The Walker’s new photography show, From Here to There: Alec Soth’s America, got me consulting the archives for other exhibitions devoted to prominent photographers. Witness to our Time: The Photographs of Alfred Eisenstaedt is one example with some relevance. A key figure in developing the profession of photojournalism, Eisenstaedt (1898-1995) worked from the 1930s up until the early ’90s — right about…

With less than one week to go, Alec Soth’s “From Here to There” project continues to gain momentum. As the September 27 deadline quickly approaches, participants continue to explore the world using a list of 10 things to gain new insight on their surroundings. These findings are sparking exciting intellectual and sometimes philosophical conversations regarding life, photography and the art world…

Alec Soth’s “From Here to There” project has hit its stride. Participants have gotten comfortable with its parameters — shooting a list of 10 things out in the world, or combining any number of those things in one image – and also with discussing deeper questions related to the assignment and photography itself. “I am using this assignment to rediscover taking ‘pointless’ photos. After experimenting with…

It’s been a week since Alec Soth announced the “From Here to There” Flickr project, devised in conjunction with his exhibition that opens here on Saturday. Already more than 450 photographers have joined the group, uploading nearly 500 images – and the deadline isn’t until October 1. The “Treasure Hunt” theme for this first “From Here to There” assignment (yes, another is coming up) takes off on Soth’s own…

To accompany From Here to There: Alec Soth’s America, which opens here at the Walker Art Center on Sunday, September 12th, Alec Soth is creating a series of Flickr group projects that are linked to his photographic process. Anyone can take part, and we hope you do.  Alec will be commenting  and writing here and on his own blog over the run of the exhibition, and we will be posting some of your…

Over the past few years there has been increasing discussion in the arts and cultural community about the shifting roles and expectations of audiences, and how they impact the creation of art as well as the relationship of cultural institutions with their audiences. Last year, for example, ARTnews published “Reshaping the Art Museum,” a story that covered myriad strategies that arts institutions are…

Notes The High Museum of Art exhibition Alec Soth: Black Line of Woods (August 8, 2009–January 3, 2010) featured twelve large archival pigment prints. Soth was the sixth artist to be chosen by the museum to participate in its Picturing the South photography series, in which artists are invited to make work inspired by the rural American South. The other artists selected so far are Dawoud Bey, Emmett…

As a museum registrar, I subscribe to the Packing, Art handling & Crating Information Network (PACIN). The forum is a great way for art handlers to receive information and pose questions about the many conundrums we encounter in our line of work. Following up on a recent conversation on the PACIN listserve about what to do with old crates, the artist collective Red 76 has temporarily landed its…

On June 28 the McKnight Foundation named Siah Armjani as the 2010 recipient of the Distinguished Artist Award—an honor that recognizes individuals “who helped lay the foundation for Minnesota’s rich cultural life” and “despite opportunities to pursue their work elsewhere, they chose to stay — and by staying, they have made a difference.”  And providing a foundation for the arts in Minnesota is exactly…