Mathew Pokoik - news

Lincoln Center Institute (LCI) now has on-line the Windows on the Work, with an interview, based on my photographic work Streetwork. Since 2001, this and another portfolio of my photographs, have been touring school’s around the greater NY Metropolitan area. They’re the center of study in an Aesthetic Education unit taught by an LCI Teaching Artist. It has been fantastic to have now thousands of students ranging from pre-K to post-grad study my work in this setting. Now they have available, The Windows on the Work, a collection of related articles, study aid, and contextual information resource for students and teachers studying these portfolio’s. Sadly, much of the information is password protected, only for teachers and students working with LCI.

What you can see is this interview with me by friend / artist / and fellow LCI teaching artist, Tenesh Weber. I’m quite happy with the way it turned out, I hope you enjoy it. To check out the Windows on the Work go to LCI’s website, click on Repertory Resources, in the left hand column, Then click Visual Arts: Street Work, in the center column and surf away. Sorry that is takes a bit of work to find, LCI’s quirky yet chalk-full of interesting-info website doesn’t allow for easy bookmarking. Below is one of the photos from the Streetwork portfolio. If you would like to see both portfolio’s (minus one forever lost image) click here, and type “lci”.

NYC, Canal St. 1999, ©Mathew Pokoik

Livia, Frederick Sommer ©Frederick and Frances Sommer Foundation

With the Holiday’s upon us, which includes lots of cooking and meals with Family and Friends, I thought I’d share a favorite passage from the late and great Frederick Sommer. I’ll be posting more about Fred soon, along with some notes from our conversations. I find this passage to perfectly encompass the experience, discipline, challenges, and joy of photography.

We’re not so damned inspired every day! If we rely on what we meet, some inspiration will arise. As an example, if I go into a grocery store, no matter how beautifully stocked or lush it is in terms of display of fruit and edibles of all kinds, if I am smart I will take home what is best that day. Even if planning a banquet (something I seldom do, believe me), I plan from all the things I find there; I do this every time I go into a grocery store. I buy the best of what there is that day. If the beef looks good, I’m not going to buy lamb. I buy the best of the beef; if the best of the beef is expensive, I buy less of it. I buy carefully, so you can be sure I get a lot for my money. The store may have what you think you want that day. You are looking for pears. There may be pears, but those pears may not be at their best. Confusion is not enriching if you try to unravel it. It is unraveled confusion if you impose upon yourself what is available and come back with bad meat and bad fruit. Take what is really there, and gradually build from it. You build your meal, your banquet; it’s always a banquet when a few things are beautifully related.

From A Talk Given at the Art Institute of Chicago, Oct. 1970.

With two big storms in a week we now have a foot and a half snow base on the ground. For the first time in a few years we might be in for a real Catskill Mountain winter. Here are two photos from the garden the day after the nor’easter.

©Mathew Pokoik

©Mathew Pokoik