Martha Casanave THE HUMAN FIGURE: MOVING BEYOND STEREOTYPES

[Robert Brummitt]

THE HUMAN FIGURE: MOVING BEYOND STEREOTYPES
June 13-15 2008 Tuition is $270 Open for 10 students.

Martha Casanave returns to Portland, by popular demand! This time, she’ll approach the topic of the nude in photography from both a historical and a personal perspective. Through presentations, readings and discussion, participants will look at how the nude in art has evolved, and will try to understand what is meant by stereotypical representation. Casanave will offer a list of intriguing questions designed to stimulate thought about imagery of the nude, starting with: “Why do we photograph naked people?” In their own camera work, participants will be encouraged to move beyond the limitation of seeing the nude solely in terms of form, and to bring their own experiences, memories and attitudes to their portrayals of the human body.

We will work with male and female models in a simple indoor setting using natural light, allowing participants to concentrate exclusively on working with the model(s), rather than associating the human form with nature. Those participants who have worked with the nude before are encouraged to bring prints to share. Those who haven’t worked with the nude before don’t worry! You will find this workshop a supportive and inspiring place to start!

MARTHA CASANAVE has been an exhibiting and working photographer and educator on the Monterey Peninsula for over thirty years. She teaches Master Classes on the Portrait, Human Figure, and Pinhole Photography all over the US and abroad, and also teaches regularly at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz, and at Monterey Peninsula College.

She was awarded the Imogen Cunningham Photography Award in 1979 and was a 1989 recipient of the Koret Israel Prize. Her book Past Lives-- Photographs by Martha Casanave was published by Godine in 1991. Her second book, Beware of Dog, was released by the Center for Photographic Art in 2002. Her third book, Explorations Along an Imaginary Coastline, was released by Hudson Hills Press in 2006. She is at work on her fourth book, a retrospective of forty years of portraits.

Martha’s photographs are included in many major collections, such as the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Stanford Museum, the Bibliotheque Nationale, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the Graham Nash private collection.
For more information, and images, go to www.marthacasanave.com
For more information about this workshop and other workshops and events from Portland Photographers Forum contact Robert Brummitt at robert8x10@hotmail.com.