Palm Aire by Tema Stauffer

This Friday, I am excited to share with you some five-star selections from our archives culled by photographer and Jen Bekman Gallery favorite, Tema Stauffer.

Tema is a busy bee, and she has some news she wanted me to pass along to you. First, as an Assistant Curator at Culturehall, Tema selects artwork to appear on the homepage and is always seeking new artists to contribute portfolios to the website, so consider applying! Also, Tema will be teaching a course called COLOR PRINTS: BIGGER AND BETTER this fall at the International Center of Photography. Finally, in only-in-New-York style, a couple of Tema's photographs will appear in the new season of Gossip Girl!

And now, here's Tema!

Rachel Hulin has already selected two of my all-time favorite 20x200 pieces, the haunting Untitled (LA20070805) by Noah Kalina and No. 13. 3/11/2006 (plane lifted by men) by William Lamson. But I also love Lamson's other photograph from his enigmatic sublunar series.

No. 6. 8/6/2005 (plane) by William Lamson

A German photographer who similarly mystifies me with her control of light in her nighttime scenes is Juliane Eirich. I saw some of her gorgeous prints at the Scope Art Fair last March and have since poured through her website. I am awed and jealous to say the least.

Bus by Juliane Eirich

Also very mysterious and sexy is a portrait by Shen Wei. The image brought to mind the pensive, lonely, intensely sexual films by Taiwanese director, Tsai Ming-liang—the mood, the setting, the isolated subject, the sense of desire and longing...

Yi, Beijing by Shen Wei

This quirky image by Kelly Shimoda, an early addition to 20x200, uses light beautifully to make kitschy pink and blue balloons strangely seductive.

Untitled (Hanoi no.2) by Kelly Shimoda

Then, of course, I must mention the two prints I purchased from 20x200, Eric Graham's, Unleaded, Unleaded, Premium Unleaded, and Justin James Reed's iconic western scene, Idaho Springs, Colorado, both of which are hanging in my apartment.

Unleaded, Unleaded, Premium Unleaded by Eric Graham

Idaho Springs, Colorado by Justin James Reed

Kevin J. Miyazaki's work seems to be influenced by the same tradition of exploring the American vernacular, and I like his understated contributions from his Fast Food series.

Jones Boulevard Location, #1 by Kevin J. Miyazaki

And Katie Baum's cool photograph of a gumball machine might have been painted by a Photo-realist in the 1970s ...

Gumball Machine by Katie Baum

So yes, I confess, I love this kind of stuff.

Finally, is there any artist out there who can't relate to the sentiment captured by Clifton Burt? I think that pretty much sums it up.

think-make-think by Clifton Burt

Ta-da! Another edition of Browsing the Archives to inspire you (and those hungry-for-art walls behind you)! Now is a fantastic time to visit our Going, going, gone! selections to collect work that will surely not be available for very long.