dust that floats through the photographs were made up of particles of airborne light, MacCallum's Concrete Industries photographs are effulgent with radiance -- albeit in the service of documentary truth."
- sally mckay 12-23-2004 6:54 pm