Some background: I met Jane with fellow creative Anne Hardy (just as fun, by the way) who has known Jane for a few years. We three explored magical Washington Depot and Kent, Connecticut  for a story pitch. Anne chose the concept for the story, Jane brought her camera to her vision, and I chose what to eat for lunch. Actually, what Jane ordered looked a lot better than mine. And she’s a sharer,  my kind of gal.

We agreed on everything – like who we thought was cute – (a farmer did catch our collective eye), who we thought was not so great (top secret) and how Flirtation Lane deserved a photo – with said farmer please.

Yes, readers, I know. Just because Jane is lively and entertaining doesn’t mean she’s talented.  But she is. She has worked for Elle Decor, the New York Times, AD, Veranda, Vogue, Condé Nast Traveller and a whole host of top tier titles. Just look at her web site if you want to see beautifully-shot interiors.

“Once we began to work together,” says Anne, “I realized what  I admire is the sense of place she brings to a shoot.  That is what makes her such an interesting creative to work with – she sees what she is shooting in context – which, I think, makes her work particularly resonant.

“Jane helps keep everything lively and fun”, adds Anne. “She talks about her work filling her cup. She fills ours.”

I asked Jane how she ended up in photography – a mid-career decision after working in fashion at Esprit. (note the stylish neckerchief)

“I grew up in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, born to a painter mother. The house was full of paints and easels, but no dark room, which was a blessing, because I hated chemistry. But I  always loved art.”

Jane studied art history at the University of Michigan, spent spring breaks in Paris and New York City blissfully visiting museums alone and doodling Matisse interiors on restaurant placemats She enjoys doing both to this day.

When digital came along in the early 2000’s, Jane found her calling.

“I am a photographer who came of age as film ended and digital began”  She prefers shooting interiors, food and travel. Jane in action at The Flat in Westport.

I asked her to do a headshot of me for a magazine. She rarely does portraits, but made an exception. People often feel sorry for me. (Note: discuss with shrink)

Here are a few of her pics…

Not bad, eh? And Jane politely said they didn’t need much retouching. Love her!

September, 2018

Top photo of Jane with camera was taken by her talented teacher Elyse Shapiro at Silvermine Arts Center.

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Plus the image on-line appealed to me.

Ten minutes turned into two hours. I was mesmerised by these jagged rock fences  – a study in meditation, time and mortality (I’ve been thinking a lot about mortality recently, but that’s another blog and don’t worry, we’re all fine).  I also really enjoyed talking to the gallery owner Deborah Bell who has been dealing in photographs for thirty years –  as a gallerist in Chelsea then a  stint running Christies Photography Department. She opened her latest venture uptown because she enjoys how with all the museums in the neighbourhood, people tend to pop in, like I did. She also loves walking from her home in Chelsea through Central Park to the peaceful Upper East Side.

I asked Bell why she liked Cook’s work.

 I am drawn to Mariana Cook’s STONE WALLS because of the monumentality of the images, the mysteries and questions they conjure, the solidity of the compositions, and the timelessness of the structures themselves.  Plus, the prints are exquisite.

So I recommend that you all pop in. The show is on until October 27th.

PS. If Cook’s name rings a bell, that could be because she is well known for her work in portraiture:

Enjoy

September, 2018

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A princess is mourned.

The legendary Alexander Mc Queen watches us as we remember him.

From a sensible glove-wearing model posing next to wartime rubble to a champagne sipping trio clad in black-tie by an LA pool, these images – chronicled decade by decade – inform as well as delight.

Photographers tapped into the current mood in Britain and then went wild, or not. This demure 1943 Vogue cover offers tips on homemade Christmas presents,  boosting wartime morale on the home front.

A decade later times are easier, Norman Parkinson shoots fantasy and opulence in Jaipur…

 People want style. They need romance, they need beautiful women in beautiful and provocative surroundings,” said Parkinson.

The show includes all of  Corinne Day’s controversial grunge shots of an unknown 19 year-old waif wearing mismatched underwear. Hello Kate Moss. From a young Queen Elisabeth to a young Madonna to a not so young Vivienne Westwood, it’s all here.

The inspiring exhibition reminds us that it’s important to dream, to let our imaginations run wild and see what happens.  This photo is by Nick Knight using Diwali powder paints.

February, 2016

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I’m getting ahead of myself. Before I experienced Pope-Lock, I checked out Dia Beacon, a fantastic museum 52 miles north of Manhattan in Duchess County. Perched above the Hudson river in a former  Nabisco box printing factory, Dia is as pretty on the outside as it is stunning on the inside.

The sprawling, light-filled museum – where rooms exhibit the works of one great artist at a time – can be peaceful and meditative or a great place for kids to run free. Joseph Beuys, Agnes Martin, Louise Bourgeois, Gerhard Richter, Donald Judd and Dan Flavin are just a smattering of the Dia artists exhibited. Here I’m looking rather petite next to Ken and Richard Serra’s Torqued.

This room is dedicated to John Chamberlain.

And this one to Michael Heizer’s “North, East, South, West”.

Get an art twofer and visit Storm King, a 500 acre sculpture park 14 miles south west of Beacon. Go see works by Henry Moore, Alexander Calder, Andy Goldsworthy and more this autumn. Candy pink sculpture below by artist Lynda Benglis.

Somehow we missed Storm King and ended up in a  cafe dedicated to  Doctor Who fans instead. Who knew?

Back in Manhattan, I sidestepped the gridlock and went underground, taking the N  train from Columbus Circle down to 14th Street. A one-way ticket costs about $3 with trains appearing every five minutes. Goodbye gridlock! From there I  walked to David Zwirner‘s gallery on 19th street  to see the vast and  varied  Wolfgang Tillmans’ show.

The German artist uses state-of-the-art tools showing images previously impossible to capture, like what a wave looks like snapped at 1/4000 of a second. The depth of detail possible in digital photography boggles and fascinates. However, I still prefer Tillmans’ quiet still lifes. Filament is one of my favourites.

Zwirner assistant Cristina Vere Nicoll is co-curating a group show with Tatiana Cheneviere that opens tonight (Oct 2) in Chinatown. If you’re feeling  spry and curious, head on down to 177 Canal Street. Cristina is pictured below with recent RISD graduates and co-founders of MX Gallery, Adrien, Tom Mc Farlin and Shelby Garrison Jackson.

Need an art break? Check out this view from CX’s roof terrace. Tonight.

October, 2015

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Don’t miss The Human Factor at the Hayward Gallery. It’s weird, entertaining, eye-grabbing, thought-provoking and at times disturbing. Twenty-five big deal artists use the human body to explore issues such as voyeurism, political violence, sexuality and mortality.  Jeff Koons, Paul McCarthy, Katherina Fritsch, and Maurizio Cattelan are just a handful of the talents involved. Below is the headless ‘Girl Ballerina’ by Yinka Shonibare. With her finger on the trigger,  she a far cry from Degas’s demure ballerina.

The shimmering android clubber below is by artist Isa Genzken.

Cattalan shocks with ‘Him’. Is he a little boy?

Or a monster? What is he praying for? Forgiveness or more horror?

Next up scoot over to Tate Modern where several works by Russian painter Kazimir Malevich are bound to dazzle. As early as 1915 he broke with the expressionists and produced bold, colourful, geometric pictures that still look fresh and modern now.

Oh, I know exactly where this could go in my living room…

Brilliant red…

And for some light relief go to the Royal Academy and see the world through Dennis Hopper’s lens. My favourite piece of eye candy –  artist Ed Ruscha looking very Sean Penn-esque.

July, 2014

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