THE HANDMADE TALE- Debra Achen & Diana H. Bloomfield > First Place:Frani Evedon-Two Bags Packed #4
First Place:Frani Evedon-Two Bags Packed #4
Frani Evedon/Two Bags Packed #4
First Place
Jurors Diana H. Bloomfield and Debra Achen ask Frani Evedon the following questions.
Frani Evedon says, "I have experienced casual antisemitism through expressions that have become part of American society's lexicon. Expressions such as 'jewing down" which promulgate the stereotype of a cheap Jew or that Jews are only interested in money have been used in my presence. I am not a practicing Jew in that I do not go to synagogue or celebrate the Jewish holidays; I find the practice of any religion to be divisive and the belief in any god to be questionable. But I am a cultural Jew, aware of my heritage and history. When I am witness to or victim of any form of othering, I experience profound sadness and disappointment.
4. "One of the things I wonder – what is in the bags? What items were chosen to pack? Of course, that is part of the mystique of the images, but have you thought of partly opening one for perhaps a hint?"
MORE ABOUT FRANI EVEDON:
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THE HANDMADE TALE HOME PAGE
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale
FIRST PLACE
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/first-place-frani-evedon-two-bags-packed-4/1
SECOND PLACE
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/second-place-charlotta-hauksdottir-reclamation-iv/1
HONORABLE MENTIONS
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/honorable-mention-matt-connors-rue-des-chapeliers-natalie-obermaier-pasha-orin-rutchick-boys-teri-figliuzzi-renew-nicola-hackl-haslinger-the-invitation-ii/1
BEST SERIES
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/best-series-linda-plaisted-kintsugi-altarpiece-series/1
EXHIBITION #1
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/exhibition-1/1
EXHIBITION #2
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/exhibition-2/1
EXHIBITION #3
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/exhibition-3/1
EXHIBITION #4
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/exhibition-4/1
EXHIBITION #5
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/exhibition-5/1
First Place
Juror Diana H. Bloomfield Review of First Place: “Two Bags Packed #4”:
“Among all the entries, this work stood out for me, not only because of the excellent gum bichromate printing, but because of the subject matter. This series touches on the Jewish custom of always keeping a bag packed, or 2 bags packed, for varied reasons- but the most universal and relatable one, I believe, is adaptability— that we should, at any moment, always be prepared for change and the inevitable challenges that come our way.
Narratives can be found, however, in each image, and viewers can read them in myriad ways.
The use of gum bichromate printing meshes well with these beautifully composed images and adds a slightly otherworldly, and timeless, quality. It’s a beautiful series, and our favorite was
Two Bags Packed #4. This image, in particular, is just spectacular, with its spot-on composition, lighting, and exquisite printing.”
Juror Debra Achen Review of First Place: “Two Bags Packed #4” “The emotional impact of this photograph is intensified by the color treatment. The layers of tonality created through the combination of cyanotype and gum bichromate processes are a metaphor for the layers of meaning in the image. Layers of time in the stained floor and cracked, peeling walls, faded over many years past. Layers of space – imagine sitting, standing in the room, perhaps pacing, looking out the window. Layers of memory – the rubble, the open door, and the bags in the corner.
It’s about what is not shown in the image – the people in the room. You have to ask what happened here. Did they quickly flee, were they injured in the rubble, or were they taken away?
And it’s about what remains – the bags. The style and color treatment of the bags draw you in. What personal items do they hold? Treasures of a life left behind.”
“Among all the entries, this work stood out for me, not only because of the excellent gum bichromate printing, but because of the subject matter. This series touches on the Jewish custom of always keeping a bag packed, or 2 bags packed, for varied reasons- but the most universal and relatable one, I believe, is adaptability— that we should, at any moment, always be prepared for change and the inevitable challenges that come our way.
Narratives can be found, however, in each image, and viewers can read them in myriad ways.
The use of gum bichromate printing meshes well with these beautifully composed images and adds a slightly otherworldly, and timeless, quality. It’s a beautiful series, and our favorite was
Two Bags Packed #4. This image, in particular, is just spectacular, with its spot-on composition, lighting, and exquisite printing.”
Juror Debra Achen Review of First Place: “Two Bags Packed #4” “The emotional impact of this photograph is intensified by the color treatment. The layers of tonality created through the combination of cyanotype and gum bichromate processes are a metaphor for the layers of meaning in the image. Layers of time in the stained floor and cracked, peeling walls, faded over many years past. Layers of space – imagine sitting, standing in the room, perhaps pacing, looking out the window. Layers of memory – the rubble, the open door, and the bags in the corner.
It’s about what is not shown in the image – the people in the room. You have to ask what happened here. Did they quickly flee, were they injured in the rubble, or were they taken away?
And it’s about what remains – the bags. The style and color treatment of the bags draw you in. What personal items do they hold? Treasures of a life left behind.”
Jurors Diana H. Bloomfield and Debra Achen ask Frani Evedon the following questions.
1. "Can you tell us a little more about this series and your concept for it?"
Frani Evedon says, "I have experienced casual antisemitism through expressions that have become part of American society's lexicon. Expressions such as 'jewing down" which promulgate the stereotype of a cheap Jew or that Jews are only interested in money have been used in my presence. I am not a practicing Jew in that I do not go to synagogue or celebrate the Jewish holidays; I find the practice of any religion to be divisive and the belief in any god to be questionable. But I am a cultural Jew, aware of my heritage and history. When I am witness to or victim of any form of othering, I experience profound sadness and disappointment.
I began to think about how I could transform the expression "Always keep two bags packed" into a metaphorical illustration that asserts not only the rise of antisemitism but the disgusting increase of verbal and physical violence against anyone considered "other" by certain factions in the United States and the world. I had the suitcases and thought about what it would be like to flee. Where would I go? Would I be welcome somewhere? Where would danger be hiding?
I found the expression originated in Chernivtsi, a city in southwestern Ukraine on the upper course of the Prut River, in 1941, as part of the Romanian government’s directive to “cleanse the Earth” of Jews. Jewish residents were ordered to pack two bags and be ready to leave in two hours."
2. "Why did you choose a 19th century printing process for this series?"
Evedon says, "Antisemitism and othering have existed seemingly forever. Called "the longest hatred," there is no time in which these hateful practices have not existed. Gum bichromate and cyanotype are processes that transcend the time in which they were invented. They can be applied to and combined with 21st century practices. Because of this, these techniques exist outside of time."
3. "How did you find or decide on the location for this piece and the others in the series?"
Evedon says, "The Western New York area is filled with a variety of locations, buildings and landscapes that, in themselves, are expressions of dislocation and isolation. The abandoned steel mills, empty housing projects, fallow fields in the winter, ice storms on Lake Erie can be easy locations for "ruin porn" but I wanted to elevate that with the notion that these places might be inhabited with dislocated souls pursuing safety."
Evedon says, "In the very first image I photographed, I placed a pair of glasses on the suitcase which reminded me of the piles of glasses discovered in the Nazi death camps. In another image, I have the bags hanging from a rope with some fabric from a woman's nightgown (my grandmother's) and a man's shirt (my grandfather's) protruding from them as if the suitcases were hurriedly closed and the clothing didn't make it all the way into the bags. I have been told that the suitcases feel like stand ins for people, so to open them might be too literal. I do, however, want to use additional objects in some way but they must have their own meaning, as well."
5. " I assume this is an ongoing series, but we are also curious about what’s new on the horizon for you."
Evedon says, "On October 18th, I am opening a solo exhibition at Beebe's at the Gallery in Buffalo with a selection of work from my archives.
At the end of July 2025, I will be opening Into Madness. Into Madness will be a series of up to 20 photographic works that address my experience with heroin addiction, Hepatitis C and the “cure” that almost killed me. I contracted Hepatitis C (Hep C) while addicted to heroin in my teens and early 20s back in the 1960s and 70s. The disease was not discovered until 1991 when I had some preoperative tests. Thus began my journey into medication to try to cure the Hep C. I received a grant to complete the work and it will be shown in Buffalo at the Buffalo Arts Studio Gallery. By the way, in 2015 I finally became Hep C free with the most current drug regimen.
I continue to explore alternative processes. It seems that the more I learn, the more difficult it becomes."
MORE ABOUT FRANI EVEDON:
Although Frani Evedon earned her undergraduate degree in sculpture and metalsmithing, she found that photography allowed her to capture a sense of synchronicity not satisfactorily available to her three-dimensionally. The camera allows her to shift perspectives, creating worlds that seem to exist outside of space and time, speaking to Lakota Shaman Lame Deer’s conviction that “the physical aspect of existence is only representative of what is real.”
In her practice, Frani manipulates color and structure to produce formal compositions that interpret Lame Deer’s belief while celebrating the beauty within them. Concurrently, however, she uses image-making as a visual metaphor to address events and issues of the day, such as ant-Semitism, war, violence and illness.
Recently, Frani’s artmaking has led her to explore alternative photographic techniques such as gum bichromate, cyanotype and gumoil.
Her participation in a three-person exhibition entitled Resolutions garnered critical acclaim and her works have been included in variety of national and international exhibitions featuring these 19th century techniques.
Her award-winning work has been shown locally, nationally, and internationally and has been included in academic publications.
She has been an exhibiting member of the Buffalo Society of Artists (BSA) since the mid-1990s. Elected to the BSA Board of Directors in 2016, she served first as Communications Chair then as President, her term ending in 2022.
Recently, Frani’s artmaking has led her to explore alternative photographic techniques such as gum bichromate, cyanotype and gumoil.
Her participation in a three-person exhibition entitled Resolutions garnered critical acclaim and her works have been included in variety of national and international exhibitions featuring these 19th century techniques.
Her award-winning work has been shown locally, nationally, and internationally and has been included in academic publications.
She has been an exhibiting member of the Buffalo Society of Artists (BSA) since the mid-1990s. Elected to the BSA Board of Directors in 2016, she served first as Communications Chair then as President, her term ending in 2022.
Frani taught visual art at Orchard Park High School for 27 years, and was department chair for 19 years, continuing to create and exhibit throughout her teaching career.
Artists Statement: Two Bags Packed
"It might have been 15 years ago when, in the midst of a rise of antisemitic chatter among students in the high school in which I was teaching, a Jewish colleague said to me, “Always keep two bags packed.” It stayed with me, always in the back of my mind, cogitating in the way that visual expression does when it seeks a way out. It wasn’t until 2019 that Two Bags Packedpresented itself to me. It had found its way out.
Two Bags Packed is a series of photographs that addresses social injustice and racial discrimination, specifically antisemitism. The 80 year old suitcases, belonging to my parents, are placed in an array of locations – locations that suggest isolation, displacement, even the pursuit of safety. The suitcases evoke a human presence that is simultaneously arriving, present, and absent.
This expression can be found in many forms throughout the centuries. Research uncovered instances of Jewish persecution reaching back to 270 BCE, the need for immediate travel and the diaspora never-ending; even today, Jews live within its influence.
Regardless of politics, no one can dispute that terrorist organizations have vowed to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Coupled with the current rise of antisemitism in the United States and globally, no Jew feels completely safe.
Two Bags Packed is a series of photographs that addresses social injustice and racial discrimination, specifically antisemitism. The 80 year old suitcases, belonging to my parents, are placed in an array of locations – locations that suggest isolation, displacement, even the pursuit of safety. The suitcases evoke a human presence that is simultaneously arriving, present, and absent.
This expression can be found in many forms throughout the centuries. Research uncovered instances of Jewish persecution reaching back to 270 BCE, the need for immediate travel and the diaspora never-ending; even today, Jews live within its influence.
Regardless of politics, no one can dispute that terrorist organizations have vowed to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. Coupled with the current rise of antisemitism in the United States and globally, no Jew feels completely safe.
The images are printed using gum bichromate and cyanotype processes on Fabriano Artistico paper. These 19thcentury techniques can be expressive and painterly, suggesting an existence outside of time. Antisemitism exists independent of time because it is a constant presence, a hovering malignance, and accepted as part of the human experience."
Image for Sale
Two Bags Packed #4 22 H” x 16.75 W”
gum bichromate on Fabriano Aristico
$1500 framed
Limited Edition of 2
Signed on mat and on back of print
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THE HANDMADE TALE HOME PAGE
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale
FIRST PLACE
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/first-place-frani-evedon-two-bags-packed-4/1
SECOND PLACE
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/second-place-charlotta-hauksdottir-reclamation-iv/1
HONORABLE MENTIONS
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/honorable-mention-matt-connors-rue-des-chapeliers-natalie-obermaier-pasha-orin-rutchick-boys-teri-figliuzzi-renew-nicola-hackl-haslinger-the-invitation-ii/1
BEST SERIES
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/best-series-linda-plaisted-kintsugi-altarpiece-series/1
EXHIBITION #1
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/exhibition-1/1
EXHIBITION #2
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/exhibition-2/1
EXHIBITION #3
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/exhibition-3/1
EXHIBITION #4
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/exhibition-4/1
EXHIBITION #5
https://laphotocurator.com/the-handmade-tale-debra-achen-diana-h-bloomfield/exhibition-5/1
